Ethanol by Rail
Fuel ethanol cannot move in product pipelines (it absorbs water), so nearly all of it rails from Corn Belt plants to blending terminals.
| Railcar | DOT-117 tank car (~28,500–30,000 gal) |
| Typical net load | 85–95 tons per car |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 28184 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Gasoline blending (E10/E15/E85), industrial alcohol.
How it moves
Unit trains from Iowa/Nebraska/Illinois plants to coastal and metro blending racks — one of the steadiest tank-car franchises on the network.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for ethanol 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 ethanol be shipped by rail?
Yes. Ethanol moves regularly on the North American rail network in dot-117 tank cars. Unit trains from Iowa/Nebraska/Illinois plants to coastal and metro blending racks — one of the steadiest tank-car franchises on the network..
How many tons of ethanol fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 85–95 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does ethanol move in?
DOT-117 tank car (~28,500–30,000 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 ethanol 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.