Rail Car Cleanliness & Condition

Union Pacific strives to provide clean and safe rail cars to our customers. Cleaning cars left dirty by the last consignee is an unnecessary expense that is passed on to all customers in the form of higher rates. By leaving a rail car in good condition, free of debris, it can be directed to the next shipper for loading, ensuring car quality and improved equipment availability.
By following these guidelines, we can:
  • Increase car availability
  • Avoid car delays
  • Minimize safety concerns
  • Reduce claims
  • Reduce time reporting and handling rejected dirty cars
  • Reduce cost of delayed loads

National Tariff

As a user of rail cars, under the Uniform Freight Classification 6000-M Rule 27, a consignee must remove all lading (unless otherwise provided by applicable rate tariff non-railroad owned dunnage, blocking, bracing, strapping, and any other non-railroad owned material that was part of the inbound shipment and secure interior equipment.
For additional information regarding loading and unloading of rail cars please refer to the Uniform Freight Classification 6000-Series, Rule 27.

Union Pacific Tariffs

Customers are responsible for completely unloading, cleaning, and properly closing and securing rail car doors and hatches prior to releasing Union Pacific cars as empty under UP 1000, section D (user ID or email address required). All product, debris, spillage, residue, garbage and customer-owned dunnage must be removed from all compartments of Union Pacific cars. If Union Pacific cars are not fully emptied and cleaned, Union Pacific will charge a “dirty car” fee as published in UP 4, Item 278 and UP 16, Item 53.

Inspection Checklist by Car Type

To ensure Union Pacific rail cars are released in accordance with guidelines outlined above, Union Pacific customers are encouraged to use the checklists below before releasing a railcar. Report damage, defects or safety issues by accessing Union Pacific's Shipment Management system (user ID and password required). You can also call Customer Care & Support at 800-272-8777.
 
Boxcar Check List
  • Clean and remove all debris and spillage
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Close and secure all doors
  • Use of excessive force with a mechanical device for opening or closing doors is prohibited
  • Remove USDA placards that have expired
Boxcar Damage or Defects
Doors
  • Top track damage
  • Bottom track damage
  • Door hanger damage or missing
  • Door stop and hold open devices are loose or unsecured or missing
  • Door appliances, operating rods, etc. are loose or non-operational or missing
  • Bulging door
Interior
  • Broken or soft boards
  • Holes in floors/sidewalls/roofs
  • Remove and dispose of any nails, boards, wood, cardboard, paper and banding on the floor and/or attached to floors and sidewalls
  • Clean any spilled product as well as dirt or oil left by customer vehicles loading or unloading product
Coil Cars
  • Clean and remove all debris
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Replace and secure load dividers (crossbars) with pins
Covered Hoppers
  • Ensure all product has been emptied from all compartments
  • Clean exterior roof of loose or compacted debris or spillage
  • Clean track of any excess spillage or residue
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Close and lock outlet gates
  • Close and secure outlet caps
  • Close and lock hatches
Covered Hopper Damage or Defects:
Gates
  • Gate is non-operational
  • Gate locks do not function properly or are non-operational
  • Gate slides/tracks do not function properly or are non-operational
  • Capstans do not function properly or are non-operational
  • Missing slides or other gate parts
  • Gate leakage or bad gate seal
  • Stops are cracked, broken, or damaged
Roof
  • Significant dents or roof cracks
  • Missing hatch cover(s)
  • Leakage or bad hatch gaskets
  • Hatch cover(s) will not lock
  • Hatch cover(s) will not close
  • Batten bars damaged or non-functional
  • Broken walkways
Open Top Hoppers
  • Ensure all product has been emptied from all compartments
  • Loosen and remove any hardened residue
  • Clean track of any excess spillage or residue
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Close and lock outlet gates
  • Close and secure outlet caps
Flat Cars
  • Clean and remove all debris including shipper dunnage
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Reset all cables on their respective spinals, and secure
Flat Car Car Damage or Defects:
  • Broken or soft boards
  • Missing parts
Gondolas
  • Ensure all product has been unloaded
  • Loosen any compacted residue
  • Sweep to remove any remaining residue
  • Clean track of any excess spillage or residue
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
Refrigerated Box Cars
  • Clean and remove all debris and spillage
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Close and secure all doors
  • Use of excessive force with a mechanical device to open or close doors is prohibited
  • Remove and dispose of any nails, boards, wood, cardboard, paper and banding on the floor and/or attached to floors and sidewalls
  • Clean any spilled product as well as dirt or oil left by customer vehicles loading or unloading product
Tank Cars
  • Ensure all product has been unloaded
  • Clean track, rail car wheels and safety appliances of any excess spillage or residue
  • Inspect and report any damage or defects
  • Clean any spilled product as well as dirt or oil left by customer vehicles loading or unloading product 

Pooled Cars

For those cars assigned to a customer or TCS pool, the assigned customer is responsible for all cleaning of the car. The shipper is to monitor pooled car numbers to ensure that dirty pooled cars received from their consignees are not reported as a dirty car unsuitable for loading to Union Pacific; rather, dirty pooled cars are to be cleaned at the assigned customer's expense.

Identifying UP Controlled Cars

UP controlled cars are equipment leased or owned by Union Pacific. These cars can be identified by:
  • Cars are in an AAR Pool starting with 802
  • UP is the lessee in EMIS
  • Car is stenciled with one of the following marks: ARMN, CHTT, CMO, CNW, CTRN, DRGW, MKT, MP, SP, SSW, SSWN, UP, WP
  • Check a rail car mark.

Releasing a Dirty Car

The Dirty Car Cleaning program was designed to improve the quality and availability of rail cars for UP customers. To notify Union Pacific of any rail car judged by a customer to be unsuitable for loading, use the Shipment Management system (user ID and password required).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between a dirty car and a bad order car?
A: Dirty cars only need to be cleaned, and bad order cars need mechanical work due to damage, defects, or safety issues.
Q. If a UP car is placed by another railroad, who do I report the dirty car to?
A: Report damage, defects or safety issues by accessing Shipment Management user ID and password required). You can also call Customer Care & Support at 800-272-8777.