When a Semi Truck parks a trailer on a flatcar (I think they call this piggy back) does it burm less fuel than

Question

if it is towed across the country on the roads.

Answer 1

it takes fractions of a percent of the fuel to transport by rail, as opposed to roads. trains are only slightly less efficient than ships, and piggy backing is one of the cheapest, safest, and quickest ways of shipping.

Answer 2

On the railroad, fuel consumption is measured in gallons per hour, but "mileage" is figured as Ton Miles Per Gallon of fuel consumed.

NS has a TV commercial running now that boasts moving 1 ton of freight 420 miles on 1 gallon of fuel.  That's in the ball park.  But, even though consuming fuel at a high rate, around 160 gallons per hour for each engine, it is moving anywhere from 5,000 to 12,000 tons or more, on a single train.

So, how many trucks would it take to haul 12,000 tons?  In Calif the limit is 80 tons.  So, 150 trucks.

Move the same amount of tonnage 100 miles, with all fuel tanks topped off at the start.  When filling again after the 100 mile trip, you're gonna put much more fuel in all the trucks than the locomotive(s).

Now, figure in the wages for the two men on the train and compare with the salary for 150 truck drivers as well as maintenance of all those trucks.

When considering all, nothing can move freight more efficiently than rail, both from the standpoint of fuel in addition to all the other overhead.

Answer 3

yeah if just a minimum (just for explanation) one engine and one car with the 2 trailers on it. you are taking of the road 2 semi trucks and replacing it with one engine. when some of these trailer trains can have some ware around 100 cars with 200 trailers on it replacing 200 trucks with one 1-4 engines  (# of engines matter on terrain and I forgot the modern engine to car #) so yes it's more fuel efficient with the fuel (exceptionally with the new Hybrids GE came out with)

yeah it was called piggyback service but if used called "TOFC"  trailer on flat car

Answer 4

Yes, rail is more fuel efficient than trucking.

Answer 5

Oh rail flat cars? Absolutely. Modern rail locomotives can get 15-25 MPG, while moving dozens and dozens of train cars.

Answer 6

about a fourth the fuel of a truck

it does not wear out the roads

there are far far fewer deaths associated with rail freight as opposed to having it on our already overcrowded highways.

You and I dont have to pay to rebuild the rail system when it needs upgrading, the railroad companies are responsible.

Guess who pays to rebuild a mile of highway when it is worn out?

Yep, you got it, the taxpayer.