RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS
Get simple access to the freight terms, conditions, and tariffs that you’ll need to understand when you ship by rail with Norfolk Southern. Have a specific question? Select your Shipping Industry to find the correct contact for your industry.
Common Freight Terms & Conditions
Conditions of Carriage
Terms and conditions for interstate and intrastate transportation on Norfolk Southern and affiliate lines. These terms and conditions do not apply to coal or intermodal traffic.
Intermodal Rules Circular
Up-to-date terms, conditions, and shipping information for Norfolk Southern intermodal transportation. Contact your intermodal marketing representative if you have specific questions.
Norfolk Southern Coal, Coke, and Iron Ore Tariff NS 1000
Up-to-date terms, conditions, and shipping information for Norfolk Southern Coal, Coke, and Iron Ore.
Accessorial Services Rules & Charges
Rules and tariffs for accessorial services, including diversions, reconsignments, overloaded cars, use of cranes and derricks for loading and unloading, and storage.
Switching and Absorption Rules & Charges
The switching and absorption tariff applies when you switch railcars from one track to another within our system or move equipment between our track and the track of another railroad.
Demurrage Rules & Charges
Demurrage tariffs may apply if your railcars or other equipment are left at a rail yard for longer than the allowable free time for loading or unloading.
ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
Download NS 6306-A (effective 08/1/2021)
Download NS 9328-Q Bulk Transfer Tariff (effective 04/01/2021)
- Obtain Umler registration by calling 919-651-5038 or emailing umler@railinc.com.
- Ensure the locomotive has visible and properly stenciled alphabetic and numeric UMLER-registered reporting marks.
- Equip locomotives with properly programmed, working AEI Tags that match UMLER reporting marks.
- Norfolk Southern requires a valid credit account and prepayment of all charges before locomotive movement, and customers/short line partners must provide documentation of waybilling, unit delivery, and revenue protection.
- Apply for credit online, or make a wire transfer, by emailing tncyoadm@nscorp.com or calling 404-589-6107 or 404-589-6108.
- Norfolk Southern will inspect locomotive(s) free of charge if roundtrip mileage to the inspection site is 50 miles or less. Norfolk Southern will assess any charges in accordance with NS-8002-A, Item 6275. Norfolk Southern must have written authority to conduct an inspection as well as notification of the party responsible for payment.
Make sure locomotive(s) meet all federal and other governmental requirements before you order an inspection. Inspection items include:
- locomotive model
- type/class
- gear ratio
- number of trucks and axles
- spacing of axles and truck centers
- type of bearings
- journal and wheel size
- type of draft gear
- stop blocks
- handbrakes/air brakes/piped straight air
- working AEI tags with corresponding reporting marks on locomotive(s)
Norfolk Southern requires that locomotive(s) be inoperable and safely accessible for mechanical inspectors. If Norfolk Southern is not the origin carrier, the responsible party must deliver the locomotive to a manned interchange point for inspection.
Inspections are subject to the availability of a qualified Norfolk Southern mechanical inspector. Order inspections by calling 404-582-6950 or emailing MOC@nscorp.com.
Norfolk Southern will assess charges in accordance with NSRQ 4900, Rule 11. Obtain a rate through the Dimensional Shipment Clearance and Rate Request Form (found on Dimensional & Oversized). If you have questions, contact Michael.Johnson2@nscorp.com
- Special charges may apply in the event of speed restrictions, friction bearings, or other special requirements. Locomotives must be in full compliance with all regulatory and Norfolk Southern requirements in order to qualify for transport.
- Note the following additional freight charges:
- Fuel surcharges may apply
- Rates do not include idlers, caboose, extra mechanical inspections, or special train service
- Norfolk Southern bills accessorial charges separately
- Norfolk Southern will bill additionally for rate requirements of other carriers or short lines
- Shippers must have an Norfolk Southern credit account or prepay by wire transfer
- Norfolk Southern considers rates pending until approved by the Clearance Bureau
- Quotes are valid for 30 days and include a maximum carrier liability of $10,000 per shipment, though greater liability coverage is available.
NOTE:
- If a unit does not have “self-alignment” couplers (i.e. alignment control draft gear), then the locomotive owner is responsible for application of stop blocks. Per the requirements below, welded blocks are acceptable.
- Locomotives must be equipped with Roller Bearings.
- Air brakes must be operable and FRA compliant.
- Hand brake must be operable and safely accessible by train crews. Idler cars may be used if hand brake is not accessible, but it is the responsibility of the party shipping the locomotive to secure and arrange for idler cars and any applicable FRA Waiver for the shipment.
- Wheels must be within FRA limits for locomotives (based on type of service) and free of FRA defects per 49 CFR 229.73 and 49 CFR 229.75.
Norfolk Southern has specific requirements and procedures for customers and short lines shipping Passenger Equipment in order to ensure safe handling.
Obtain Umler registration by calling 919-651-5038 or emailing umler@railinc.com.
Ensure the Passenger Equipment has visible and properly stenciled alphabetic and numeric UMLER-registered reporting marks.
Equip Passenger Equipment with properly programmed, working AEI Tags that match UMLER reporting marks.
Norfolk Southern requires a valid credit account and prepayment of all charges before locomotive movement, and customers/short line partners must provide documentation of waybilling, unit delivery, and revenue protection.
Apply for credit online, or make a wire transfer, by emailing tncyoadm@nscorp.com or calling 404-589-6107 or 404-589-6108.
Norfolk Southern will inspect Passenger Equipment free of charge if roundtrip mileage to the inspection site is 50 miles or less. Norfolk Southern will assess any charges in accordance with NS-8002-A, Item 6275.
Norfolk Southern must have written authority to conduct an inspection as well as notification of the party responsible for payment.
Inspections are subject to the availability of a qualified Norfolk Southern mechanical inspector. Order inspections by calling 404-582-6950 or emailing MOC@nscorp.com.
Norfolk Southern will assess charges in accordance with NSRQ 4900, Rule 11.
Obtain a rate through the Dimensional Shipment Clearance and Rate Request Form (found on Dimensional & Oversized). If you have questions, contact Michael.Johnson2@nscorp.com
PASSENGER CAR MOVEMENT REQUEST
REQUESTED DATE TO MOVE:
REQUESTED INSPECTION DATE:
CAR NUMBER:
ORIGIN:
ROUTE:
DESTINATION:
CONSIGNEE:
SPECIAL NOTES:
EMERGENCY CONTACT:
Before scheduling an oversized shipment, please read the following guidelines:
CHECK IT
For shipments that are oversized, customers will need to submit a clearance request to officially initiate the process and confirm that your load can be handled across the Norfolk Southern system. To find the submission form and detailed clearance request procedures, please visit Dimensional & Oversized.
Note: Clearance requests must be submitted to the originating rail carrier.
Order Railcars
The next step is to request the railcars you'll need. To request a heavy-duty railcar, you’ll need your proposal number and the railcar series or equipment car initial and number. To order standard flats from Norfolk Southern, email: CDUMetals@nscorp.com. To order Heavy Duty flats from TTX or KRL, email request to NSClearance@nscorp.com. Use the following format:
Railcar request:
Clearance File #:
Railcar series: (EXAMPLE QTTX 130700)
Number of cars: 1 (ONE)
Loading location:
Estimated Loading date:
Note:Availability of railcars is subject to current supply conditions, so please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. If you are not sure what series railcar you need, you can view several different types by emailing GeneralEquipment@TTX.com and or HeavyDuty@TTX.com
Loading Time
Once your railcar arrives, you'll need to load and secure your railcar according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Open Top Loading Rules. Contained within the AAR rules are specific diagrams for loading configurations, as well as the general rules that you must follow. To obtain a copy of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual, visit the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. website, call 800-544-RAIL or e-mail pubs@ttci.aar.com.
Note: It is the shipper's responsibility to correctly load and secure the load.
Inspection Day
All loaded oversized shipments must be approved before the shipment can receive final clearance and be moved. Inspections are subject to the availability of a qualified Norfolk Southern mechanical inspector. Order inspections by calling 404-582-6950 or emailing MOC@nscorp.com. Please request your inspection at least 10 days in advance of your shipping date to allow for inspectors to schedule.
Waybilling
As a shipper, you must complete the Internet Bill of Lading on AccessNS. Be sure to indicate that the shipment is dimensional/high and wide on the IBOL and include the NS FILE NUMBER from your clearance proposal response. Origin, destination, and routing must match the preapproved clearance route. It is imperative that dimensional loads are not billed until clearances are accepted by Norfolk Southern Clearances. Safety is of utmost importance, and billing prior to an approved inspection can result in Norfolk Southern crews pulling an improperly secured load. The shipper is responsible for ensuring load is accepted prior to billing for movement.
Note: You can also submit shipping instructions via EDI. More information on EDI can be found at Supplier Resources.
If you are looking for older tariffs beyond the most current listed here, please log in to AccessNS.
