Dry Fertilizer (Urea, DAP, MAP) by Rail
Urea, DAP and MAP move from Gulf import terminals and domestic plants to inland distribution warehouses ahead of planting seasons.
| Railcar | Covered hopper (3,000–4,750 cu ft) |
| Typical net load | 100–110 tons per car |
| Bulk density | ~45–62 lb/cu ft |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 28712 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Row-crop nutrition — nitrogen (urea) and phosphate (DAP/MAP) applications.
How it moves
Strongly seasonal: heavy flows Jan–Apr and a fall run. Import tonnage rails north from New Orleans-area terminals; potash rails south from Saskatchewan.
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
- Georgia: 7.2 million tons of chemical products, pharmaceuticals and fertilizer moved by rail to, from and within the state in 2017 (Georgia State Rail Plan 2021, p. 15).
- Idaho: 4.6 million tons of fertilizers moved by rail into, out of, within or through the state (through traffic included) in 2010 (Idaho State Rail Plan 2013, p. 65).
- Washington: 3.5 million tons of fertilizers moved by rail to, from, within and through the state in 2016 (Washington State Rail Plan 2019, p. 144).
- Minnesota: 2 million tons of fertilizers moved by rail to, from and within the state in 2019 (Minnesota State Rail Plan 2025, p. 34).
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 dry fertilizer (urea, dap, map) on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Gulf Coast Chemical Corridor — Gulf Coast Chemical Corridor, TX ()
- Saskatchewan Potash Mines — Saskatchewan Potash Mines, SK (CPKC)
Common questions
Can dry fertilizer (urea, dap, map) be shipped by rail?
Yes. Dry Fertilizer (Urea, DAP, MAP) moves regularly on the North American rail network in covered hoppers. Strongly seasonal: heavy flows Jan–Apr and a fall run.
How many tons of dry fertilizer (urea, dap, map) 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 dry fertilizer (urea, dap, map) move in?
Covered hopper (3,000–4,750 cu ft). Because the commodity is dense, smaller-cube cars are common — the weight limit governs.
What is the bulk density of dry fertilizer (urea, dap, map)?
Roughly 45–62 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 dry fertilizer (urea, dap, map) 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.