CSX is an industry leader in providing quality transport of commodities in North America. Our Load Engineering and Design department provides a comprehensive solution to customers shipment needs by developing safe and new load securement methods. When preparing to ship with CSX, contact LEADS to ensure that your product will be loaded safely and efficiently.

For assistance with loading requirements for new customers, or if a customer receives repetitive damage to their product, please contact one of our Load Engineering and Design Managers. Team members perform on-site training for shipping supervisors to ensure proper AAR loading rules and requirements are being utilized.

Loading Methods

For the safety of your employees, customers employees, protection of your product, and the safety of the general public, CSX requires that shippers use the most current AAR approved loading, blocking and bracing methods. All shippers must be compliant with the current Association of American Railroads (AAR) loading rules when shipping with CSX. For more information see the CSXT 8100 Publication. 

• The Association of American Railroads loading requirements are available online for free.
  • AAR Open Top Loading Rules
  • AAR Closed Car & Intermodal
  • AAR Automotive Requirements
• LEADS Safety Bulletins

Opening and Closing Box Car Doors

CSX works hard to provide cars to customers that are in good working order. You can help! Watch this short video to learn how to prevent damage to box cars by properly opening and closing doors without forklifts or boom trucks. Watch video (WMV)

Load Adjustment &Transfers

Our field team investigates in-transit load shifts and customer reported damages to address quality concerns through root cause analysis. We utilize CSX wayside detector data, in-transit trend analysis, customer exception notices and freight clams data to analytically approach corrective countermeasures and targeted damage prevention initiatives.

If a load has shifted and is unsafe it will be stopped so that LEADS can inspect, photograph and compare the method utilized to the AAR Loading Rules to determine liability. This documentation will be communicated to the shipper, consignee and/or the car owner. We utilize licensed, approved and bonded third party contractors to adjust the lading in compliance with the AAR rules to allow safe transit to destination. Additional details on the timely handling of unsafely loaded railcars in-transit are outlined in the CSXT 8100 Publication.

Report Shipment Damage

For exceptions noted at destination, notification of damage, product disposition and load assistance please submit an exception notice. If you are notifying CSX of lading damage that is related to a railcar defect noted during/after unloading, please report the defects in ShipCSX so our mechanical department can properly resolve the railcar issue.

• How to Report Lost or Damaged Freight

Reporting Mechanical Defects

CSX works hard to provide cars to customers that are in good working order. If you receive a railcar that is damaged or leaking please notify CSX within ShipCSX.com or the ShipCSX Mobile App. 

• How to Report Mechanical Defects in ShipCSX (PDF)  

 
Contact LEADS

[email protected]  
Load Engineering and Design Services Contact Map(PDF)

Contact CSX Customer Service

1-877-ShipCSX
1-877-744-7279
ShipCSX.com