Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Vehicles & Machinery / Over-Dimensional Products

Waste & Hazardous

---

GENERAL QUESTIONS

A: Our people set us apart. With years of railroad experience in maintenance of way, operations, customer service, fleet management, marketing, sales, and administration as well as trucking – our people are truly transportation professionals.

Because we are a subsidiary of a shortline railroad, we understand and have contacts throughout the rail industry. Additionally, our parent company owns and makes available heavy-capacity flatcars for shipping large loads. They also own a fleet of boxcars and gondolas.  [back to top]


A: We will offer packaged transportation solutions; we can package rail, trucking, transloading, load securement, crane services, insurance, and fleet management.  [back to top]


A: Rail is a fuel-efficient method of transportation, and can save significant money. Rail can also haul larger, heavier loads than trucks – thus reducing the need for permits, special equipment, escorts, daylight restrictions, and other expensive inconveniences. With driver shortages in the trucking industry, utilizing rail makes sense.  [back to top]


A: Customers typically save 20% to 30% compared to over the road trucking. For truly large pieces, or superloads, the savings can be considerably more.  [back to top]


A: We will not accept personal vehicles or household goods.  [back to top]


A: Shipments can be moved by rail throughout the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and Alaska. We are willing to arrange truck drayage throughout the US and Canada. For oversees shipments, virtually all North American ports have rail access. At this time, we are not involved in international maritime freight forwarding.  [back to top]


A: There are four ways for you to trace your loads:

1. We send emails showing the status and location of the car up to nine times daily.
   
2. We can also rent GPS-equipped impact recorders that enable secure tracking via satellite. A password will be issued.
   
3. You may trace you cars online via our secure website. A password will be issued.
   
4. You may also place a call to our customer service personnel for further clarification.   [back to top]
   

A: We have a growing list of locations accessible through railroads or private contractors. However, many customers request permission to use a private siding that is close to the final delivery point.  [back to top]


A: Railroads insure loads with limited liability, typically up to $25,000. We can arrange additional coverage through an insurance company  [back to top]


A: Photographs should immediately be taken of the damage and the railcar number. Our team will begin by filing insurance claims on your behalf.  [back to top]

VEHICLES & MACHINERY AND OVER-DIMENSIONAL

A: Typical loads can be up to 17 feet tall, 13 feet wide, and 450,000 pounds. Extremely long loads may be placed across more than one railcar. With special equipment and other arrangements, rail can handle even larger loads.
Railroads have handled loads in excess of 19 feet high, 18 feet wide and 1.2 million pounds. Additional charges may apply.  [back to top]


A: While there is no limitation on how small a load can be, we find rail generally becomes uncompetitive for loads less than 40,000 pounds – unless your shipment has excessive dimensions that require permitting or special truck trailers. We suggest combining small shipments to exploit rails weight advantage.  [back to top]


A: No, railroads do not require permits but loads are required to be cleared before movement. This can take several days. If it is an extreme high-wide, railroads may need more time to analyze obstacle removal.  [back to top]


A: Our experience indicates a load takes about three weeks to move across the US. However, certain variables can effect transit time. The larger the load, the longer it can take. Other variables include: number of railroads involved, route, weather, customs, et cetra. If a load is extremely urgent, you can request special train services.  [back to top]


A: Railroads typically will not issue an ETA for oversized loads. We are monitoring numerous loads and will give you an approximation based on historical experience.  [back to top]


A: We need accurate information up front, including:

1. Accurate lengths, widths, heights, and weights to properly clear and price shipments. We may ask for profiles – i.e. cross section measurements – to increase the likelihood that a load will clear.
   
2. Approximate dates the load will ship and the exact date when it must arrive at destination.
   
3. If you are arranging where the piece will be loaded and offloaded, names of the industries to which the tracks belong. We cannot guarantee ability to clear loads nor pricing to general geographic locations - for example, North American Boiler Mfg. as opposed to just Chicago or Pier Y as opposed to just Houston.
   
4. Possibly the center of gravity measurement to ensure safety.
   
5. Whether hazardous materials are present. This is a legal requirement.
   
6. Customs brokerage and importer information is required before shipments moving to or from Canada or Mexico are released for movement. Again this is a legal requirement.
   
7. Possibly lot numbers and bidder numbers for machinery from auction sites; this allows us to communicate with the auctioneers to expedite pickup.  [back to top]
   

A: Yes, we encourage drawing submissions. Both elevation and end views are helpful and may be necessary. Please submit end views that detail all changes in width relative to the base of the load. We will keep any proprietary prints confidential. We may release them to the railroads’ clearance departments or engineers on a need-to-know basis.  [back to top]


A: We often arrange to secure loads to railcars at your request. Most railroads will not secure loads.  [back to top]


A: The origin railroad will arrange to have a carman travel to the loading site and inspect and measure the load. There usually is no additional fee for this.  [back to top]


A: Yes, we have impact recorders that may be rented.  [back to top]


A: On your behalf, we will attempt to work through the problems. However delays may occur and we cannot guarantee the load will clear or at the same price.  [back to top]


A: The railroads only clear loads on the tracks of common-carrier railroads. We will need to know what industry tracks or private railroads will be involved so that we can ensure that the loads will clear on these tracks at origin or destination.  [back to top]


A: When an oversized load requires significant special handling to pass oncoming oversized loads or to move around obstructions, railroads may require the loads to move in special train service. You may also request special train to expedite delivery. Significant additional fees apply for loads handled in special train service.  [back to top]

WASTE & HAZARDOUS

A: You are required to furnish us a Material Safety Data Sheet.  [back to top]

Home | Vehicles & Machinery | Over-Dimensional Products | Waste & Hazardous | Other Commodities | FAQ | Affiliate Companies | Contact | About Us | Trace & Track