RTEX Railcar Leasing and Sales provides a wide range of freight railcars designed to support the transportation needs of industries across North America. From bulk commodities and industrial materials to packaged goods and liquid chemicals, selecting the right railcar type is critical for safe, efficient, and cost-effective rail transportation.
Our team works closely with shippers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and rail-served facilities to match the right railcar with each commodity and shipping requirement. Whether you need equipment for short-term capacity or long-term leasing solutions, RTEX can help source and position railcars throughout the North American rail network.
Below are the primary railcar types commonly used in freight service and available through RTEX.
Boxcars
Boxcars provide secure, enclosed rail transportation for palletized, packaged, and high-value freight. These railcars protect commodities from weather, contamination, and damage during transit and are widely used across manufacturing, agriculture, and distribution industries.
Common boxcar shipments include lumber, paper products, packaged foods, appliances, automotive parts, and palletized consumer goods.
Covered Hoppers
Covered hopper railcars are designed to transport dry bulk commodities that require protection from moisture and contamination. These cars allow for gravity or pneumatic unloading and are commonly used across plastics, agriculture, chemical, and construction industries.
Typical commodities include plastic pellets, grain, fertilizer, cement, fly ash, sand, and other dry industrial materials.
👉 Learn more about Covered Hoppers
Gondolas
Gondola railcars are open-top cars built for heavy, durable commodities that do not require weather protection. Their open design allows easy loading with cranes, magnets, or conveyors and supports both manual and mechanical unloading methods.
Gondolas are commonly used to transport scrap metal, steel products, aggregates, woodchips, and construction materials.
👉 Learn more about Gondolas
Flatcars
Flatcars feature an open deck design used to transport oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped freight that cannot fit in enclosed railcars. They allow flexible loading from the top or sides using cranes or heavy equipment.
Flatcars are commonly used for steel beams, pipe, lumber, heavy machinery, construction equipment, and large industrial components.
👉 Learn more about Flatcars
Open Top Hoppers
Open top hopper railcars are designed for dense bulk materials that can be exposed to weather and require bottom discharge or rotary dumping. These cars are commonly used in mining, energy, and aggregate transportation.
Typical commodities include coal, crushed stone, sand, ballast, mineral ores, and coke.
👉 Learn more about Open Top Hoppers
Tank Cars
Tank cars are specialized railcars designed to safely transport liquid and certain gaseous commodities. These railcars meet strict regulatory standards and may include insulation, heating coils, or specialty linings depending on the commodity being transported.
Common shipments include petroleum products, ethanol, biodiesel, liquid chemicals, industrial solvents, and liquid fertilizers.
👉 Learn more about Tank Cars
Find the Right Railcar for Your Shipment
If you need assistance identifying the right railcar type for your commodity or shipping requirements, the RTEX team can help. With decades of experience in railcar leasing, sourcing, and fleet management, we work with customers across North America to secure the equipment they need.
Contact RTEX today to discuss availability, leasing options, and current railcar inventory.