Palmetto Railways

Budget Office Report Reveals Rail is Most Efficient Way to Move Freight

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an overview of carbon dioxide emissions in the transportation sector, revealing what little share of overall emissions come from freight rail.

According to the nonpartisan agency, rail moves 29 percent of total ton-miles of freight and accounts for only 0.05 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per ton-mile of freight. In contrast, trucks move 43 percent of freight and emit 0.40 pounds of carbon dioxide per ton-mile, which is eight times that of rail. The emissions from freight rail transportation are lowest of all five modes examined in the report.

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58861