Simultaneously the people that freight lumber (rail cars and trucking) had to continue maintaining their fleets and without as much work available many of them downsized to stay nimble. 

Regarding appliances, I had to personally drive 5 hours to get the refrigerator my wife wanted, and our range only made it thank to my wife's social media presence and one of her followers from across the country helping us by ordering it (it was only available for local delivery) and repackaging it for Fedex freight across the US.  

A plane passing overhead will sound like a freight train and depress property values along those flight lines.

In the old days, smaller towns would simply round up them up (back then they were called hobos or bums rather than the nicer homeless term), put them on a freight train and send them to the next town to deal with.

Look for something that takes a lot of freight cost that can be sold either way.  

No sales tax, no freight cost, possibly no import duties.  

Pay the freight for repairs.

You can also check out the Sears Outlets for scratch and dents (I think American Freight owns the Sears outlets now).

We used a $19 Harbor Freight oscillating tool with metal blades & went through at least 4-5 of those spec'd for ceramic tile. 

Contractor that we paid $7000 to jack the house stopped and wanted more money, I told him to leave, we can handle it (he didnt know ill do whatever is necessary, including jacking a 70 year old house with harbor freight bottle jacks to tear out main beams) I was there every day after work and every weekend putting in the sweat equity for months.