October 14, 2025
Rail Expansion Drives Operational Efficiency and Growth at Hankook Tire
R. J. Corman Railroad Company recently partnered with a long-standing customer in Clarksville, TN, to plan and execute a major track expansion project. This initiative enhances rail capacity and streamlines operations at the facility.
Hankook Tire, a leading global tire manufacturer, operates a facility served by R. J. Corman’s Memphis Line (RJCM) in Clarksville, TN, which first opened in 2017. As announced in August 2022, Hankook Tires continues to invest in the Clarksville facility by pursuing a $1.6B expansion that will generate 1,200 new jobs in the area. The expanded plant will have the capability of producing 11 million tires annually for the North American market.
R. J. Corman was engaged by Hankook and their team of contractors in 2022 to help evaluate plans for the rail portion of the expansion project. The collaborative effort continued over the next few years, culminating in the completion of the track work in September 2025. The rail expansion comprises multiple new yard tracks and an additional unloading track adjacent to the new production lines. The additional rail infrastructure will allow Hankook to efficiently manage their increased rail shipments. The Hankook team will continue to work on the plant expansion into 2026, at which point the expanded rail infrastructure will be utilized to support increased raw material shipments, thereby expanding Hankook’s production capabilities.
R. J. Corman’s Engineering and Transportation teams provided key input during the early planning stages and ensured that the track construction followed the intended design. R. J. Corman teams conducted a thorough review of the final plans. Additionally, the company's Industrial Development, Contracts/Real Estate, and Commercial Development teams worked closely with the Hankook team throughout the process. This coordination ensured that all parties could promptly address any questions and efficiently navigate the necessary steps of the project to meet the customer's timeline objectives. This project is a prime example of how various groups within R. J. Corman collaborate with our customers to meet their rail logistics needs.
“The R. J. Corman team would like to congratulate Hankook on reaching this important milestone in the Clarksville plant expansion project,” said R. J. Corman Railroad Company Sr. Director of Industrial Development Jake Weir. “While we recognize there is still work to do before the new lines are activated, the recently completed rail project demonstrates the benefits of collaboration between the railroad and the customers we serve. The R. J. Corman Industrial Development Group was established for this very reason, to bring our company’s railroad knowledge and experience to the table to help achieve a successful outcome for all parties. We sincerely appreciate Hankook’s business and their ongoing investment in rail at the Clarksville facility.”
Through its Industrial Development Group, R. J. Corman remains dedicated to supporting customer growth—whether by identifying new site opportunities along its rail lines or expanding existing locations.
