A rail car sensor network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes at least one rail car having a main body portion including a first and section, a second end section and an intermediate portion. The rail car network further includes a sensor assembly mounted to the rail car. The sensor assembly includes at least one sensor positioned to detect a rail car parameter, and a wireless communication device configured to transmit data corresponding to the rail car parameter. A receiver assembly, mounted remote from the at least one rail car, includes a wireless communication monitor configured to receive the data corresponding to the rail car parameter from the wireless communication device.