Our new economy is more integrated and affected by the world economy, so is subject to many variables beyond US control.

A friend that has been working in North Dakota oil patch as a mechanic is here on his off time. His boss advised him to call before he heads back to North Dakota because there may not be a job for him as the company has laid off half their employees already.

BNSF is again storing numerous trains of 40 foot wells, suggesting that there is either a lack of demand or traffic is rapidly shifting to being repacked into 53' domestic containers.

Import traffic should be typically starting to surge this time of year with Chinese Xmas crap for us to buy, so has it been delayed for just in time inventory expecting that the ports and railroads can move it in time, or have the retailers drastically cut back on their orders expecting a poor Xmas selling season?

Obviously our (and the world's) economy and related transportation is trying to find a different balance point. I don't think we will be returning to our pre-recession economy, this is the "new normal" until the apple cart gets upset again for whatever reason.