Fuel for thought.

Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions asked of us. If you don’t find your question below, please give us an opportunity to provide an answer by referring to our Contact page and calling our Hugo or Hamlet facilities or emailing the appropriate person.

Q: What can Seaboard clean?

A: Seaboard’s Hugo, Oklahoma operation can handle almost any commodity transported in railcars, including gases, liquids, semi-solids and solids. Our Hugo staff can also clean railcars that have contained PIH, toxic, flammable, corrosive and reactive commodities.

Seaboard’s Hamlet, North Carolina facility can clean railcars of all types that have carried most liquids, solids and semi-solids. The Hamlet facility does not clean cars that have carried gases.

Q: What is the scope of repairs for Seaboard?

A: Seaboard repairs all car types. The Hugo facility predominately handles tank cars. Hamlet handles both tank cars and covered hoppers but does not currently perform HM201 requalifications. Please see the Facilities page for more detailed descriptions of services at each location.

Q: Can Seaboard apply interior and exterior coatings?

A: Yes, both the Hugo and Hamlet operations apply a wide range of coatings from airless through plural components. Hugo specializes in hard-to-apply tank coatings, high-bake linings and other unique or specialty products for corrosion protection. Hamlet applies a significant amount of interior coatings for covered hoppers and tanks.

Q: Are the facilities easy to access?

A: Yes, the Hugo facility has five Class I interchanges to the Union Pacific, Burlington Northern and Kansas City Southern railroads via the KRR Shortline. The Hamlet facility is located contiguous to the CSX hump yard in Hamlet, North Carolina and receives cars daily from the New Orleans Gateway and the entire Eastern Seaboard.

Q: Why should I send cars to Seaboard?

A: Seaboard has provided unmatched service to leaders in the shipping and transportation industry. If you’re looking for quality cleaning and repair service, then Seaboard is your choice. For cleaning, repair, full compliance testing and coatings work, Seaboard provides the finest work in the industry.

Q: What are typical cycle times?

A: Depending on the scope of work, cars can be in and out of a Seaboard facility in three days or up to 60 days for more complex services. Both the Hugo and Hamlet locations can handle cleaning and light repair work as well as comprehensive endeavors involving 300-600 hours of major modifications or wreck repairs.

Q: How does Seaboard handle valve repairs?

A: Seaboard has a climate-controlled remanufacturing and testing shop at the Hugo, Oklahoma facility. Within the valve shop, all valve types are tested, rebuilt and/or remanufactured. The Hugo location also internally services valves from the Seaboard Hamlet facility. Seaboard will remanufacture your valves at one of the Seaboard shops or, if necessary, will rebuild and test your valves from your plant site.

Q: What is the capacity of the Seaboard shops?

A: The capacity at the two Seaboard locations varies significantly depending on car types currently on site. The Hugo facility can service up to 130-140 cars per month and store approximately 235 cars. The Hamlet location can service 55-80 cars per month and store approximately 75 cars.

Q: What is Seaboard’s compliance history?

A: Seaboard has one of the best Quality Assurance Programs in the industry with a finished product unmatched by the competition. Hugo has over seven years without a finding from the Association of American Railroads or Federal Railroad Administration. Safety is our hallmark, which is apparent when visiting the Seaboard shops.

Q: Why does Seaboard specialize in tank and covered hopper cars?

A: With over 100 years of environmental, health and safety experience, and management holding numerous technical college degrees—chemical, industrial and safety—Seaboard is one of the most technically sophisticated companies in the industry. This combined experience is essential in managing the complex commodities, welding, Ultrasonic Thickness Testing and coatings associated with tank and covered hoppers. The Seaboard motto is “Yes, we do that.” because we understand the science of railcars.

Q: Is Seaboard a good value?

A: We believe our pricing is fair and competitive for the quality of service we provide. We are an exceptional value proposition.