Gombine rail with truck to combat high gas prices

about 5.4 lbs. of carbon dioxide per 100 ton-miles, compared with approximately 19.8 lbs. for trucks. Companies that integrate the two modes of transportation-for instance, by going from truck to train to truckleave a much smaller carbon footprint on the environment. "That's important for businesses in this era when everyone is thinking green," said Rich.

According to Rich, another advantage ofrail transportation is reliability, capacity, and safety. Trains run on predetermined schedules. In contrast, the availability of trucks can vary considerably at different times of the year and in various parts of the country due to freight availability and regional fuel price volatility.

IIftrs ESCALATING gas prices, Y Y stricter government highway safety regulations, and increased demands to protect the environment, manufacturers are aggressively seeking the most efficient means for transporting products to market. Intermodal freight transportation is becoming pivotal to the transportation industry as it offers streamlined costs and important efficiencies to benefit businesses and the general public.

Intermodal transportation is the process of integrating rail and truck services to move product to market efficiently. Intermodal utilizes the nation's rail network to transport cargo, such as lumber, that would have otherwise been moved via tractor trailer.

"We capitalize on the fact that one train pulled by two locomotives can haul the same amount of freight as 300 tractor trailers of products hauled by 300 drivers," said Robert Rich III, president of ROAR Logistics, a midsized intermodal marketing company and third-party logistics provider based in Buffalo, N.Y. "The door-todoor transit time may be extended by two to three extra days, but the cost savings can be substantial over traditional truckload shipping. Intermodal transportation is gaining significant momentum because of the savings, coupled with the environmental and highway safety benefits. It is clearly a mode of transportation that manufacturers in the lumber industry should strongly consider."

Rich added, "By integrating truck and train, intermodal allows companies to capitalize upon the transit efficiencies of trucks and the cost efficiencies of rail. Given the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, the price of oil could remain high for quite some time. This makes it imperative for companies to look at all transportation modes for cost savings."

Another reason intermodal transportation is becoming increasingly popular is the reduced impact it has on the environment. Trains emit onlv

In addition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Compliance, Safety, Accountability regulations (CSA2010), issued in December 2010, will further accelerate the trend toward rail and intermodal freight. Designed to enhance highway safety, CSA is an initiative to improve large truck and bus safety, and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicles.

The new regulations stand to increase the operating costs of truck carriers by enforcing stricter safety ratings, as well as stringent restrictions on driver hours. These additional costs are ultimately passed on to consumers and, as a result, make intermodal transportation an even more attractive alternative to traditional highway transportation.

According to Rich, "Rail is becoming a 'new frontier' again. Shipping is very complex with myriad alternatives. Choosing the right mode for the type of shipment is crucial."