Not a big component. For example for the retail price of food 4% is for transportation costs. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/44825/7758_err...

Actually, trains in most cases. The last mile is trucks, but the backbone of America is our world class rail system.

Indeed, world class shipping rail system.

Our passenger rail is depressingly subpar.

Do you have any stats on this? As I have read (casually) trucking has been 60-80% of consumer goods delivery (end-to-end), and only in the last 3-5 years has rail started picking up long haul freight, as shipping dry goods like coal has become less lucrative.

>Actually, trains in most cases. The last mile is trucks,

More like last 50-100mi.

Where's your "local" intermodal yard?