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Car order

If using railroad-supplied cars, the shipper requests equipment.

The railroad needs to know:

  • car type,
  • quantity,
  • date,
  • commodity,
  • loading facility.

UP's first-time shipper process calls this the car-order pattern.

Car supply can vary.

Empty movement

The railroad routes an empty car to your serving yard/industry.

Tracking may show it approaching before it is actually spotted.

Spot / placement

The local crew places the car on your facility track.

Actual placement

Car is physically placed where customer can load/unload.

Constructive placement

Under applicable carrier rules, the railroad may notify that the car is available but cannot be physically placed because the customer cannot receive it.

Constructive placement can matter for demurrage.

Use the governing railroad tariff/contract definition.

Track capacity matters

If your siding holds 3 cars and 6 arrive, the serving railroad needs an operating plan.

Potential:

  • hold cars in yard,
  • partial spot,
  • multiple switch cycles.

Facility capacity is part of rail logistics.

Load

Shipper loads the car.

Verify:

  • correct car,
  • cargo weight,
  • distribution,
  • securement,
  • doors/hatches/gates,
  • seal where used,
  • hazmat compliance where applicable.

Shipping instructions

Submit before/at release according to carrier requirements.

Incomplete instructions can stop the car.

Release

Customer tells railroad:

  • loading/unloading complete,
  • car ready for movement.

Do not leave a loaded car unreleased while assuming railroad knows it is ready.

Pull

Local crew removes released car.

STB calls local delivery/pickup performance industry spot and pull.

Loading/unloading clock

The railroad network needs the car back.

Track:

  • placement date/time,
  • applicable free time,
  • release date/time.

Scheduled local service

Some industries are switched on planned days/windows.

Ask the serving carrier:

  • service days,
  • planned window,
  • call-in/order deadline,
  • holiday process.

Missed spot or pull

First:

  • verify the car was properly ordered/released,
  • check facility capacity,
  • contact railroad customer service/local service desk.

If serious recurring service problems cannot be resolved, STB's Rail Customer and Public Assistance can informally help with railroad-car supply/service, interchange, rate/charge and other issues.

Bottom line

The plant-side rail cycle is:

order → spot → load/unload → release → pull

Every step needs a clear owner and timestamp.

Related:

Working out your local cycle?

Send your track capacity, your loading times and the local service days you get, and we will help you see where the clock starts and where it is likely to run out.

Request a Freight Quote

References

  • UP First Time Rail Shipper Checklist: https://www.up.com/shipping/onboarding-steps
  • STB service-performance rule: https://www.stb.gov/news-communications/latest-news/pr-24-20/
  • STB RCPA: https://www.stb.gov/resources/need-assistance/rcpa/