Why Rail Freight Is the Greenest Choice Despite Electric Trucks

Reducing Emissions at Every Mile

Sustainability discussions in freight often focus on electric trucks, and we’ve already gone into the problems and challenges with adopting them, but the real environmental impact extends beyond just tailpipe emissions. While electrification helps, it doesn’t eliminate pollution, especially considering the hidden pollutants such as tires, roads, and infrastructure.

For truly low-emission freight, we need to rethink how we move goods, not just the vehicles we use. That’s where rail freight offers an unmatched advantage in cutting emissions far more than what road freight transport can do, even with electrification.

The Hidden Environmental Cost of Tire Pollution

EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions but not tire pollution, which is often overlooked in sustainability discussions. Tire wear releases microplastics, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone, which harms aquatic life.

Heavier vehicles generate more tire debris, and EV trucks are about 30% heavier than diesel trucks due to battery weight, which accelerates tire wear even further.

By contrast, rail freight eliminates rubber tires altogether in most cases. Steel wheels on steel tracks don’t shed rubber or degrade road surfaces, which significantly reduces particulate pollution linked to road freight.

Rail’s Superior Energy Efficiency

North American railroads move a ton of freight 500 miles on just one gallon of diesel. That’s a 3-4x efficiency advantage over highway trucks.

Rail emits 0.048 pounds of GHG per ton-mile, whereas trucks emit 0.465 pounds per ton-mile. That’s nearly 10 times more pollution from trucks than from rail.

Electrified rail, widely used in Europe and parts of Asia, reduces emissions even further, so both tailpipe pollution and road deterioration can be even further reduced.

Infrastructure and Longevity of Roads vs. Rails

Highways require resurfacing every 10-15 years, which generates thousands of tons of asphalt waste and CO₂ emissions. Trucks wear down pavement, grind off microscopic rubber, and contribute to creating potholes.

Meanwhile, rail tracks last for decades with minimal maintenance. They need only ballast tamping and rail grinding from time to time. This means less material waste, lower emissions, and a longer-lasting freight infrastructure that supports sustainability goals.

First and Last Mile: Smart Integration

Even the cleanest freight train has a fixed route, meaning trucks are still needed for pickup and final delivery.

The smartest solution isn’t choosing road vs. rail, it’s integrating both:

• Rail handles long-haul freight, cutting emissions dramatically by doing so.
• Low-emission trucks cover short distances to minimize environmental impact.

Making a Real Difference Today

At Freightera, we focus on real emissions reductions, not just trends. While EVs and rail won’t achieve zero-emission freight overnight, they provide measurable improvements that businesses can act on now.

Want to lower your carbon footprint? Look for our emissions reduction badge during quoting. The good news? Green shipping is often the most cost-effective option because rail is simply more efficient!

Let’s move toward a cleaner freight future, one shipment at a time.

Questions? Chat with us, call our super-friendly Client Care team at (800) 886-4870 Ext. 1, or email us at [email protected].