_____I don't know why trucking companies aren't already doing this other than laws and liability???
_____Most North American tractor-trailer trucks have 15-20 feet of free legnth behind them before needing a excess legnth permit. Why not tow peoples cars/vans behind the semi-trailer?
_____Not
just for shipping cars/vans, but providing individuals and families with a "driverless" road trip option. People can ride in their towed car/van, making the service cost-effective.
_____Cars would be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground, connected securely by a towbar/swaybar arrangement. The car hitched to the crash bar that is on the back of most North American semi-trailers. The car is put in neutral for the trip.
_____Or better yet, utilize car dollys so the 4-wheeler doesn't need special equipment to take advantage of the service. This is near-identical to how cars are towed behind North American RVs.
_____The trucker is responsible for tying down the 4-wheeler to the dolly, while the occupants of the 4-wheeler sit back and relax. Enhancements could be utilized like early brake warning alarm for the towed occupants, and CB communication with the trucker.
_____The total cost per trip needs to be less than the cost of fuel for the same car/van to make the trip on it's own. Because most peoples travel method is based on price.
_____Now you can take that road trip with the gas guzzler, for the travel cost of a hybrid! Great for those with large campervans 20 feet or less in legnth!
_____Everybody wins! The truckers win by having another revenue stream, individuals and families win because they can sit back and relax in their own car on long road trips, and the enviroment wins because less fuel is burned in this arrangement!