The following guides are mandatory general loading requirements that we require in every shipment offered for movement on our lines. By following these requirements, you will reduce or eliminate any damage to your product during shipment. Overloaded or Unbalanced Hopper Cars
Every year, we deal with thousands of overweight and unevenly loaded hopper cars. Coping with them creates problems for both the railway and shippers. It is in the best interests of all concerned to ensure that more attention is paid to proper loading guidelines. Here are just a few reasons why you will want to follow our guidelines:
- Overweight and unevenly loaded hopper cars can cause derailments, delays and extra costs to you.
- Good loading practices will protect your product and help get it to destination on schedule.
- Respecting loading guidelines will ensure that you do not jeopardize safety on the railway.
We want to ensure safe operations, and reduce unnecessary expenses, inconveniences and delays that result from overloaded and unbalanced hopper cars.
Please read our booklet outlining some of our
loading guidelines.
Closed car shipments
The primary purpose of these rules is safe transit of the rail car from origin to destination.
These rules have been formulated for the purpose of providing safe methods of loading closed cars and must be observed.
AAR Circular No. 42-K "General Rules Covering Loading of Carload Shipments of Commodities in Closed Cars"
Loading, blocking, and bracing of freight in closed trailers and containers for TOFC/COFC service
These rules apply both to trailers and containers regardless of the shipping plan used. Reference to, or illustrations of, trailers in this publication includes both containers and trailers. These rules apply to shipments transported in the Canada, U.S. and Mexico.
AAR Circular 43-E "Rules governing the loading, blocking and bracing of freight in closed trailers and containers for TOFC/COFC service"
Improperly loading of bagged seed
Proper doorway protection should be in place to ensure unbraced bags don't topple out of railcars while in transit or during unloading. To ensure your product isn't compromised, read our
Bagged Seed Loading Guide.