Approximate loads
| Product | Rail | Road |
|---|---|---|
| Crude sunflower oil | rail tank car, about 60 t | tank truck, about 25 t |
| Sunflower cake | hopper car, about 55 t | truck, about 22 t |
| Sunflower soapstock | rail tank car, about 60 t | tank truck, about 25 t |
| Sunflower fatty acids | rail tank car, about 60 t | tank truck, about 25 t |
What the load depends on
- Tank or body volume. Rail tank cars for oil come in different volumes, and so do hopper cars.
- Product density. Sunflower oil has a density of about 0.92 t/m³, so a tank car holds fewer tonnes than cubic metres. The bulk density of sunflower cake is about 0.5–0.6 t/m³, so a hopper car fills up by volume before it reaches its load capacity.
- Rail car load capacity and the railway's axle load limits.
- For road transport — the permitted gross weight of the truck and trailer and the axle loads set by road traffic rules.
- Season. In winter, soapstock and fatty acids are carried in heated tank cars, whose capacity may differ.
How to calculate the number of rail cars
Divide the lot size by the load of one car and round up. For example, 300 t of sunflower cake in 55 t hopper cars: 300 ÷ 55 ≈ 5.5, so you will need 6 hopper cars. You can fill the last car by increasing the lot to 330 t — this brings the freight rate per tonne down.
It is quicker to use the rail car calculator: choose the product, tonnage and transport, then send us the result on WhatsApp.
Rail or road
- Rail cars are more economical over long distances and for volumes from a few hundred tonnes: the rate per tonne is lower.
- Trucks are faster over short distances and for small lots, and deliver straight to your warehouse without transhipment from a station.