B2 News Operations & Logistics · May 20, 2026

Formula 1 experiments with freight rail

DHL moved F1 race equipment by train for the first time, cutting emissions without missing deadlines.

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DHL Global Forwarding has pulled off something genuinely surprising: it moved Formula 1 race equipment by intermodal rail for the very first time. Around 50 containers — mostly 40-foot high-cube units — made the journey from Miami to Montreal after the May 3 race, replacing the trucks that would normally handle nearly 70% of that freight. Sensors and tracking devices monitored every container along the way to protect cargo integrity and guarantee on-time delivery.

The numbers behind F1 logistics are staggering. DHL shifts around 1,323 tons of equipment per event across 24 locations on five continents. Race cars travel by freighter aircraft because they're indispensable on race day. Non-critical gear — hospitality suites, fan zones, garage kits — moves by container vessel on long rotations, with five or six identical sets leapfrogging around the globe. Up to 400 trucks handle the final legs, many running day and night with tandem-driver teams.

So why bother adding rail to this already complex mix? Sustainability. F1 has set a net-zero carbon target for 2030, and DHL is aiming to fully decarbonize by 2050. Rail cuts emissions significantly compared to road freight, and this pilot proved it can still meet F1's unforgiving deadlines. 'Introducing rail into our race-to-race logistics mix shows how established transport modes can be applied in new ways to support sustainability in a highly time-critical environment,' said Paul Fowler, DHL's head of global motorsports logistics.

CSX is the likely rail provider, given its intermodal terminals in both Miami and Montreal — though DHL hasn't confirmed this. The data collected from this pilot will now feed into bigger decisions about the future.

Subject to the calendar structure, operational feasibility and results from this year's trial, DHL Global Forwarding and Formula 1 are currently evaluating opportunities to scale rail usage in North America, starting with the 2027 season. If it works, a sport famous for burning fuel at 15,000 rpm might quietly become a case study in greener supply chain thinking.

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📚 Key vocabulary

intermodal (adj)
involving the use of two or more different types of transport — such as rail, road, and sea — in a single journey
"The company reduced costs by switching to an intermodal solution that combined rail and truck delivery."
cargo integrity (phrase)
the condition of goods during transport, meaning they arrive undamaged, complete, and on time
"The team installed temperature sensors throughout the shipment to maintain cargo integrity on the long ocean voyage."
decarbonize (verb)
to reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from a business, industry, or process
"The airline announced a ten-year plan to decarbonize its short-haul routes by switching to sustainable fuel."
leapfrog (verb)
to move ahead by passing over intermediate stages or positions; in logistics, to send shipments in overlapping rotations so one is always ahead of the other
"By leapfrogging container sets between ports, the operator kept a constant supply of equipment at every destination."
indispensable (adj)
absolutely necessary and impossible to do without
"Real-time tracking data has become indispensable for modern warehouse managers handling high-value shipments."

✨ Useful phrases for this topic

"scale rail usage"
Use this when discussing plans to expand the use of rail transport beyond a small pilot or trial.
"After a successful test run, the operations director proposed a budget to scale rail usage across their European distribution network."
"subject to operational feasibility"
Use this in business writing or meetings when you want to express that a plan depends on whether it is practically possible to carry out.
"The board approved the new delivery model subject to operational feasibility and a full cost review."
"time-critical environment"
Use this to describe a situation where delays are not acceptable and everything must happen on a strict schedule.
"Working in a time-critical environment like hospital supply chain means every stockout can have serious consequences."

Advanced sentence structures

Patterns from this article you can use in meetings, emails, and everyday English

Structure 1

In context

Introducing rail into our race-to-race logistics mix shows how established transport modes can be applied in new ways to support sustainability in a highly time-critical environment.

The skeleton

Frame: [Action/Development] shows how [noun phrase] can be applied in new ways to [verb phrase].

What it does: Presents an example as evidence of a broader principle or possibility.

Quick swap: "This project shows how traditional teaching methods can be applied in new ways to support remote learning."

More examples

  • "This campaign shows how social media platforms can be applied in new ways to raise awareness about mental health."
  • "The trial shows how existing warehouse space can be applied in new ways to reduce delivery times."
  • "Her research shows how classical music can be applied in new ways to support cognitive development in children."

Easy exercise

Arrange the words and add the missing structural elements to build a correct sentence.

  1. this pilot · shows how · freight data · can be applied in new ways · to improve route planning
  2. this study · shows how · urban green spaces · can be applied in new ways · to reduce stress in city workers
Show answers
  • "This pilot shows how freight data can be applied in new ways to improve route planning."
  • "This study shows how urban green spaces can be applied in new ways to reduce stress in city workers."

Open exercise

Write your own sentence using this structure. You can write about anything — here are some ideas if you need them:

  • A technology being used in an unexpected industry
  • A new approach to an old workplace process
  • A creative solution to an everyday problem

One possible answer: "This initiative shows how drone technology can be applied in new ways to support medical deliveries in rural areas."

Structure 2

In context

Subject to the calendar structure, operational feasibility and results from this year's trial, DHL Global Forwarding and Formula 1 are currently evaluating opportunities to scale rail usage in North America.

The skeleton

Frame: Subject to [condition 1], [condition 2] and [condition 3], [subject] [verb phrase].

What it does: States that a plan depends on certain conditions being met before it can go ahead.

Quick swap: "Subject to budget approval, staffing availability and board agreement, the company plans to open two new offices next year."

More examples

  • "Subject to government approval, market demand and environmental impact assessments, the developer intends to begin construction in 2026."
  • "Subject to test results, patient consent and doctor recommendations, the new treatment will be offered at three hospitals."
  • "Subject to funding, venue availability and volunteer numbers, the festival organisers plan to expand the event to a second day."

Easy exercise

Arrange the words and add the missing structural elements to build a correct sentence.

  1. safety testing · regulatory approval · supply chain readiness · the manufacturer plans to launch the product · subject to
  2. weather conditions · ticket sales · local authority permits · the outdoor concert series will continue next summer · subject to
Show answers
  • "Subject to safety testing, regulatory approval and supply chain readiness, the manufacturer plans to launch the product."
  • "Subject to weather conditions, ticket sales and local authority permits, the outdoor concert series will continue next summer."

Open exercise

Write your own sentence using this structure. You can write about anything — here are some ideas if you need them:

  • A business expansion or new service being planned
  • A policy or workplace change under consideration
  • A personal or travel plan that depends on several factors

One possible answer: "Subject to visa approval, flight availability and accommodation costs, she is planning to attend the conference in Singapore."

💬 Discussion questions

1

DHL replaced trucks with trains to cut emissions — but it took years before anyone tried it. Why do you think companies are often slow to change transport methods that are already working?

2

Formula 1 is associated with speed and burning fuel. Do you think it is a good idea for F1 to position itself as a leader in sustainability, or does it feel contradictory to you?

3

In your industry or company, are there any logistics or operational processes that could be made greener? What would make it difficult to change them?

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