U.S. freight railroads play a critical role in the nation’s ability to build. For residential and commercial construction, railroads transport a variety of building materials, including steel, stone, non‐metallic minerals, wood products and plastics. At the end of the residential construction process, a newly built dwelling is filled with durable consumer goods, such as household appliances — carried by rail. Railroads are also essential to one of the largest industries in the world, pulp and paper. Pulp and paper are most commonly processed to make everything from paper and food packaging to cardboard, bandages and LCD screens.

Here is a high-level overview of how freight railroads help transport building construction commodities:

The movement of forest products like lumber has long been a bellwether for the American economy. Freight rail movements are largely dependent on the demand for the products railroads haul. Data indicates there is a strong correlation between freight rail lumber movements and housing starts, a critical indicator of economic strength.

America’s construction and lumber industries rely heavily on the country’s freight railroads to move lumber and wood products, including milled lumber and other construction panels such as wood particle, which is used to make furniture. These materials are essential to building America as they create everything from walls to doors, floors and roofs.

Lumber is typically transported on one of three types of cars — centerbeams, boxcars and bulkhead flatcars. Centerbeams (shown in the image above) are preferred for lumber transport because they can be loaded and unloaded simultaneously from both sides, getting them back into service quicker. The standard 73′ centerbeam flatcar can carry about 200,000 lbs. or more and is also used to carry other construction materials, such as wallboard. In fact, one centerbeam rail car carries enough framing lumber to build about six homes.

In addition to lumber, railroads carry wood-related materials such as millwork, veneer and plywood. These materials are transported to manufacturers of paneling, furniture, trim, molding and flooring, and to distributors of building materials.

Railroads haul the iron ore, steel scrap and coke that are used to make steel, which is used to manufacture products like automobiles and appliances. Railroads also move steel slabs, concrete reinforcing bars and various kinds of pipe for use in construction projects. Steel slabs produced at the steel mill are transported to fabricators in specialized flat cars (shown in the image above). A loaded flat car is extremely heavy — carrying approximately 110 tons of steel per car. To maximize efficiency, railroads have engineered a lighter-weight flat car that can carry one additional steel slab per carload.

Here’s a quick look at the overall steel transportation process:

Construction aggregates — like crushed stone, sand and gravel — are used in virtually every construction project, from roads to runways to buildings and sewer systems. These aggregates are found in nearly every state in the nation, making long-distance shipments of these materials unnecessary.

With one railcar carrying as much aggregate as four truck-trailers, freight rail is an environmentally friendly way to move aggregates. Freight railroads transport raw materials such as crushed stone, limestone, sand, gravel and gypsum from quarries or suppliers to cement and ready-mix concrete plants where cement and clay products materials such as brick and concrete are produced. These materials are then transported to construction distribution centers and construction sites where they serve a wide range of purposes, from cement used in building foundations to Gypsum used in wallboard production and clay-based ceramic tile used in floors and walls.

To ensure that this important commodity is moved efficiently and cost-effectively, railroads move aggregates from origin to destination in gondolas, which minimizes switching or reconfiguration of the train. While rail transport of aggregates is typically less than 300 miles, the importance of this commodity ensures that railroads will be in it for the long haul.

Bulk shipments of dry cement were among the first commodities to be hauled in covered hopper cars. Because of their sturdiness and ease of use, they are still the rail car of choice for cement transport today. Typically shipped in free-flowing, dry form, 110 tons of cement can be conveniently piped directly into a hopper car. These covered hopper cars have outlets on the bottom that allow for easy unloading when the cement reaches its destination. More efficient loading and unloading ensures the equipment is turned more quickly, lowering costs for both railroads and shippers.

From the southeast thicket of Georgia to the northwest forests of Oregon, freight rail moves American paper and pulp products that protect our food, keep us safe and enable e-commerce. Because of their size, weight, and diversity, trains are the ideal solution for getting pulp and paper products to market. Pulp is a fibrous material most commonly prepared from wood, cotton and grasses and processed to make paper, food packaging, cardboard and other plant-based products like sponges and bandages. Believe it or not, pulp is also used in the production of LCD screens and automobile tires.

Freight railroads have adapted to meet the changing needs of the American people; newsprint for newspapers now makes way for cardboard for e-commerce shipping. In fact, one of the most common uses for paper is paper-based packaging and boxes, which enable the nation’s emerging e-commerce market. Sturdy, lightweight, and customizable, paper-based packaging is a versatile and cost-effective way to transport, protect and preserve a wide variety of consumer goods.

Forest products, pulp and paper most often move in the classic boxcar (shown above). Boxcars are very versatile and can carry most kinds of freight. Because they are enclosed, boxcars are a great solution for loads that need protection from the weather. Boxcars can also protect contents from damage or temperature extremes during transit through insulation, refrigeration and cushioning.