Freight railroads keep America moving. From the food on our tables to the cars we drive to the shoes on our children’s feet, freight railroads carry the things America depends on, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), Washington, D.C.
“America’s railroads account for 40% of intercity freight volume—more than any other mode of transportation—and provide the most efficient and affordable freight service in the world,” says AAR. “Every year, America’s freight railroads save consumers billions of dollars while reducing energy consumption and pollution, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, cutting highway gridlock and reducing the high costs of highway construction and maintenance. In addition, America’s freight railroads sustain 1.2 million jobs, including more than 180,000 well-paying jobs in the freight rail industry itself.”