Road freight
≈ 78.5 kg CO₂e
1 tonne · 750 km · main leg
Using a reference factor of 104.67 gCO₂e per tonne-kilometre, this scenario represents around 78.5 kg of CO₂e for the main road leg.
International · Rail
Rail freight transport
Drivet Transport International organises rail and intermodal freight for companies seeking to combine road and rail on national, European or international flows. Each shipment is reviewed against the goods, volume, terminals, frequency, destination and the inland road legs required at each end.
Rail freight · Decarbonisation · Combined transport
Rail freight: a major lever for reducing the carbon footprint of long-distance freight
Rail freight transport makes it possible to consolidate large volumes over long distances while significantly reducing greenhouse-gas emissions per tonne carried. In France, the high level of rail electrification makes it a particularly relevant alternative to road freight when the route, volumes, lead times and available terminals support an efficient operating plan.
Every year, hundreds of customers choose rail freight with Drivet Transport International. We review each flow individually to build a coherent solution: rail for the main leg, road pre-carriage and final delivery where required, terminal coordination and management of the relevant intermodal transport units.
The French transport ministry’s combined-transport master plan uses reference emission factors of approximately 2.88 gCO₂e/t.km for rail freight compared with 104.67 gCO₂e/t.km for road freight. These figures illustrate the potential benefit of modal shift to rail, while the actual footprint also depends on first- and last-mile road legs.
Illustrative carbon-footprint example
Paris → Montpellier: road or rail for 1 tonne of freight?
To illustrate the difference between the two modes, the example below uses a comparative basis of 750 km for the main leg and 1 tonne of freight. It is an educational order of magnitude and excludes local first- and last-mile movements.
Rail freight
≈ 2.16 kg CO₂e
1 tonne · 750 km · main leg
Using a reference factor of 2.88 gCO₂e per tonne-kilometre, the same order of distance represents around 2.16 kg of CO₂e for the main rail leg.
Road freight
≈ 78.5 kg CO₂e
Rail freight
≈ 2.16 kg CO₂e
Indicative reduction
≈ 97%
Illustrative example calculated from the reference emission factors used by the French transport ministry to compare road and rail freight. Actual emissions depend on the logistics scheme, train type, load factor, energy source, distance actually travelled and any road pre- and post-carriage.
Rail containers · FCL & LCL · Intermodal freight
FCL and LCL rail container transport: matching the solution to your shipment volume
Containerised rail freight allows rail to be integrated into a domestic or international logistics chain without directly handling the goods each time the transport mode changes. A container can be moved by road to the terminal, loaded onto a freight train for the main leg and collected by truck for final delivery.
These intermodal flows commonly use FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) arrangements. These terms do not describe two physical container models; they describe how container capacity is allocated. Drivet Transport International reviews volume, weight, frequency, cargo sensitivity and timing in order to identify the most appropriate organisation.
Full container load
FCL: a container reserved for your rail shipment
With FCL, the container is reserved for one shipper’s goods for the shipment concerned. It does not need to be filled to 100%; the key benefit is a dedicated unit that can move between truck, terminal and train without sharing space with other shippers’ cargo.
This arrangement is particularly suitable for larger or regular volumes, industrial goods, numerous pallets, equipment sensitive to intermediate handling or flows where control of the loading unit is a priority. Depending on the project, Drivet Transport International can review 20-foot, 40-foot or High Cube shipping containers as part of a rail or combined rail-road solution.
Container groupage
LCL: access rail freight without filling a complete container
With LCL, one customer’s goods share container capacity with other compatible shipments. This consolidation model makes it possible to use a containerised logistics chain when a few pallets, cases or cubic metres do not justify booking an entire container.
LCL requires consolidation before departure and deconsolidation at destination. It therefore usually involves more handling and may require additional transit time compared with FCL. Drivet Transport International considers volume, stackability, fragility, dates and available terminals to determine whether rail groupage is genuinely suitable for the flow concerned.
FCL or LCL: which arrangement should you choose for rail freight?
Larger, regular flows or shipments requiring a dedicated unit will generally be better suited to FCL. For smaller volumes, LCL can make it possible to share available capacity and access rail freight without booking a full container. Drivet Transport International compares both options together with pre-carriage, terminal, transit and final-delivery constraints in order to build a coherent intermodal solution.
Drivet Transport International
Frequently asked questions
What is intermodal rail freight?+
Intermodal transport combines several modes while keeping the goods in the same loading unit where possible. A shipment can be collected by truck, carried over the long distance by rail and then delivered by road from the destination terminal.
What goods can move by rail?+
Rail can be suitable for containers, swap bodies, industrial cargo, raw materials, packaged goods and other larger-volume flows. Feasibility depends on the corridor, terminals, loading unit, weight and product requirements.
Is rail freight suitable for regular flows?+
Yes. It can be particularly relevant to recurring flows and larger volumes where origin and destination are well connected to terminals and the rail frequency matches the operating requirement.
Can you organise road collection and final delivery around the rail leg?+
Yes. The purpose of intermodal planning is to coordinate road and rail. Drivet Transport International can review collection to the terminal and final road delivery from the destination terminal.
Can rail freight be used internationally?+
Yes. Depending on corridors and capacity, rail solutions can be reviewed on European and international routes, either alone or combined with road, sea freight and other modes.
Can dangerous goods be carried by rail?+
Certain dangerous goods may move by rail subject to conditions. International carriage of dangerous goods by rail is governed by RID, whose current edition has applied since 1 January 2025. A feasibility review is required before transport is arranged.
Is rail freight always slower than road transport?+
Not on every flow. Transit time depends on the corridor, train frequency, terminal operations, transfer times and road legs. The best mode should therefore be selected against the real operational requirement rather than distance alone.
What information is needed to review a rail-freight shipment?+
Ideally provide the addresses, goods description, weight, volume, dimensions, loading unit, frequency, cargo-ready date, required timing and any loading or delivery constraints.
Related services
Other solutions to explore
International · Sea
Sea freight
International sea freight in FCL, LCL and door-to-door configurations, including coordination of pre-carriage, on-carriage and associated customs formalities.
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Core business
Road transport
Road freight transport organised across France and Europe according to your deadlines, goods and site constraints.
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International formalities
Customs import-export
Coordination of import-export customs operations with the customs representatives and specialist partners required for the shipment, from document preparation through to release.
Learn more →Transport request
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