Railway systems are one of the main transportation systems for a variety of freight over long and short distances worldwide. When the first railroad spanned across the United States, the price of cargo and shipping costs dropped significantly. There are many options for transporting freight today but because of the convenience of rail, there are many businesses that continue to move their products by rail as their first choice. Moving freight by rail comes with a number of environmental benefits. If you’re interested in adding to the sustainability efforts in your company, here are some of the top reasons to consider moving your freight by rail.
You’re Moving Your Freight With Others
Sending out a truck that is not nearly full or driving a package in your own vehicle burns fossil fuels. When you choose to send your freight on a train, it’s like carpooling. You will be adding your shipment to other shipments going to the same location and reducing carbon emissions.
Less Fuel And Cargo Trucks
Railroads are up to four times more efficient than the average truck and this means less fuel that’s used when transporting anything by rail. Cutting a portion of your shipping from trucks to rail can be a great alternative for energy costs.
Trucks on The Road
Highways require fewer maintenance windows for your trucks on the road and the cost of highway replacement can be expensive. Ongoing highway maintenance and repairs can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through the heavy machinery that’s required to perform the repairs. Rail is much easier to maintain and it leads to less traffic congestion and road maintenance.
The Future
Rail is becoming much more environmentally friendly because it gets better mileage. With more companies switching over to the electric rail, we could soon see a future where many of our products are traveling while producing very little commissions apart from the vehicle production process.
This post was written by Justin Tidd, Director at Swartz Engineering. For nearly half a century, Swartz Engineering has been at the forefront of industry safety. They are a family-owned company specializing in power distribution for the electrical industry. They are the leading manufacturer of E house substations. Our design ensures maximum flexibility for excellent reliability and a high return on investment.
