General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Six crazy ideas for saving Detroit [View all]A HERETIC I AM
(24,876 posts)The heaviest steel hauling trucks in Mi, OH, IN & IL have up to 11 axles and more, in some cases.

The tandem sets can carry 34,000 Lbs.
Individual 4 tire axles can carry up to 20,000 Lbs, but when grouped together as the truck above has them, it is 17,000 per axle.
" Factories involved with heavy freight are usually built along rail lines or spurs."
Not true. Not even close. Factories involved with heavy freight are built where the company owners want or need to build them. If they want access to rail lines, they build where there are rail lines. If they don't, they don't. There are plenty of businesses in Michigan and Ohio that receive coils carried by trucks like the one pictured above.
"if you are shipping stuff that weighs you can't fit within the interstate load limits, put it on a railcar or barge."
Guess how you get such items from the plant to the barge?
On TRUCKS!
Trucks like this one;

Been in the industry a long time, have ya?