Car Ordering System (non-GCO) for Covered Hopper Cars in Western Canada

On February 1, 2008, CN implemented an “open order book” system for covered hopper cars in Western Canada and a new, web-based, Velocity eBusiness tool, Grain Car Order. You'll be able to place your origin-specific car orders with want dates up to 16 weeks in the future. The ability to receive forward signals of origin-specific demand will facilitate resource and service planning by CN.

There will be no constraints on customer demand, other than the number of cars ordered per want date will be limited to the car spot capacity of the loading facility. CN will acknowledge orders by assigning a tracking or reference number and place all orders in the "order book" from which we will develop service plans. We will confirm a service plan by notifying you via the Planned Service Report on the Friday prior to the Service Week when we intend to supply the cars.

Note that this “open order book” car ordering system applies only to loaders that order cars from CN's common covered hopper fleet in Western Canada for loading at licensed elevators and special crop facilities, and to the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) that orders cars for loading in Western Canada at producer car loading sites and CGC-exempt facilities.

The Grain Car Order tool will be available for use by loaders (other than Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) agents and the CGC) to place all car orders in just one step, by entering want date, origin facility, quantity, destination corridor, and market class. CWB agents and the CGC may place unconstrained car orders for future want dates into the “open order book” in one step: through an EDI transmission or a car order form submitted by email or fax. In the next phase, we will enhance the Grain Car Order tool to enable CWB agents and the CGC to use it.
For more details, consult the CN 9000 Optional Services, Item 5500. You can also read about our guidelines used for rationing among car orders.