SGB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cardlock diesel available 24 hours in both
> Oakesdale and Rosalia. Service provided by the
> company most of the area truckers use, so fuel is
> no problem. Bigger issue is if the little
> chipsealed surface of the hiway between Rosalia
> and Oakesdale will stand the trucks, and if the
> W&I is smart enough to start a rail shuttle to the
> loader from Fallon, Spangle and Oakesdale, or if
> they will give it all over to trucks and only haul
> the unit trains. (snip)

Oakesdale does have the double pumps (no speed pumps), but it is a tight squeeze for a full sized truck to get in and out of there. Same with Rosalia. Those pumps work for smaller grain trailers, but not the full sized long haulers you typically see hauling down to the ports.

That being said, I've always thought the interchange of US 195 and SR 271 would make a great site for a dedicated truck stop. Halfway between Spokane and Pullman, easy off/on access to the highway. Maybe with this shuttle loader there will be enough of a local truck traffic increase to justify the investment.

Also I remember Stan mentioning that the W&I will continue short haul mini grain shuttles that can transload at McCoy, so there may not be that much of an increase in local truck traffic.