Shortages of transportation equipment suffered by Iowa grain shippers over many years reached serious proportions in 1969. The situation resulted from increases in the quantities of grain sold by farmers during the decade of the 60's and a decline in the availability of railroad and truck equipment for grain movements. Changes in the availability of transportation equipment have serious implications for the grain industry. The inability to ship grain results in dollar penalties for the failure to meet contract delivery dates. Costs are incurred to finance inventories, to employ other methods of storage, and in the use of substandard equipment and services.