Paper & Pulp by Rail
Rolls of containerboard, printing paper and market pulp move in clean, cushioned high-cube boxcars from Southern and Canadian mills.
| Railcar | High-cube boxcar (60 ft, cushioned) |
| Typical net load | 70–90 tons per car |
| Loading constraint | Cubes out (volume-limited) |
| STCC | 26211 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Corrugated boxes, tissue, printing, export pulp.
How it moves
Mill-to-converter lanes across the Southeast and cross-border from Eastern Canada; the boxcar fleet serving this traffic is aging, which keeps car supply tight.
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
- Kentucky: 6.7 million tons of pulp, paper or allied products moved by rail in all directions across the state (including through traffic) in 2021 (Kentucky State Rail Plan 2025, p. 79).
- Georgia: 5.5 million tons of pulp, paper and allied products moved by rail to, from and within the state (excluding pass-through traffic) in 2017 (Georgia State Rail Plan 2021, p. 97).
- Florida: 3.9 million tons of pulp, paper or allied products moved by rail in all directions in 2018 (Florida State Rail Plan 2023, p. 265).
- Mississippi: 2.2 million tons of pulp, paper or allied products moved by rail to, from and within the state (excluding through traffic) in 2017 (Mississippi State Rail Plan 2022, p. 112).
- Idaho: 2.2 million tons of pulp, newsprint, paper and paperboard moved by rail into, out of, within or through the state (through traffic included) in 2010 (Idaho State Rail Plan 2013, p. 65).
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.
- Louisiana: 2.5 million tons of fiber, paper, or pulpboard moved by rail outbound from the state in 2021 (Louisiana State Rail Plan 2024, p. 61).
- Oklahoma: 1.3 million tons of pulp, paper or allied products moved by rail outbound from the state in 2019 (Oklahoma State Rail Plan 2021, p. 101).
- South Carolina: 1.2 million tons of pulp, paper, or allied products moved by rail outbound from the state in 2022 (South Carolina State Rail Plan 2024, p. 55).
- Wisconsin: 988,748 tons of pulp or pulp mill products terminated by rail in the state in 2019 (Wisconsin State Rail Plan 2026, p. 139).
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 paper & pulp 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 paper & pulp be shipped by rail?
Yes. Paper & Pulp moves regularly on the North American rail network in high-cube boxcars. Mill-to-converter lanes across the Southeast and cross-border from Eastern Canada; the boxcar fleet serving this traffic is aging, which keeps car supply tight..
How many tons of paper & pulp fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 70–90 net tons per car — the car fills up (cubes out) before it reaches its weight limit.
What railcar does paper & pulp move in?
High-cube boxcar (60 ft, cushioned). 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 paper & pulp 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.