How Norfolk Southern Powers Your Summer BBQ

Fresh from the farm produce

• Each year, more than 10.9 million tons of corn move across our network. That’s over 43 billion cobs, enough to meet the annual corn needs of 126 million Americans.
• We also deliver fresh produce like 4,600+ tons of lettuce, 900+ tons of onions, 100+ tons of tomatoes and seasonal favorites like avocados and peppers.
• Plus, NS hauls over 2,500 tons of chips and enough wheat to bake more than 7 billion loaves of bread.
   

Starting up the grill

• We deliver grills, along with grilling accessories and other components, for the perfect BBQ.
• NS moves over 700,000 tons of propane each year, enough to fill more than 95 million grill tanks.
   

Cooking  up the main course

From hamburgers and hot dogs to chicken wings, your summer grill lineup starts on the rails:

• NS transports nearly 6,000 tons of pork annually, equal to more than 188 million hot dogs. That’s enough for every U.S. household to host a cookout.
• With 176 million pounds of cheese delivered each year, there’s plenty to stack, melt, and serve alongside every bite.
• Ketchup, mustard, mayo and pickles? We help move those, too.
   

The finishing touches

• No cookout is complete without a cooler full of cold drinks. NS delivers over 1.1 billion bottles of beer and 182 million cans of soft drinks each year.
• We also move the goods to set the table, including 70,000+ tons of paper products and 174,000+ tons of napkins.
• Even the small details ride the rails, like 238 tons of aluminum foil, ready to wrap, grill, or store leftovers.
   

Why it matters: Behind every great BBQ is a rail-powered supply chain

It takes a full supply chain made up of farmers, producers, retailers, and transportation partners to make summer cookouts happen. Alongside our customers, Team NS is proud to deliver the essentials that bring grilling season to families and friends across the country.

Want to move your products with the same scale and precision? Learn how you can ship by rail with us.