Skip to page content

Prairie strong, worldwide

Farmers

Producer cars

CN Rail has launched an Internet-driven business tool, giving producer car shippers online access to planned train service, car loading times and related information.

The tool allows shippers to view the status of their car orders as soon as the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) places the orders with CN.

View more information on CN's Web site.

New for 2011-12 – Producer car forms can be completed online, printed off and signed, and faxed to the CWB at 1-204-987-4160.

What is it?

  • Producer cars are railway hopper cars that you can order to individually load grain at a rail siding or at a producer car loading facility.

What does it offer?

  • Cost savings by avoiding or reducing handling charges
  • Greater flexibility to manage where and when you will deliver your grain

Program details

  • You have several choices for a producer car administrator including the CWB, grain companies, producer car loading facilities and other companies.
  • Ensure you know what your administrator will do for you.
  • A delivery contract is still required and delivery contract calls are in effect for the grain you load into producer cars.
  • You are responsible for knowing how to load a producer car and how to release a car once it has been loaded, understanding railway rules and timelines and knowing what to do in case of problems with grades or damaged cars.

How it works

  • You apply for producer cars from the CGC
  • The CWB negotiates with the railways for car supply and allocates orders to the CGC by railway and port, based on grain sales
  • The CGC determines which producer cars are loaded on a weekly basis by matching the grain and grade to the CWB order on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Once the orders are accepted, the final loading instructions are sent to you and the administrating company (if one is used). For more details on using the producer car option, view farmer instructions.
  • Overloaded producer cars - It is important that you load to the correct weight and fill compartments equally. For rail line weight capacities and overload questions, contact CN at 1-877-208-5019 or www.cn.ca, and CP at 1-800-704-4000 or www.mycpr.ca. As of January 2009, CN charges thousands of dollars per overloaded rail car.
  • Demurrage - Demurrage is charged by the railways for not releasing a car on time.
    • CN - To avoid demurrage charges, you must release the rail car by midnight on the day after you receive it. For example:
      • The car arrives at your loading site on Monday at 11 a.m.
      • Your free-time period begins Monday at 11:01 a.m. and ends Tuesday at midnight.
      • Starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, demurrage is assessed at $87 per car, per day1. Check with CN for current rates.
      • Contact CN's customer support centre for information on when the rail cars will arrive at your producer car loading site. Continue to call until you have been advised your cars have been placed.
    • CP - Demurrage starts the first 00:01 after the applicable start event and ends at the next 00:01. A portion of a day is counted as one day. Check CP's web site at www.Mycpr.ca for complete information and rates.

1 as of August 1, 2011

Harmonized sales tax

Effective July 1, 2010, the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is assessed as follows:

  • All cars shipped to British Columbia will be assessed 12% HST
  • All cars shipped to Thunder Bay will be assessed 13% HST

Assessment is based on waybill date, as introduced by Canada Revenue Agency.

CGC producer car application fee

The CWB will deduct the CGC producer car application fee at the time of settlement for CWB administered cars. Do not submit payment to the CGC as the CWB will submit it on your behalf.

Guide and forms

Farmer instructions - This guide provides step-by-step instructions for ordering and loading producer cars, as well as important information on administration fees. Please read these instructions first, especially if you have never loaded producer cars before.

Application form - The producer car application must be completed to order a producer car.

Declaration of eligibility - You are required to declare that the variety is eligible for the class of wheat you are shipping. Producer car shippers need to declare only once each crop year; if you are using multiple administrators, you will have to sign a declaration for each administrator.

Bill of lading/settlement form - This form is to be completed upon loading of the producer car and immediately forwarded to both the railway and the CWB. See page 2 of this form for important information on fees for submitting the bill of lading.