Onshoring and Rail: A Greener Logistics Strategy for 2025

Why Sustainability Is No Longer Optional

With rising transportation costs, shifting global supply chains, and new climate mandates on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be the year that sustainability moves from a corporate talking point to a critical business driver. According to a recent Forbes article, 65% of U.S. CEOs now list sustainability as a top-three business priority—up significantly from just a few years ago.

One major reason? Transportation and shipping remain among the biggest contributors to both carbon emissions and logistics costs. As companies continue to bring production back to North America—a trend known as onshoring—there's a growing opportunity to rethink logistics strategy from the ground up. The shift opens the door for more sustainable, domestic shipping networks that reduce reliance on long-haul trucking and instead tap into one of America’s most efficient transportation assets: railroads.

Conrail Makes the Case for Rail

Conrail Corporation, a leading terminal and switching service provider that operates approximately 1,200 miles of track across Detroit, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, is helping companies recognize the strategic and environmental value of rail.

“Prioritizing sustainability goals through transportation strategy transformation has the potential to improve the bottom line, while improving the environment and providing a competitive advantage,” says Brian Gorton, President and COO of Conrail.

Gorton points to a number of compelling reasons why rail freight should be a core part of any logistics overhaul:

• A single freight train can carry the load of up to 300 trucks
• Rail transportation produces 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than over-the-road trucking
• Rail is 3.5x more fuel efficient, moving one ton of freight over 470 miles per gallon of diesel fuel
• Rail doesn’t rely on public highways, reducing infrastructure wear and associated costs
• Rail can also improve delivery reliability in congested metro regions

Conrail’s role within shared asset areas—where customers are served by both CSX and Norfolk Southern—makes it an important link between local shippers and the national rail network.

Five Ways to Cut Emissions and Costs

Gorton emphasizes that change begins with a mindset shift—and a willingness to question legacy logistics strategies. He offers five recommendations for companies looking to both lower emissions and improve their margins:

1. Reevaluate your transportation plans from scratch. Today’s logistics landscape looks nothing like it did five years ago.
2. Use intermodal shipping. Rail for long-haul efficiency, trucks for last-mile flexibility.
3. Optimize inbound freight. Collaborate with suppliers to shift more volume to rail.
4. Upgrade tech. TMS platforms, AI, and predictive routing tools can drive both cost and carbon savings.
5. Rethink load consolidation. Find smarter ways to fill trucks and containers for fewer, fuller shipments.

A Timely Opportunity

The momentum behind onshoring makes this a timely inflection point for U.S. logistics. More goods will be manufactured domestically, and many of them will move shorter distances—making rail a natural fit for mid- and long-haul transport, especially when paired with regional distribution strategies.

Rail isn’t just a way to reduce costs—it’s a competitive advantage that aligns with both environmental goals and customer expectations.

Where Racklify Comes In

Racklify, the leading warehouse discovery platform, features hundreds of rail-connected facilities among its 9,000+ listings. For brands looking to scale sustainably and cut freight emissions, Racklify’s AI-powered filters make it easy to find the right partners—faster.