Dimensional Shipment Policy & Process

Overview

Effective July 1, 2006, Union Pacific is implementing a new policy and process for its clearance and handling of dimensional shipments on our railroad. We have concluded that a change in our approach to these special shipments is necessary to improve our efficiency in handling not only these shipments that consume an extraordinary amount of our resources, but also all of the other business moving by rail in corridors affected by dimensional shipments.

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What is a Dimensional Shipment?

A Dimensional Shipment is a shipment with characteristics that are different from usual carload shipments moved by rail.  It is a load of extraordinary size and/or weight that cannot move as efficiently in the normal flow of rail traffic as other shipments can.  Dimensional loads consume additional rail capacity and resources due to their characteristics.  They usually require one or more of the following:

  • Special handling and/or switching
  • Additional crews on the train handling the load or other trains affected by the train transporting the dimensional load
  • Movements that are more circuitous or "out of route" in order to avoid obstructions and impediments
  • Special train service or dedicated train service where only the dimensional load and others like it are handled by a single train rather than in regular train service

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What is the Effect of a Dimensional Load on Union Pacific Rail Operations?

Dimensional loads usually impede the efficient flow of train traffic on Union Pacific. This effect is the result of speed restrictions placed on dimensional loads so that they can be handled safely.  Most trains handling dimensional loads are restricted to the slowest speed at which the dimensional load can be moved by rail.  That is usually 45 mph or less. Union Pacific's scheduled or timetable speed in many corridors is 60 mph or greater.  Consequently, trains hauling dimensional loads occupy more track time and cause other freight trains to wait longer in terminals or in sidings.

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Why is Union Pacific Changing its Policy and Process for Managing Dimensional Loads?

Union Pacific continues to experience strong and growing demand for rail transportation across its system. Carload (or manifest) business has exceeded the volumes that we had anticipated. As the nation's economy expands (including import and export trade), traffic in all commodity areas has increased the competition for the finite track capacity of our rail network. Union Pacific has invested aggressively in its network to increase capacity so that more traffic can be accommodated safely and efficiently.  Over the past decade, Union Pacific has made $28 billion in capital expenditures, with $2.8 billion expected to be spent on capital items in 2006 alone.

Despite our substantial capital investment, the strong demand for rail service has taxed our capacity in a number of crucial corridors. We have implemented policies and processes in order to maximize the volume of traffic that we can accommodate on our rail network while we continue major construction projects and improvements to add capacity in pivotal areas of our system.

This unprecedented business environment has required us to analyze more carefully how we handle each segment of our business to insure that no one shipment type adversely affects other business on our network. Dimensional loads are one of the key areas we have reviewed. As noted above, dimensional loads have a proportionally larger impact on our constrained network than other manifest shipments. They impair train velocity and consume a significant amount of operating resources.  Union Pacific's goal is to improve system fluidity and velocity in order to maximize the volume of business that can be accommodated on our system safely and efficiently.  As a result, we are adopting changes to institute a more orderly process to determine whether Union Pacific has the ability to accommodate a customer's request for the efficient and safe movement of unusual loads.

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Clearance Process Changes (Effective July 1, 2006)

All new clearance proposals must be submitted through the web-based Dimensional Load Clearance Form.

Note: This is a secure site and requires a user ID and password.  If you do not have a user ID, you will need to register. 

Union Pacific will assess a charge of $500 for the preparation and provision of a Dimensional Load Clearance Form.  File preparation will not begin until payment is received.  This charge only applies for UP created clearance forms and does not apply to clearance files initiated by other carriers participating with UP in a particular interline move. 

Union Pacific is implementing a Dimensional Service Review (DSR) to determine if operating resources are available to handle the dimensional shipment.  The DSR will be required if any one of the following is involved:

  • Shipment width exceeds 13' 3" (13' 0" on the Sunset Corridor between El Paso, TX, and Southern California)
  • Shipment weight exceeds 499,999 lbs
  • Required speed is less than 45 mph
  • Special Train service is required
  • Schnabel or Bolster cars are required
  • Loads requiring movement in corridors against the flow of traffic in directional-running territory

Shipments requiring a DSR will be managed through the following process:

Step 1 -  The shipper of the proposed movement will submit the Dimensional Load Clearance Form through UP's web site.

Step 2 - The UP Clearance Group will determine if the proposal requires a DSR.

Step 3 - If the proposed shipment does not require a DSR, the proposal will be processed by the UP Clearance group just as it is today.

Step 4 - If the proposed shipment does require a DSR, the proposal will be sent through the DSR process to determine if operating resources are available to handle the proposed shipment. This process will be in addition to the current Dimensional Clearance Process.

a.  UP will respond when both processes are complete (estimated timeframe is 30 days)

b.  When both processes have been completed, your UP Marketing & Sales Representative will develop a freight rate applicable to the approved shipment.

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Rate Retrieval Process Changes (Effective July 1, 2006)

  • Freight rates on machinery not requiring a Dimensional Service Review are contained in UP 4467 (Transformers, Turbines, and Generators) & UP 3435 (Other Machinery). The rates are available on the Price & Transit Time Inquiry page.
  • Freight rates in UP 4467 (Transformers, Turbines, and Generators) & UP 3435 (Other Machinery) will not be available for shipments requiring a DSR.  NOTE: Clearance and DSR approval must be received before your UP Marketing & Sales Representative can provide you with rates.

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Special Train & Idler Car Charges (Effective July 1, 2006)

  • Special train charges will increase to $120 per rail mile with a minimum charge of 200 miles, or $24,000, in addition to regular freight charges.
  • Idler car charges will increase to $1,800 per car.

As conditions warrant, we will make additional changes applicable to this resource-intensive segment of our business.  Please visit our web site for additional updates.

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PowerPoint Slides

Dimensional Shipment Policy & Process (PDF File)