A key railroad operating metric measuring the average speed of freight cars across the network, typically expressed in miles per day. Higher velocity means cars are spending less time dwelling in yards and more time moving, improving asset utilization and customer service. Railroads publish weekly velocity statistics as part of their surface transportation board performance data.
The total elapsed time a railcar or intermodal unit spends at a terminal, yard, or customer facility without moving toward its destination. Excessive dwell time reduces network velocity and car utilization. Railroads track dwell as a key performance indicator alongside train speed.
A train carrying a mixed assortment of carload freight bound for multiple destinations, as opposed to a unit train. Manifest trains typically undergo classification at intermediate yards to set out and pick up cars. They are the backbone of the carload business and handle the broadest variety of commodities.
A large rail facility where cars from inbound trains are sorted and grouped by destination to build outbound trains. Cars may be sorted using hump switching, flat switching, or a combination of both. Classification yards are the central nodes of the carload network.
A compensation system under which a railroad pays a daily or mileage-based fee to the car owner when using foreign-owned or privately owned equipment. Car hire rates are established under AAR rules and are intended to recover the owner's fixed and variable car costs. The system balances car supply across the national rail network.