Trucks on the other hand do use diesel. Its less polluting than fuel oil, but there is a LOT more of it. I frequently work just east of the port of long beach. There are literally thousands of trucks passing my employer every day(I will admit that some of this traffic is a single truck that has passed more than once, but I think that counts as if it was two).

I’d like to see the ports expand the rail yards faster, and make it a direct ship to rail movement. No trucks ferrying the containers a few miles inland where they are loaded onto trains. Trains use diesel as well, but are about 4 times more efficient as trucks on a ton/mile basis. IE to move 1000 tons of freight 100 miles a train would use 1000 gallons of diesel, where truck(s) would use 4000 gallons(numbers are just so you understand the math. I’m incorrect on the actual MPG). Most of the trains used in the ports to switch the cars are now powered by natural gas, and by law, are limited on the time they can sit just idling. The trains headed out of town all use diesel, but they are headed out of town as fast as the rail lines can manage(they make no money sitting still). Plus, fewer trucks means less traffic congestion, less people sitting in traffic jams with their engine idling, and their AC on, polluting. Fewer tires being made, fewer construction crews resurfacing the road. Oh, did I mention that the roads are paid for with taxes, and rail lines are not? 90% anyway.

Just a though.

Dave