Most of the truck freight carried on highways should be on railroads instead. It's economically and environmentally far more efficient.
The reason it is still carried on highways is because the highways are heavily subsidized while the railroads are not.
For example, most of the reason for expensive highway maintenance is the fatigue damage cause by trucks. Fatigue damage goes up as the cube of the weight, and the weight fees charged trucks don't remotely pay for it.
The reason it is still carried on highways is because the highways are heavily subsidized while the railroads are not.
For example, most of the reason for expensive highway maintenance is the fatigue damage cause by trucks. Fatigue damage goes up as the cube of the weight, and the weight fees charged trucks don't remotely pay for it.