Rail Freight Cost from Queens, NY to Chicago, IL for Paper / Pulp

Paper / Pulp
Estimated Tariff
$9,391
per car (all-in)
Per Hundredweight
469.6¢
cents per cwt
Rail Miles
910
routed via AMTK +7
Primary Carrier
AMTK
8-carrier interline

FSC factors as of September 2026 · URCS Phase III + carrier-published mileage FSC

Route Map

Map of rail route from Queens, NY to Chicago, IL showing AMTK → BNSF → CSAO → CSXT → LI → NJT → NS → NYNJ

Rail route · 910 mi · AMTK → BNSF → CSAO → CSXT → LI → NJT → NS → NYNJ

About this lane

The Queens, NY-Chicago, IL rail corridor is primarily served by Amtrak (AMTK), facilitating the movement of paper and pulp products across a critical commercial route. This corridor connects major urban centers and industrial regions, enhancing supply chain efficiency for the paper industry. Notably, the route includes key interchanges with CSX and Norfolk Southern, which further support the distribution of goods throughout the Northeast and Midwest.

Per-Leg Tariff Breakdown

Segment Carrier Miles Line-Haul Fuel Surcharge Total
Starting segment NYA 12 $427 $8 $435
Ending segment NS 899 $8,291 $665 $8,956
Estimated Tariff Total 910 $8,718 $673 $9,391

Run this lane through our calculator

Tweak weight, car type, or year and see how the rate moves. Or talk to us about your real shipment — we coordinate carload and unit-train moves for paper / pulp and other bulk commodities.

Comparable Lanes

Other paper / pulp corridors near this route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to ship paper / pulp by rail from Queens to Chicago?

Steel Wheel Logistics does not publish transit times for this corridor. Actual transit depends on car supply, interchange dwell, switching at origin and destination, and any required transload. When we set up a lane we obtain the serving railroad's current service plan and share it with you before the first load.

What does the fuel surcharge add on a Queens to Chicago rail move?

Each Class I publishes a mileage-based fuel surcharge (FSC) tied to the EIA highway-diesel fuel index. AMTK and any participating carriers each apply their own published cents-per-mile factor to the miles they handle. FSC totals on this lane re-derive monthly as fuel prices move; the figure shown is current as of the date stamped in the hero card above.

Does Steel Wheel Logistics handle paper / pulp moves?

Yes. We coordinate paper / pulp rail freight on single-line and interline routings across the U.S. Class I network, working directly with the carriers and any required short-line or transload partners. Contact us for a discussion of your specific shipment. The figures on this page are indicative estimates; every move is priced after lane and equipment review.

What car type is used for this kind of move?

Paper / Pulp typically moves in boxcar equipment. Actual car selection depends on the specific product spec, packaging, loading and unloading conditions at origin and destination, and current car-supply on the chosen carrier. We help shippers source the right equipment as part of the lane setup.

Is rail more cost-effective than truck on the Queens-Chicago corridor?

At 910 rail miles, rail typically wins on bulk moves at this distance — rail's per-ton-mile cost compresses sharply above ~500 miles and even more sharply at unit-train volumes. Use our rail-vs-truck comparison tool to model specific volumes side-by-side, and remember to account for transload, the truck leg at each end, and demurrage on the rail side.

Indicative estimate only. Steel Wheel Logistics does not guarantee rates. Actual pricing varies by railroad, equipment availability, contract terms, fuel-surcharge revisions, and lane conditions on the day of move. Use this page as a planning ballpark and contact us for a discussion of your specific shipment.