Norfolk Southern's Grain Covered Hopper Car Distribution Procedure and Policy

I. NS's grain covered hopper car distribution procedure is as follows:

1. Single car orders must be entered at accessNS . Car Order application site prior to midnight of Wednesday for cars needed the following week. For information concerning Internet car ordering, please contact your NS Car Management Representative.
2. Orders for unit grain trains must be telephoned to the NS Grain Operations Desk in Atlanta, 404-527-2443 or faxed to 404-527-3179.
3. Norfolk Southern's acceptance of an order for single cars or unit grain trains indicates that NS will make a reasonable commercial effort, consistent with efficient rail operations, to supply the empty cars requested as closely as possible to the date needed, in accordance with the distribution policy below.
4. Acceptance of a car order does not constitute a guarantee that the cars will be furnished on the date(s) or in the number requested.
5. The allocation of cars is not based on the date of acceptance of the car order, but rather on the priorities of the car orders NS has to fill as of the date the cars are available for loading, consistent with the distribution priorities stated below.  

II. Norfolk Southern distributes empty grain covered hoppers for loading, on car orders that have been accepted by NS according to the  following priorities:

1. Cars ordered by feed customers that receive unit grain trains under contract with NS, then
2. Single car orders in the following priority:
1. First, cars ordered by shippers directly served by NS and/or shortlines that only connect with NS where NS receives roadhaul revenue in the loaded move
2. Second, cars ordered by shippers served by other Class I or II railroads that are open to reciprocal switching and where NS receives roadhaul revenue in the loaded move
3. Third, cars ordered by shippers served by short lines that connect with NS as well as other Class I or Class II carriers and where NS receives roadhaul revenue in the loaded move, then
3. Cars ordered by corn and soybean processing plants that ship unit grain trains under contract with NS, then
4. All other

III. Amendment of Policy

1. The procedures outlined in section I and III will not be revised on less than 7 days notice.
2. The distribution policies stated in section II will not be revised on less than one day's notice.
3. Notice may be given by any one or more of the following:

1. Posting on NS web site
2. Electronic communication to NS grain customers
3. Letter to NS grain customers

Note: NS is a signatory to the Rail Arbitration Rules in the National Grain and Feed Association.