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Commodity Flow Studies

Commodity flow studies can be obtained from each of the railroads operating in your jurisdiction. Commodity flow survey results report on hazardous materials being transported in your area via rail. These studies are available on a confidential basis. For security reasons, they are not offered to the general public.

Refer to the rail companies below for information on how to obtain commodity flow studies.

BNSF Railway

Local emergency responders, elected, or emergency management officials can access BNSF hazardous materials commodity flow reports for emergency response planning. Simply visit the BNSF website to submit a request form for information about shipments in your community. 

Go to Form

CN Railway

Upon written request, CN Railway provides emergency response agencies or planning groups with specific commodity flow information. These studies report on all hazardous materials transported through the community. Visit CN Railway’s website for instructions on how to submit a Commodity Flow Information Request Form.

Visit CN Railway

CP

Upon written request, CP provides emergency response agencies or planning groups with specific commodity flow information. These reports cover the top 25 or more hazardous commodities transported through the community in rank order. To submit a request form, visit CP’s website for complete instructions.

Visit CP Website

CSX Transportation

If you’re an emergency response, emergency planning, or government official looking for more details about the hazardous materials CSX moves in your jurisdiction, contact CSX Transportation via email for more information.

Email CSX Transportation

Kansas City Southern

Upon written request, Kansas City Southern provides emergency response agencies or planning groups with specific commodity flow information covering all hazardous materials transported through the community. To submit a request, download the report form. Return the completed and notarized form to:

Steve McNealy
U.S. DOT Hazmat Compliance and Emergency Response
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company
P.O. Box 219335
Kansas City, MO 64121-9335

Download Request Form

Norfolk Southern Corporation

To request hazardous material traffic information for your jurisdiction, download and complete the following PDF or Word document form. Then submit it to Norfolk Southern Corporation via email.

Download PDF Form 

Download Word Form 

Email Completed Form

Union Pacific Railroad

Local emergency responders, elected, or emergency management officials can obtain Union Pacific Railroad hazmat commodity flow reports for emergency response planning. Visit Union Pacific’s website to request information about shipments in your community.

Go to Form

Wheeling & Lake Erie

Upon written request, the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company will provide emergency response agencies or planning groups with specific commodity flow information covering all hazardous commodities transported through the community. To submit a request, please email the W&LE Hazardous Materials/Environmental Officer, John Vergis. All requests must be in letter form and on your agency’s official letterhead.

Email W&LE

Additional Commodity Flow Resources

EPA's Hazards Analysis on the Move provides summary guidance on determining what hazardous materials are being transported through a community.

Get the Guide

 

Transportation Research Guidebook's Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP) Report 3: Guidebook for Conducting Local Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Studies updates the U.S. Department of Transportation's Guidance for Conducting Hazardous Materials Flow Surveys. All modes of transportation, all classes and divisions of hazardous materials, and the effects of seasonality on hazardous materials movements are discussed in the guidebook.

Get the Report