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.
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: 10.9 million tons of primary metal products moved by rail in all directions across the state (including through traffic) in 2021 (Kentucky State Rail Plan 2025, p. 79).
- New Jersey: 3 million tons of primary metal products moved by rail to, from, within and through the state in 2018 (New Jersey State Rail Plan 2025, p. 138).
- Mississippi: 2.8 million tons of primary metal products moved by rail to, from and within the state (excluding through traffic) in 2017 (Mississippi State Rail Plan 2022, p. 112).
- Georgia: 1.5 million tons of metals and metal products moved by rail to, from and within the state in 2017 (Georgia State Rail Plan 2021, p. 15).
- Florida: 1.1 million tons of primary metal products moved by rail in all directions in 2018 (Florida State Rail Plan 2023, p. 265).
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.
- Indiana: 8.5 million tons of primary metal products originated by rail in the state in 2018 (Indiana State Rail Plan 2021, p. 125).
- Ohio: 5.8 million tons of primary metal products terminated by rail in the state in 2022 (Ohio State Rail Plan 2025, p. 78).
- Alabama: 3.4 million tons of primary metal products originated by rail in the state in 2020 (Alabama State Rail Plan 2024, p. 102).
- Pennsylvania: 3.4 million tons of primary metal products terminated by rail in the state in 2022 (Pennsylvania State Rail Plan 2025, p. 143).
- Louisiana: 3.2 million tons of primary iron or steel products moved through the state by rail in 2021 (Louisiana State Rail Plan 2024, p. 61).
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 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.