Union Pacific Refrigerated Boxcar Loading & Unloading Requirements
Announcement Number: BU2023-14
Categories: Food and Beverage
Posted Date: May 5, 2023
As the warm summer months approach, we wanted to take a minute to remind everyone of the Union Pacific Refrigerated Boxcar Loading & Unloading Requirements. These requirements are a critical step to ensure your product is loaded properly and arrives at its final destination fresh and damage free.
For a comprehensive guide, download Shipment Quality Requirements for Refrigerated Products. If you have any questions, please contact your sales representative.
Before You Load
Inspect empty rail car
• Check for damage that might compromise the cold chain including damage to ceiling panels, side walls and doors
• Sweep and clean out any debris
• Ensure floor drains located at all four corners are plugged on the inside and underneath the floor of the rail car as well as under the outside corners of the car
Pre-cool the empty rail car within 5 degrees of set-point temperature
• Verify the reefer unit is working properly and confirm fuel level
• Ensure the interior of the car is cooled properly for optimal cold chain integrity
Check the temperature of the product you plan to load
• The product’s core temperature should not exceed five degrees from the set point of the rail car
• If the product is not at the set point temperature, do not load until the required product temperature is restored; It is the shipper’s responsibility to monitor and maintain the product’s temperature during loading
• It’s important to note that if properly pre-cooled, rail cars are designed to maintain temperature of the rail car only; The rail car refrigeration unit is not intended to increase or decrease the product temperature during transportation
Ensure loading area is properly cooled and protective measures are followed to prevent loss of temperature and abuse.
Once all the pre-loading requirements have been met and the rail car and refrigeration unit are deemed suitable, loading can begin.
Loading
Always shut off the refrigeration unit while the rail car doors are open during loading and unloading
• Protect your freight from humidity-related freezing or thawing
• Prevent overworking the refrigeration unit which can lead to future failures
Load within 4 hours or less to protect the integrity of the product being shipped
• Loading during cooler times of the day (early morning, evening, and nighttime) will also help safeguard the cold chain
• Follow AAR loading guidelines and dimensional restrictions to protect airflow and ensure load integrity
• Document final load by taking origin loading photos of the inside of the rail car at both A and B ends as well as the doorway
Close the rail car door, seal car, and turn the refrigeration unit back on
• Use cable seals with a minimum diameter of 1/8” or bolt seals and utilize railcar’s high security hasp, if available, as an additional security measure
• Ensure refrigeration unit is running properly and verify the correct Intelliset setting is selected
Waybill and Release Car
Unloading
Unload rail car within 24 hours of arrival at destination
Always shut off the refrigeration unit while the rail car doors are open during loading and unloading
Immediately notify UP of any rail car defects, temperature or claim issues upon arrival and document with photos
Completely unload all product, packaging, and dunnage material and fully clean out rail car
Ensure floor drain plugs are re-secured after cleaning
Properly close and secure doors and ensure refrigeration unit is off prior to releasing cars as empty
Sincerely,
UPRR Refrigerated Team