Crude Oil by Rail
Crude by rail connects production basins to refineries the pipelines don't reach — primarily Bakken and Western Canadian barrels to coastal refineries.
| Railcar | DOT-117 tank car (~28,000–30,000 gal) |
| Typical net load | 90–100 tons per car |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 13111 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Refinery feedstock.
How it moves
Unit trains of DOT-117s; volume swings with the pipeline-vs-rail price spread. Canadian heavy crude to the Gulf is the persistent lane.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for crude oil on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Tulsa (BNSF / UP Crude & Grain) — Tulsa, OK (BNSF, UP)
Common questions
Can crude oil be shipped by rail?
Yes. Crude Oil moves regularly on the North American rail network in dot-117 tank cars. Unit trains of DOT-117s; volume swings with the pipeline-vs-rail price spread.
How many tons of crude oil fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 90–100 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does crude oil move in?
DOT-117 tank car (~28,000–30,000 gal). Because the commodity is dense, smaller-cube cars are common — the weight limit governs.
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 crude oil 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.