Western Railroad Discussion > STCC Lookup?

Hello-

Is anybody aware of a public website that allows you to search for an STCC (Standard Transportation Commodity Code) based on a product description and/or search the other way (provide the code and get the product)?

Thought it might be interesting to enter something generic, like "coal" and see how many different codes were returned. I have also come across a number at various times in the past and would've liked to have been able to look up the product!

Thanks in advance...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Ah yes, something to do when "Idol" concludes, just $350.00 well
spent and Railinc thanks you.

Being the exciting person I am, I actually enjoy browsing through the STCC codes. I'm not aware of any public access systems, however.

Maybe your best bet is to find an old STCC book. I only have one, otherwise I'd let you have mine.

I came up with 81 different STCCs containing 'coal', by the way, including two different ones for spiral coal separators (3532146, 3532149).

Still trying to figure out who needed to file for 0192815.

rehunn Wrote:
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> Ah yes, something to do when "Idol" concludes,
> just $350.00 well
> spent and Railinc thanks you.


Huh? Idol? What $350? I'm confused...

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Idol is, I assume, the TV show "American Idol".

The electronic version of the STCC book is put out by Railinc, and is pretty expensive. Plus you've then got to have software on which to view the file.

STCC is one of the base Industry Reference Files (IRF) in case you're shopping on the Railinc website.

In other words, it is copyrighted material, so you are unlikely to find on a public site (and if you do, that site is taking a huge risk).

czephyr17 Wrote:
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> In other words, it is copyrighted material, so you
> are unlikely to find on a public site (and if you
> do, that site is taking a huge risk).

You'd be in trouble if you tried to distribute or sell the data, but the reference files themselves aren't subject to copyright.

There are some basic STCC lookups on the Class 1 websites, for example.

Exactly, I thought the $350.00 to be a little steep but then I'd
be the only person on my block to have one.

Thanks for the info guys. I've never watched American Idol and I didn't realize that the STCC codes were not in the public domain! That was the source of my confusion rehunn...

Sure not worth $250 just to look up some codes. I'm certainly not that curious! Thanks again.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

I've done internet searches and found some web sites that have files featuring a limited number of STCCs--usually only two or three digits but occasionally the more specific 4 and 5 digit codes. If you do your own search you should be able to find some and download easily! Very interesting!

Go to the BNSF web site at this link.

http://domino.bnsf.com/website/stcc.nsf

You can enter a STCC number (1 to 7 digits) or the commodity.
For example, STCC 26 xxx xx covers a lot of paper products
and you will get a few hundred seven digit commodity codes.

Or, you can enter paper in the description box and will get
similar although slightly different results.

The BNSF STCC site does not go into detail like the STCC book
but it is still provides a lot of information.

peddler

If you have a STCC code, just try Googling it. There's lots of stuff on line, like lists of STCCs for "toxic inhalation hazard" chemicals etc.

Kevin, my thoughts on the "excite" value of looking up STCC codes ranks right
up there with watching American Idol.

rehunn Wrote:
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> Kevin, my thoughts on the "excite" value of
> looking up STCC codes ranks right
> up there with watching American Idol.


Gotcha...I understand why. Not something I'd want to spend hours upon hours doing and cataloging either. I was just curious to look up a few things. :)

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Having dealt with STCC codes all my traffic career especially in rate making and tariff publishing, I hardly find them interesting. Gee, wish I saved my copy of the STCC code.. $350 bucks.. wow, someone is making a killing. Next, someone will sell tariffs from the 80s at $100 bucks a piece.

Google "Steelroads". You can trace more than STCC codes, and it's free.

Now that's why we subscribe to Todd's little effort!!