Aggregates & Crushed Stone by Rail
Crushed stone, gravel and construction sand — the heaviest, cheapest tonnage on rail. It only moves where a quarry, a market and a rail line happen to align.
| Railcar | Open-top hopper or gondola |
| Typical net load | 100–115 tons per car |
| Bulk density | ~90–105 lb/cu ft |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 14212 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Road base, concrete and asphalt aggregate, ballast, riprap.
How it moves
Short-haul unit trains from quarry to metro distribution yards; Texas and the Gulf coast host the classic lanes. Freight cost dominates delivered price, so lanes are ruthlessly economic.
By the numbers: state rail plan figures
How much of this commodity group moves by rail, as published in the states' own federally mandated rail plans:
Statewide rail tonnage
- Texas: 50.8 million tons of non-metallic minerals moved by rail in all directions in 2022 (Texas State Rail Plan 2024, p. 169).
- Missouri: 29.9 million tons of gravel or sand moved by rail to, from, within and through the state in 2018 (Missouri State Rail Plan 2022, p. 50).
- Florida: 28.3 million tons of nonmetallic minerals moved by rail in all directions in 2018 (Florida State Rail Plan 2023, p. 265).
- Georgia: 12.6 million tons of nonmetallic minerals moved by rail to, from and within the state (excluding pass-through traffic) in 2017 (Georgia State Rail Plan 2021, p. 97).
- Iowa: 12 million tons of nonmetallic minerals moved by rail in all directions across the state (including through traffic) in 2022 (Iowa State Rail Plan 2025, p. 246).
Single-direction figures
These count movement in one direction only — originated, inbound or outbound as each plan defines it — so they are not comparable with the statewide totals above.
- Wisconsin: 22.3 million tons of gravel or sand originated by rail in the state for an out-of-state destination in 2019 (Wisconsin State Rail Plan 2026, p. 136).
- Illinois: 14.1 million tons of nonmetallic minerals originated by rail in the state in 2019 (Illinois State Rail Plan 2023, p. 267).
- Oklahoma: 10.9 million tons of nonmetallic minerals moved by rail outbound from the state in 2019 (Oklahoma State Rail Plan 2021, p. 101).
Each figure is quoted from the cited state rail plan and reflects that plan's own data year, commodity grouping and methodology — figures from different plans are not directly comparable with each other. Some plans count traffic passing through the state and others exclude it; each line says which.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for aggregates & crushed stone on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Baton Rouge (Gulf Petrochemical/Grain) — Baton Rouge, LA (CSX, UP, NS, CN)
- Louisville (Ohio River Rail/Barge Transfer) — Louisville, KY (NS)
- Memphis (Multi-Modal Crossroads) — Memphis, TN ()
- Port of Houston (National Leader) — Port of Houston, TX ()
- Port of New Orleans — Port of New Orleans, LA ()
- Port of Virginia (Offshore Wind Surge) — Port of Virginia, VA (CSX, NS)
- St. Louis (Primary River Transfer Point) — St. Louis, MO (BNSF, CSX, UP, NS, CN)
Common questions
Can aggregates & crushed stone be shipped by rail?
Yes. Aggregates & Crushed Stone moves regularly on the North American rail network in open-top hopper or gondolas. Short-haul unit trains from quarry to metro distribution yards; Texas and the Gulf coast host the classic lanes.
How many tons of aggregates & crushed stone fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 100–115 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does aggregates & crushed stone move in?
Open-top hopper or gondola. Because the commodity is dense, smaller-cube cars are common — the weight limit governs.
What is the bulk density of aggregates & crushed stone?
Roughly 90–105 lb per cubic foot, depending on grade and condition.
Related tools
- Railcar Capacity Guide — loads and cubic capacities by car type
- Railcar Selector — match a commodity to the right equipment
- Rail vs Truck Calculator — where rail wins on your lane
- Transload Directory — 2,400+ transfer facilities
Shipping aggregates & crushed stone by rail?
Run your lane through the Rail Rate Quote tool for an indicative estimate (the commodity is pre-selected for you), compare modes with Rail vs Truck, or find transfer points in the Transload Directory. We do not guarantee rates — we will talk through your lane before quoting.
Figures on this page are typical industry ranges for reference — actual loads depend on the specific car, commodity grade and railroad rules. Rate estimates are indicative only; Steel Wheel Logistics does not issue binding quotes from this page.