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.
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:
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.
- South Dakota: 2.8 million tons of ethanol moved by rail outbound from the state in 2019 (South Dakota State Rail Plan 2022, p. 111).
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 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.