Enter your commodity and total tonnage — see how many railcars the move takes, which car type and size fits, and whether your load weighs out or cubes out. Planning figures for 286,000 lb and 263,000 lb gross rail load, side by side.
Every railcar has two ceilings. The weight ceiling is the car's gross rail load (GRL) — 286,000 lb on most mainlines, 263,000 lb on some restricted short lines and branch lines — minus the empty weight of the car itself. The cube ceiling is how many tons fit in the car's cubic capacity (or gallons, for tank cars) at your commodity's bulk density. Whichever ceiling you hit first sets the real net tons per car.
Dense commodities like sand, cement, or potash hit the weight limit with room still left in the car — they weigh out. Light commodities like plastic pellets, wood chips, or DDGS fill the car's volume before reaching the weight limit — they cube out. Matching your commodity to the right car size is how shippers avoid paying to move half-empty equipment.
If any segment of your route — often the first or last mile on a short line — is rated for 263,000 lb GRL, every car on the move loses roughly 11–12 net tons. On a dense commodity that can add cars to the move, so it's worth confirming line ratings before you commit to a loading plan. We check this as part of routing.
Figures here are planning estimates built from published railcar specifications and standard bulk density references. Actual loading varies by equipment series, commodity condition (moisture, particle size, temperature), loading practice, and route restrictions. We do not guarantee loading figures or rates.
