Concentrations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Concentrations [Abstract]

Concentrations

NOTE 13.    Concentrations

Concentration of Revenues — GATX’s revenues are derived from a wide range of industries and companies. Approximately 23% of total revenues are generated from customers in the petroleum industry, 22% from the chemical industry, 13% from transportation industry and 11% from each of the food/agriculture and steel industries. GATX’s foreign identifiable revenues were primarily generated in the countries of Germany, Canada, Poland, Mexico and Austria.

Concentration of Credit Risk — The Company does not have any revenue concentrations from any particular customer for any of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Under its lease agreements with lessees, GATX typically retains legal ownership of the asset except where such assets have been financed by sale-leasebacks. GATX performs a credit evaluation prior to approval of a lease contract. Subsequently, the creditworthiness of the customer and the value of the collateral are monitored on an ongoing basis. GATX maintains an allowance for losses to provide for credit losses inherent in its reservable assets portfolio.

Concentration of Labor Force — As of December 31, 2011, 44% of GATX employees were covered by union contracts, none of which will expire within the next year. The hourly employees at Rail’s U.S. service centers belong to the United Steelworkers. Employees at three of Rail’s Canadian service centers belong to the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. The shipboard personnel at ASC belong to the American Maritime Officers, the Seafarers International Union or the United Steelworkers, as the case may be.