FLEET SIZING

"Right Size" Your Fleet with Confidence

Too many railcars wastes money, while too few leaves you scrambling . . . and wastes more money. With rail network insights you will know exactly what's needed for any route.

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Eliminate Costly Misses

Incorrectly sized railcar fleets create costly problems. Too many cars waste capital on idle equipment and storage; too few lead to delays and last-minute scrambles at premium rates.

RailState’s network-wide cycle time data ensures your fleet aligns with actual demand, reducing wasted costs and operational risk.

  • Accurately determine fleet needs, preventing expensive oversupply.
  • Avoid emergency leases or costly trucking from fleet shortages
  • Reduce yard congestion and storage fees by eliminating unnecessary railcars
Route Metrics Agriculture

Manage Peak Demand and Slow Routes

Estimating fleet size without reliable cycle times on new routes means calculations based on guesswork.

Get cycle-time data by route and train type so your fleet planning anticipates demand fluctuations.

  • Plan fleet sizes with data-driven insights into seasonal peak cycles
  • Adjust fleet size proactively on congested routes
  • Eliminate guesswork from fleet sizing for new markets or routes

Rate Negotiations Backed by Data

Without the right data, evaluating lease or timing maintenance programs is a game filled with uncertainty.

Add certainty to those decisions with advanced knowledge of what car usage you’ll need and when. 

  • Increased precision of actual need and timing 
  • Lower risks of maintenance programs by aligning with of periods of lower demand
  • Foresight to time the market on new purchases and leases

Explore Other Use Cases

Verified Car Delivery

Automated confirmation and documented proof of everything through your gate

First Mile/Last Mile

Eliminate uncertainty and manage crew time effectively with visibility into what's headed your way

Fleet Sizing

Reduce fleet size risk with cycle time data over any lane

Railcar Pipeline

Identify car supply anywhere on the network

Carrier Relationships

Have more productive conversations and identify opportunities

Market Intelligence

Explore new opportunities and keep an eye on the competition

Equipment Market Intel

Make informed decisions in the secondary equipment market

Commodity Flows

Up-to-the minute insights on commodity movements across North America

Our Coverage Area

We have completed coverage across Canada, the US-Canada border, the US-Mexico border, and we are quickly expanding  across the United States.

  • Blue: Up to 4 years of data history
  • Green: Coming online within the next 90 days

Latest Insights

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Aerial view of container port

Container Crunch Canada: Tackling Increased Dwell, March 2025

Through March 25, RailState data showed increased train volume and larger trains across CN’s network to address the influx of containers. CPKC, on the other hand, has made fewer changes in train volumes or train size.
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Chart of Trains from the US and Canada since February 1

Cross-Border Rail Volumes – March 5, 2025

The volume of railcars moving across the border from Canada has grown even more than train volumes. This is true across most commodity types, with the most recent 7-day average volumes up 17-31% above their 30-day average. 
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Chart of Trains from the US and Canada since February 1

Cross-Border Rail Volumes – March 4, 2025

RailState, the industry's only provider of rail network intelligence independently monitors cross-border train movements in real-time. With tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico going into effect today, we're monitoring the impacts to the rail supply chain as they happen.
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Chart of Trains from the US and Canada since February 1

Cross-Border Rail Volumes – March 3, 2025

March 3 Update - Cross-border rail volumes across the US-CAN border fell over the weekend. Autorack volume from the US into Mexico remained high through the weekend.
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Chart of Trains from the US and Canada since February 1

Cross-Border Rail Volumes – March 2, 2025

March 2 Update - Train volumes from Canada fall. Autorack volume from the US into Mexico spike.
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Chart of Trains from the US and Canada since February 1

Cross-Border Rail Volumes – March 1, 2025

Train volumes from Canada have grown 14% over the 30-day average, and autorack volumes are up 48%.
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