FREIGHT CAR DISTRIBUTION--A TOTAL SYSTEM

Effective distribution and utilization of the national freight car fleet is one of the most vital requirements for the survival of the railroad industry. Effective freight car distribution must definitely be a total system. One aspect of car utilization is optimum use of available empties. Due to rising costs, freight cars are becoming too capital intensive, and, even though new cars earn more revenue, they are not returning their investment as quickly as they formerly did. To increase the number of loads each car handles per year, improvement must be made in these areas: (1) transit time for loads and empties, (2) loading and unloading time, (3) time waiting for or undergoing repairs, (4) time for cleaning cars (5) distribution procedures to improve availability and avoid idle car days. The report then lists attributes of a desirable car distribution system and comments on freight car distribution among railroads. Discussion of the committee report is presented on pages 54-58.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • The 75th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Railroad Superintendents was held at Le Chateau Champlain, Montreal, Quebec Canada, June 15-17, 1971.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Association of Railroad Superintendents

  18154 Harwood Avenue
  Homewood, IL  United States  60403
• Publication Date: 1971-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 99-108
• Serial:
  • Publication of: American Association of Railroad Superintendents
  • Publisher: American Association of Railroad Superintendents

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car distribution (Railroads); Car utilization (Railroads); Freight cars; Return on investment
• Subject Areas: Finance; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044268
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Association of Railroad Superintendents
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 15 1974 12:00AM