Rail Administration says rail freight more efficient than trucks
“Railroads are continuously improving fuel efficiency – through new technologies, locomotive improvements, enhanced employee training and other initiatives,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger.
The Trucker News Services
11/24/2009
WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today commended the Federal Railroad Administration for its report showing that significant fuel savings can be achieved shipping freight by rail instead of by truck.
The report, titled “A Comparative Evaluation of Rail and Truck Fuel Efficiency on Competitive Corridors,” examined 23 representative freight movements, covering different distances and commodities that could easily move by both truck and rail. For each movement, fuel consumption for both modes was estimated. The study found that railroads are up to 8.5 times more fuel efficient than trucks, depending on the commodity carried and distance traveled.
“Railroads are continuously improving fuel efficiency – through new technologies, locomotive improvements, enhanced employee training and other initiatives,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “The environmental benefits of freight rail – such as our ability to take trucks off the road and lower greenhouse gas emissions – are made possible by our fuel efficiency.”
Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be contacted to comment on this article at kevinj@thetrucker.com.
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