Intermodal freight and over-the-road trucking (OTR) each offer advantages that bring down the cost to ship. Rail freight is generally less expensive and is more likely to carry heavier freight, while intermodal is slightly slower, thus a better option of transporting goods that are not rushed.
Intermodal Freight is Green
Moving freight by rail is four times more fuel-efficient than moving freight over-the-road. Trains can move a ton of freight over 470 miles on a single gallon of fuel. The efficient use of fuel results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, increasing the portion of the intermodal freight and decreasing over-the-road will decrease our carbon footprint.