Soybean Meal by Rail
The protein half of the soybean crush, moving from Midwest crush plants to feed mills and export terminals.
| Railcar | Covered hopper (5,200+ cu ft) |
| Typical net load | 95–105 tons per car |
| Bulk density | ~38–42 lb/cu ft |
| Loading constraint | Varies by grade |
| STCC | 20923 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Poultry, swine, dairy and aquaculture feed — the backbone protein of animal rations.
How it moves
Single cars and blocks to feed mills; unit trains to export. New crush capacity built for renewable diesel has added meal tonnage across 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:
Statewide rail tonnage
- Washington: 5.9 million tons of animal feed moved by rail to, from, within and through the state in 2016 (Washington State Rail Plan 2019, p. 144).
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.
- Missouri: 2.4 million tons of soybean oil and by-products moved by rail outbound from the state in 2018 (Missouri State Rail Plan 2022, p. 51).
- South Dakota: 401,000 tons of soybean cake, meal and screenings 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 soybean meal 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 soybean meal be shipped by rail?
Yes. Soybean Meal moves regularly on the North American rail network in covered hoppers. Single cars and blocks to feed mills; unit trains to export.
How many tons of soybean meal fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 95–105 net tons per car.
What railcar does soybean meal move in?
Covered hopper (5,200+ cu ft). Car choice varies with grade and lane.
What is the bulk density of soybean meal?
Roughly 38–42 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 soybean meal 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.