Lumber & Wood Products by Rail
Dimensional lumber, panels and engineered wood ride centerbeam flats from Canadian and Southern mills to distribution yards near housing markets.
| Railcar | Centerbeam flat (73 ft) |
| Typical net load | 75–95 tons per car |
| Loading constraint | Cubes out (volume-limited) |
| STCC | 24211 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Homebuilding, remodeling, industrial packaging.
How it moves
BC and Alberta mills feed the US Midwest and Northeast; Southern Yellow Pine serves the Southeast. Volume tracks housing starts. Loads are strapped in wrapped packages either side of the center beam.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for lumber & wood products on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Jacksonville (JAXPORT, Forest Products Hub) — Jacksonville, FL (CSX, NS)
- Port of Baltimore (Autos & Farm Equipment) — Port of Baltimore, MD (CSX, NS)
- Port of Mobile (#1 US Forest Products) — Port of Mobile, AL (NS, CN)
- Seattle/Tacoma Cargo Terminal (Pacific Northwest) — Seattle/Tacoma Cargo Terminal, WA (BNSF, UP, NS)
- Southeast Pine Belt (Forest Products) — Southeast Pine Belt, MS (CSX, NS, CN)
- Pine Bluff (UP Yard) — Pine Bluff, AR (UP)
Common questions
Can lumber & wood products be shipped by rail?
Yes. Lumber & Wood Products moves regularly on the North American rail network in centerbeam flats. BC and Alberta mills feed the US Midwest and Northeast; Southern Yellow Pine serves the Southeast.
How many tons of lumber & wood products fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 75–95 net tons per car — the car fills up (cubes out) before it reaches its weight limit.
What railcar does lumber & wood products move in?
Centerbeam flat (73 ft). Because the commodity is light for its volume, shippers prefer the largest cubic capacity available.
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 lumber & wood products 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.