More than three-quarters of rail tank cars carrying flammable liquids now comply with upgraded Department of Transportation safety standards, according to the 2026 Tank Car Report released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The portion of tank cars meeting DOT-117 specifications increased from 73 percent in 2024 to 76 percent in 2025, the report said. The DOT-117 standard requires enhanced safety features for rail tank cars transporting Class 3 flammable liquids.
Compliance is highest for crude oil and ethanol shipments. In 2025, 94.3 percent of tank cars carrying crude oil met the DOT-117 standard, and almost all ethanol was carried by compliant vehicles.
Older tank car models face rolling phase-out deadlines under a schedule established by the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. A May 1, 2025 deadline prohibited certain older models from carrying crude oil, ethanol, and other flammable liquids in the highest-hazard category. Additional models are scheduled to be phased out by May 1, 2029.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics projects that 2,800 additional DOT-117 compliant tank cars will be added to the fleet in 2026. By the end of 2029, all Class 3 flammable liquids are expected to be transported in tank cars meeting or exceeding DOT-117 specifications.