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They are called conspicuity stripes. They've been on freight cars for many years now, but were just mandated after 2000 sometime. While the vertical ones are very noticeable on new ethanol cars, they are slowly being applied to other tankers.
Reflective safety markings. These are being applied to ALL cars since 2004, not just tank cars and has nothing to do with commodities.
Ethanol (and other alcohols), gasoline, diesel, crude oil and other (liquid) petroleum products, and many other hazardous and non-hazardous (such as waxes, vegetable oils and animal tallow, etc.) liquid commodities are shipped in pretty standard general purpose or general service tank cars. Modern GP/GS tank cars run about 25-30K gallons, may or may not be insulated, and have standardized top fittings, bottom outlets and often pressure release valves.