Steel (Coils, Plate, Bar) by Rail
Finished and semi-finished steel — coils ride in purpose-built covered coil cars, plate and structural in gondolas and flats.
| Railcar | Coil car, gondola, bulkhead flat |
| Typical net load | 90–100 tons per car |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 33122 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Automotive, construction, appliances, pipe and tube, service centers.
How it moves
Mill-to-service-center and mill-to-stamper lanes around the Great Lakes, the Southeast's new EAF capacity, and cross-border Mexico flows.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for steel (coils, plate, bar) on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Pueblo (EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel) — Pueblo, CO (BNSF, UP)
- Cleveland (Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Hub) — Cleveland, OH (CSX, NS)
- Gary / Hammond (US Steel & Cleveland-Cliffs) — Gary, IN (BNSF, UP, NS, CSX, CN, CPKC)
- Birmingham (Southern Steel Belt) — Birmingham, AL (BNSF, NS, CSX, CN, CPKC)
- Pittsburgh (Steel & Coal Origin) — Pittsburgh, PA (NS, CSX)
Common questions
Can steel (coils, plate, bar) be shipped by rail?
Yes. Steel (Coils, Plate, Bar) moves regularly on the North American rail network in coil car, gondola, bulkhead flats. Mill-to-service-center and mill-to-stamper lanes around the Great Lakes, the Southeast's new EAF capacity, and cross-border Mexico flows..
How many tons of steel (coils, plate, bar) fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 90–100 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does steel (coils, plate, bar) move in?
Coil car, gondola, bulkhead flat. 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 steel (coils, plate, bar) 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.