Corn by Rail
The highest-volume grain on North American rails. Feed corn moves from the Corn Belt to feedlots, ethanol plants, and Gulf/PNW export elevators.
| Railcar | Covered hopper (4,750–5,200 cu ft) |
| Typical net load | 100–110 tons per car |
| Bulk density | ~44–46 lb/cu ft |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 01132 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Animal feed, ethanol production, corn syrup and starch milling, export.
How it moves
Shuttle and unit trains of 75–110 cars dominate the export and ethanol lanes; single cars and 5–25 car blocks serve feed mills off short lines. Peak movement follows harvest (Oct–Dec).
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for corn on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Midwest Corn Belt (Grain / Steel / Autos) — Midwest Corn Belt, IA (NS)
- Northern Plains (Grain / Bakken Crude) — Northern Plains, ND (BNSF, NS)
- Vancouver BC (Canadian Grain & Potash Export) — Vancouver BC, BC (CN, CP)
- Omaha (UP HQ / Bakken Grain Yard) — Omaha, NE (UP, BNSF)
- Wichita (Grain & Aerospace) — Wichita, KS (BNSF, UP)
- Sioux Falls (Northern Plains Grain) — Sioux Falls, SD (BNSF, CPKC)
- Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul Grain Hub) — Minneapolis, MN (BNSF, CPKC, UP, CN)
- Milwaukee (Grain & Beverage Hub) — Milwaukee, WI (CPKC, CN, UP)
Common questions
Can corn be shipped by rail?
Yes. Corn moves regularly on the North American rail network in covered hoppers. Shuttle and unit trains of 75–110 cars dominate the export and ethanol lanes; single cars and 5–25 car blocks serve feed mills off short lines.
How many tons of corn fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 100–110 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does corn move in?
Covered hopper (4,750–5,200 cu ft). Because the commodity is dense, smaller-cube cars are common — the weight limit governs.
What is the bulk density of corn?
Roughly 44–46 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 corn 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.