Loading and Shipping Patterns

At American Steel Pipe, we fully understand the critical role that shipping plays in providing a quality product that meets your delivery requirements. American Steel Pipe ships products by railroad cars, flatbed trucks, oceangoing vessels, and barges, and we work with you to determine which transport method is best for your order.

All loading patterns follow API load stress standards and requirements of the American Railroad Association.

Truck Loading Patterns

ASP Pipe Per Truck Load (Maximum Truck Load)

Notes:
*Subject to equipment load limitation.

Railroad Car Loading Patterns

American Steel Pipe is directly serviced by three major rail carriers. We are happy to coordinate transport by other carriers when necessary for improved routes and efficiency purposes.

Loading patterns and the number of pieces per car may be adjusted due to freight rates, wall thicknesses, and length of pipe.

89' Long x 8'6" Wide Trailer Train Rail Car

ASP 89' Long x 8'-6

Notes:
76 Percent Parameter
For pipe 60' nominal in length, only 76 percent of the maximum weight may be loaded on a rail car 89' long with an 8'6" wide trailer. For example, a 145,000-lb rail car of 60' pipe can only be loaded up to 105,000 lbs.

The 89' long x 8'6" wide trailer train rail car is used for loads where the maximum pipe length is 85'.

General loading practices for this car include:

Bands — The load is banded as specified in A.A.R. Open Top Loading Rules Manual, Section 2; generally, the top three rows are banded as a unit at six locations on the load. The bottom three layers also are banded together as a unit at six locations. Finally, the entire load is banded together at six locations.

Timbers — A minimum of seven 6"x 8" hardwood timbers are used for bearing pieces. Each successive layer is stripped with seven 2" x 6" hardwood strips — resulting in a square load.

The 14" outside diameter x .188" wall (27.76 lbs/ft) x 80' length example shown would result in a load of seven rows x seven pipes plus six pipes nested on the top layer (55 pieces total) x 80' per pipe x 27.76 lbs/ft = 122,144 lbs.

70' Long x 9' Wide Bulk Head End Flat Car

ASP 70' & 56' Long x 9' Wide Bulk Head End Flat Car (Stripped)

The 70' long x 9' wide bulkhead end flat rail car is used for loads where the maximum pipe length is 69'.

General loading practices include:
Bands — The load is banded as specified in A.A.R. Open Top Loading Rules Manual, Section 2; generally, the top three rows are banded as a unit at four locations on the load, and the bottom three rows are banded together as a unit at four locations.

Additionally, the middle four rows are banded together at four locations. Finally, the entire load is banded together at four locations.

Timbers — Five 2" x 6" hardwood timbers are used for bearing pieces. Each bottom-bearing timber is held in place by using a minimum of eleven 40d nails driven into the car floor. Each successive layer is stripped with five 2" x 6" hardwood strips — resulting in a square load.

The 20" outside diameter x .250" wall (52.78 lbs/ft) x 64' length example shown would result in a load of five rows x five pipes per row plus four pipes nested on the top layer (29 pipes total) x 64' per pipe x 52.78 lbs/ft = 97,960 lbs.