Major U.S. railroads including BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk Southern have confirmed they have sufficient locomotives, grain cars, and crews to handle the expected strong 2026 grain harvest, with record soybean exports and significant corn production driving substantial transportation demand.
- USDA projects 16.0 billion bushels of corn and a record 4.5 billion bushels of soybeans for 2026 harvest
- Soybean exports to China reached 6.8 million metric tons booked by August 20, compared to zero sales at this time last year
- BNSF operates 31,000 covered hopper cars with 4,792 locomotives; Union Pacific maintains 17,000+ covered hoppers and 3,950 high-horsepower locomotives
- Soybean crush expansion is reshaping rail demand, with domestic crush volume 18% above average during 2025/26 marketing year
- Eastern railroads expect higher grain demand due to drought-reduced Southeast corn production, requiring heavy inbound rail movement from the Corn Belt
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Grain Transportation Report Railroads told grain shippers and regulators at the Surface Transportation Board National Grain Car Council meeting in Kansas City, MO, on August 25 that they have the locomotives, cars and crews needed to handle what’s expected to be a strong fall harvest.
The demand for grain transportation will likely be substantial this year. USDA projects corn production at 16.0 billion bushels, smaller than last year but still among the largest crops on record. Soybeans are projected at a record 4.5 billion bushels, with exports up 140 million bushels. As of August 20, 6.8 million metric tons of soybeans had been booked to China for the next marketing year. At this time last year, no sales had been made.
Despite some recent service issues from extreme weather and record grain carloads, neither shippers nor railroads expressed strong concerns about the upcoming harvest.
Western carriers position assets
BNSF reported a total covered hopper fleet of 31,000 cars, down 3% from last year. The railroad has 29,200 cars active and 1,800 in storage, with 600 grain hoppers planned for harvest service. BNSF’s locomotive count stands at 4,792, down 6% from last year, but all are expected to operate during peak harvest. The railroad maintains a workforce of approximately 14,800 train, yard, and engine employees.
Union Pacific reported more than 17,000 covered hoppers and 3,950 operable high-horsepower locomotives. UP’s grain shuttle velocity averaged 315 miles per day over the past three months, consistent with last year. The railroad has been pre-positioning crews to support anticipated demand in the Pacific Northwest corridor.
Eastern railroads see demand shift
CSX expects higher rail grain demand than last year because drought has sharply reduced Southeastern corn production. North and South Carolina corn production is forecast down significantly from last year’s near-record harvest. With eastern Corn Belt production up, CSX expects feeders, crushers, and exporters in the Southeast to lean heavily on inbound rail.
The railroad reported a fleet of 3,200 system grain cars, down 6% from last year, with 2,900 in active service. Active train and engine employees number 7,100 to 7,200, down slightly from 2025 but 400 to 500 above 2022-24 levels.
Norfolk Southern reported a locomotive fleet of 3,276 units, up 1% from last year, with 40 newly purchased units to be integrated by November 1. The railroad maintains a workforce of 7,833 train and engine employees and has hired more than 1,100 employees in 2026.
Soybean crush reshapes rail demand
The ongoing soybean crush expansion is redirecting where and how much grain moves across domestic rail networks. During the first 10 months of marketing year 2025/26, soybean exports were 25% below the five-year average, while domestic soybean crush volume ran 18% above average. Originated grain mill carloads increased 12% from last year, with July 2026 setting a monthly record at 61,752 carloads.
This shift toward a greater share of soybean-product carloads flattens the traditional surge in grain carloads during fall harvest and changes how railroads and shippers deploy equipment between bulk grain and processed products.
