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In April, CN plans to launch EcoRide, a new container chassis designed to reduce fuel consumption 8 percent to 10 percent when containers are trucked to and from intermodal terminals. The chassis — which weighs 15 percent less than conventional CN chassis — is scheduled to debut in Ontario, according to the Class I.

Developed in collaboration with an undisclosed Canadian supplier, EcoRide is equipped with side skirts to reduce aerodynamic drag and low-rolling resistance tires on each axle instead of a conventional four tires per axle.

“After the successful launch last year of EcoTherm, our new greener insulated container, the CN team started to explore other opportunities to provide customers better supply-chain solutions that reduce carbon emissions,” said Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, in a prepared statement. “CN's next steps in environmental innovation will include testing hybrid container cranes, in-terminal hybrid trucks and energy efficient generators.”

Later this month, the Class I plans to deploy hybrid shunt trucks, which are used to switch containers, at its Brampton, Ontario, intermodal terminal.