Covered
Hoppers
FreightCar America designs covered hopper car bodies with versatility and durability in mind. We use all-steel materials or a combination of steel and stainless steel when manufacturing our covered hoppers, ensuring they meet the highest quality and performance standards.
Our railcars are highly adaptable and capable of hauling a wide range of commodities with ease. Whether hauling grain and lighter agricultural products, plastic pellets or more dense dry cargoes like sand, cement and roofing granules, our cars are engineered to handle the job efficiently and reliably.
What sets our hoppers apart is their ability to be made from virtually any standard draft gear donor car. With this flexibility, you can customize your fleet to meet specific needs while maintaining cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency.
At FreightCar America, we take pride in delivering superior transportation solutions that excel in performance, durability and versatility, so you can transport goods safely and efficiently across the country.
Features and Specifications
These Covered Hopper features can be configured to meet your specific requirements or preferences:
- Size / capacity
- Stainless option
- Aluminum body
- Brake system
- Draft system
- Exterior finish
- Interior lining / paint
- Modification available from coal or small-cube car or similar
Product Types
Small-Cube Covered Hopper Car (3,280 cu-ft)
These covered hoppers are ideally suited for transporting dense, dry cargo efficiently and securely. With a capacity of 3,280 cubic feet, these maximize payload while ensuring stability during transit. Whether transporting cement, sand or other heavy-duty materials, these small-cube covered hoppers deliver exceptional performance and reliability.
5200 Covered Hopper Car (5,200 cu-ft)
Designed for multiple heavy density bulk commodities including grain, these covered hoppers boast a generous capacity of 5,200 cubic feet. Their curved-side design ensures optimal flow and distribution of grain during loading and unloading processes, minimizing the risk of product damage or contamination. Equipped with advanced features to maintain grain quality and integrity throughout the journey, our curved-side covered hoppers are the preferred choice for grain producers and distributors seeking reliable transportation solutions.
5200S Covered Hopper Car (5,200 cu-ft)
Engineered for modern grain transport, the 5200S covered hopper is designed to maximize efficiency for unit-train operations. Featuring a short footprint design that is over 3′ shorter than the conventional 5,200 cu. ft. grain car, the 5200S enables additional cars and cubic feet of capacity, all while maintaining the same train length as the traditional 5200 cu-ft cars. Its reduced weight allows for greater payload, while advanced aerodynamics contribute to improved fuel efficiency. Built with innovative engineering, including an integrated top chord, patented center sill and using automated weld construction, the 5200S maintains the strength and durability operators expect, offering reliable performance, ease of maintenance and seamless integration into existing fleets.
Extra-Capacity Covered Hopper Car (5,450 cu-ft)
Designed with a “short footprint” for enhanced versatility, these extra-capacity covered hoppers offer capacities ranging from 5,400 to 5,450 cubic feet. They are specially tailored to handle a variety of commodities, including grain and lighter agricultural products. Despite their compact size, these cars deliver impressive payload capacities, making them an efficient choice for bulk transportation. Their robust construction and advanced features ensure safe and reliable cargo delivery, even in demanding operating conditions.
Large-Cube Covered Hopper Car (5,700 and 5,800 cu-ft)
With a capacity of 5,700 to 5,800 cubic feet, these covered hoppers are engineered to transport lighter-density grains, bulk granules and other agricultural products with ease. Their large-cube design maximizes payload capacity while maintaining stability and balance during transit. State-of-the-art features optimize loading and unloading processes, ensuring efficient cargo handling from origin to destination. Whether transporting soybeans, rice or other agricultural commodities, these large-cube covered hoppers deliver superior performance and reliability.
Plastic Pellet Car (5,800 and 6,250 cu-ft)
Boasting capacities of 5,800 to 6,250 cubic feet, these high-cube covered hoppers are specifically designed for transporting plastic pellets. Their high-capacity design maximizes payload efficiency, so large volumes of plastic pellets can be transported in a single trip. These cars are equipped with specialized features to ensure the safe and secure transport of plastic pellets, including advanced loading and unloading systems and enhanced stability controls. Whether transporting raw materials to manufacturing facilities or distributing finished products to customers, these high-cube covered hoppers provide the reliability and performance needed for seamless supply chain operations.
Contact us
Our commitment to quality and customer service begins with the first customer contact and extends through the life of the railcar. Our customer service department is staffed by a highly qualified and experienced team with the resources to help with any of your service requirements.