Well, read Jim Giblin's article in the current issue of Trains Mag. The advantage of the steel wheel is destroyed by the operation of the railroad. Trucks can deliver at the door of the consignee days earlier than can the railroad. The big disadvantage is shipping a lot of stuff to the same consignee, this requires many trucks. Even in situations where the rail has the connections to offer service, they don't have the operational wherewithall to do it in a reasonable timeframe or even on a routinely basis. (Most shippers and consignees would accept long transit times,requireing inventory-in-transit increases, if delivery was routine and regular, even with perishables).