I'm not really sure, and not sure how it works, but it looks to me like the truck is using a standard container. Thus rear access wouldn't be a problem so much. Once loaded, the 'truck' just attaches to the container in some apparently unspecified manner, picks it up, and takes off. Reverse that for delivery.

Not sure why you think rear access or lack of is a problem. A lot of lorries load on the side now, it is easier and more viable. Also trains always load from the side.

The lorry to train therefore is a very cool idea.

Trains load from the side, but "Containers" load from the rear genius.

@1stAngel

"A lot of lorries load on the side now"

We live in the year 2009... We call them trucks now.

We = Modern Humans

Who said that in design anything is standard. For all it matters it can be designed to load from side and back. I have seen moving containers for Mayflower designed in this style.

Needless to say, think before you insult...

"Trains load from the side, but "Containers" load from the rear genius."

to continue Audiostars point regarding insults

Lorry is still a commonly used term in countries other than the States, so please don't needlessly insult another poster just because the grammar doesn't git with your expectations, SvenKyUm

Well, it looks to me like you just pick up the truck and place it over the container at a dock or what not, then drive onto the tracks. The container is locked in and highly stable. I wonder if you would be able to connect large caravans of these together and only use one of the engines to pull them around...

BTW, I like the term Lorry, sounds much better then truck...

Maybe this answers the algae fuel question.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1852747_1854195_1854150,00.html

the term 'lorry' is better in a way as 'truck' can mean anything from a dodge ram to a massive rig.

Containers have twist locks on all corners front and back so like somebody said earlier the truck probably raises up on hydraulics and moves sideways over the container then lowers and clamps onto it. then lifts and off it goes.

It looks like it only transports 1 container.

If so - all the benefits of using rail could be lost if you use 1 engine for each carriage unless they piggyback somehow.

I've always thought it would be a good idea to make a Super Freight Train for fast interstate runs (eg: Melbourne - Sydney)

- Trucks pick up stuff all around the city as they normally do.
- At a regional location just out of the city - they all drive their normal trucks onto the train (Obviously big/special carriages and rail needed for moving big trucks - mega bucks)
- The train goes high speed to the outskirts of the next city (It cannot be slower than a truck would take by itself- otherwise no truckies would use it)
- All the trucks drive off - and deliver to their separate locations in the next city.
- So all the hassle of driving interstate is done by 1 train instead of 100 truck drivers.

Potential benefits
- Many trucks taken off road between cities (Could you fit 100 trucks on a train?)
- Cost benefit for truck owner - pay the railway instead of paying fuel+driver between cities.
- Truckies could either sleep on the train - or just have someone pick up their truck at the other end.

Pointless. We already have railway wheel attachments that allow ordinary semi trailer-trailers to be used as railway carriages. Further they don't have to be container trailers they can be refrigeration or canvas sides or flat-beds. All being pulled by 1 or 2 locomotives so again no point.

@SvenKyUm

In the UK we call them Lorries as well. No matter what year we are in.

I spent years out with the lorries with my ex partner and most of the lorries he drove were soft-siders. Containers may load from the rear but for the vehicle they are talking about they may decide to choose soft siders instead and that would work well.

Ok who in the hell has been reading my scripts to my idea for a new show titled YEAR ZERO that is one of the vehicles from the series.

Really great post on blog such a besst blog

I would expect this vehicle to have rotating wheels that would allow it to move sideways like a crab. Then it could just roll along side of the container, roll sideways and pick it up, and drop it off the same way. That way you would not have to wait for the driver to sit around when you unload it. Having unloaded one a few years back, it took six guys almost 40 minuets to unload it by hand. Would it not be better for the trucker to just drop it off, and get on his way than sit around while it was unloaded? Containers could be picked up and dropped off any ware. Where now you need a crane to load them onto the truck. As far as fuel efficiency goes, no matter what they do, it will be better than what they have now as rail tracks have much better rolling resistance and a more effective gradient average. Now they will have to have some kind of GPS tracking system so you would not have trucks plowing into each other on the tracks.

Lorrie.. Truck... Who cares... Its freaking cool.

It would be ever better if you could link them together to form a train, each providing a small bit of the power.

most cargo ttrains are at lease a half mile long so what happens to the rest of the cargo

I see a major problem with this concept: Weight/Tire. I make my living moving loaded containers in and out of the ports in the western US, my truck needs 24 tires to legally support the weight of a fully loaded container. this nifty-looking concept has what 6? unless those 6 tires are a meter or more wide it will never get past a scale, never mind that with only three axle groups it will have zero chance of being legal regardless of tire size. (my truck is 8 axles).

Freight trains can be as long as 10,000 feet (nearly two miles) and can double stack containers, taking 200 trucks off the highway.

I'd rather see a nice mile long train than some funny looking big rig going down the line. the rails would hafta be dedicated TO the rigs as it is. Dont clog up the already crowded rail lines with crap!

If it runs on algae, why is there a cantenary and the rig has the pickup for the electricity?

Maybe the tires are the big super- tire so it needs 6 instead of 24?

Very smart...and here I was trying to devise a way to convert all the rails to maglev!

The benifit provided by useingrail to ship frieght is the fact that the fuel per ton of cargo moved is significantly lower than useing a over the road method. This idea would not even come close to being the "green" solution

Instead convert the diesel/ electric locamotives in use to burn the algae fuel. This would make the already greener method even better

Sorry but you must be kidding? Sorry, looks like crap. I agree with UNSWR and Buslady. Your not doing anything different and now your taking the style out of the Big Rigs. Honestly you have to admit, there's nothing that looks so cool as a 1949 or 1997 Big Peterbuilt decked out in chrome.
http://www.mechanicshub.com/mechanics-hub-community/21-worlds-biggest/470-the-worlds-largest-and-most-expensive-limo.html

And again there is nothing that beats a monster EMD SD70ACe Or SD80MAC
Sorry I'm old school, and monster Train people are.

Sorry but you must be kidding? Sorry, looks like crap. I agree with UNSWR and Buslady. Your not doing anything different and now your taking the style out of the Big Rigs. Honestly you have to admit, there's nothing that looks so cool as a 1949 or 1997 Big Peterbuilt decked out in chrome.
http://www.mechanicshub.com/mechanics-hub-community/21-worlds-biggest/470-the-worlds-largest-and-most-expensive-limo.html

And again there is nothing that beats a monster EMD SD70ACe Or SD80MAC
Sorry I'm old school, and most Train people are.