On this page

Before you book

Confirm:

  • rail service at origin/destination,
  • commodity accepted,
  • rate/price authority,
  • correct railcar,
  • expected volume,
  • interline carriers,
  • transload if required.

Before ordering cars

Confirm:

  • track capacity,
  • loading schedule,
  • car type,
  • private-car authority if applicable,
  • destination can receive.

Do not order 20 cars into a siding that holds 5.

When empty car arrives

Record:

  • car number,
  • actual/constructive placement,
  • condition,
  • free-time start,
  • loading deadline.

Before loading

Confirm:

  • freight ready,
  • weight,
  • securement/loading plan,
  • doors/hatches,
  • hazmat requirements,
  • destination/routing.

Before release

Make sure:

  • loading complete,
  • car safe,
  • shipping instructions transmitted,
  • no documentation hold,
  • release sent.

After release

Watch:

  • local pull,
  • departure from origin yard,
  • interchange,
  • destination progress.

If the car is still sitting at the industry days after release, that is a different problem than a linehaul delay.

Destination readiness

Before car arrives:

  • receiver track space,
  • unloading labor/equipment,
  • storage capacity,
  • service schedule.

A destination that cannot accept the car can create constructive placement/demurrage.

Interchange watch

Interline shipments can wait at carrier handoffs.

Track:

  • interchange delivered,
  • interchange received,
  • departure.

If events stop, identify which railroad currently has the car.

Private-car planning

Private fleets need:

  • sufficient cars,
  • return/reload plan,
  • maintenance,
  • storage.

Too many cars can be as disruptive as too few.

Dimensional freight

Do not treat clearance as a last-minute approval.

Complete:

  • drawings,
  • clearance,
  • specialty car,
  • inspection,

before scheduling a critical project move.

Common delay causes

  • no car supply,
  • car not spotted,
  • incomplete shipping instructions,
  • car loaded but not released,
  • bad order/mechanical,
  • yard congestion,
  • interchange delay,
  • destination cannot accept,
  • weather/network disruption,
  • dimensional hold,
  • hazmat documentation problem.

When service is poor

First work the railroad's customer-service/local-service channels.

Document:

  • car numbers,
  • dates,
  • planned vs actual spots/pulls,
  • messages,
  • repeated failures.

STB's Rail Customer and Public Assistance program can informally assist with:

  • car supply/service,
  • interchange,
  • rates/charges,
  • damage claims,
  • other railroad/customer disputes.

It cannot order a resolution in the informal process, but it can help parties work through issues and explain STB jurisdiction/process.

Service metrics

STB's reciprocal-switching service framework measures Class I performance using:

  • on-time service,
  • transit-time consistency,
  • industry spot/pull local service.

That reinforces an important operational point:

Rail performance is not only train speed.

Local service matters.

A simple status board

Equipment

  • Ordered / supplied / spotted

Shipment

  • Loaded / instructions / released

Linehaul

  • Moving / held / interchange

Destination

  • Ready / placed / unloaded / released

Cost

  • Demurrage risk / accessorial issue

Bottom line

The best rail move has one owner tracking both:

the freight and the car.

Related:

Want the move to run cleanly?

Send the shipment details before the car is ordered rather than after the problem, and we will help check the plan for the things that usually stall a car.

Request a Freight Quote

Official references

  • STB Rail Customer and Public Assistance: https://www.stb.gov/resources/need-assistance/rcpa/
  • STB Demurrage & Accessorial Charges: https://www.stb.gov/reports-data/demurrage-accessorial-charges/
  • STB service standards: https://www.stb.gov/news-communications/latest-news/pr-24-20/