Many shippers are realizing the benefits of increased use of intermodal transportation for those lanes where intermodal competes with trucking.  The increased use of intermodal also has a green effect, as in dollars, as well as enhancing sustainability to a company’s supply chain.  Here are some facts to prove the point:

• Railroads consume 1 gallon of fuel to move one ton of freight an average of 405 miles.  That equates to approximately 250 miles per gallon.
• More than 1 billion gallons of fuel would be saved each year if 10% of highway freight were moved by rail
• A single intermodal train could save 5.2 million gallons of fuel per year
• A freight train emits two-thirds less greenhouse gas emissions for every ton mile compared to typical truck shipments
• Railroads are three times more fuel efficient than trucks

Unfortunately many shippers still believe railroad transportation is slow and unreliable; nothing could be further from the truth.   It behooves shippers to check with their railroad and/or intermodal service providers to benchmark the rates and service levels for major shipping lanes.