How CRMS Structured a Flexible Lease for a Growing Grain Operator
Result Fleet doubled in 6 weeks. Custom lease terms. Zero downtime during peak season.
- 35 covered hoppers
- Railcar Leasing
- Fleet in service within 6 weeks
- Agriculture / Grain
The Challenge
A regional grain operator in the Central Plains was heading into peak harvest season with a fleet that was already running at capacity. Projections showed they needed 35 additional covered hoppers to handle anticipated volume — but with harvest 8 weeks out, they had almost no runway to source, negotiate, and take delivery of additional cars.
Standard leasing timelines from large institutional lessors weren't going to work. The operator also had a specific financial constraint: they needed a short-term lease structure tied to the harvest cycle, not a multi-year commitment that would leave them paying for idle cars through the off-season.
They needed flexibility, speed, and a partner who understood that agricultural logistics doesn't run on corporate timelines.
The CRMS Solution
CRMS structured a seasonal lease agreement tailored to the operator's harvest cycle — a short-term arrangement with defined end dates that aligned with their actual operational window. No multi-year lock-in. No off-season carrying costs.
We sourced 35 clean, inspection-ready covered hoppers from within our network and coordinated delivery to the operator's primary loading facilities. Our team handled Class I railroad placement logistics, so the cars arrived ready to load — not waiting in a foreign yard for switching.
From first conversation to cars in service: six weeks.
The Results
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"Every other lessor quoted us a 3-year minimum. CRMS understood our business and built a deal around our actual needs. We had cars running before harvest hit."