I've only seen the nose loader used once , and opened a total of three times. They say there's no replacement for the 747, but that nose loader doesn't get used often enough I think... The military K loaders can't work with the -8, and customers don't like the BCF'S as much because of reduced tall loads. 777's will become the dominant cargo carrier, but it will suck big time to lose that upper deck. Also the future of cargo conversions is questionable because of the difficulties of composite construction handling such modifications.
Fuel is on an uptick, some carriers will park 74's, and I think Connie will keep using them.