Rail moves freight more efficiently than trucks, reduces traffic congestion by removing trucks from highways, and contributes some $233 billion in economic output, according to a report compiled by a rail advocacy organization.

The Washington, D.C.-based Association of American Railroads (AAR) released Rail Transportation and the U.S. Economy: Fueling Growth, Trade, and Opportunity, a 35-page report detailing the impact across the economy.

The report estimated that freight rail contributed:
-- $233.4 billion in total economic output.
-- 153,000 direct rail jobs with 749,000 total jobs supported nationwide.
-- $66 billion in total household income.
-- $25.1 billion in annual tax revenues on the federal, state, and local level.

The top five states for freight rail employment are Texas, Illinois, Nebraska, California, and Georgia, accounting for 34 percent of all freight rail jobs in the U.S.

AAR estimated that some 38 percent of rail traffic in 2023 was tied directly to international trade-related shipments, accounting for 543.5 million tons of goods moved through U.S. ports and across borders.

The complete report can be found here.