The Federal Railroad Administration has submitted its final rule on train crew staffing to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, with the final rule potentially being released in March, according to OMB’s website.
Prior to becoming a final rule, federal regulations go to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), which is within OMB, for review. That review includes ensuring that the final rule is consistent with agency regulatory principles, as well as the policies and priorities of the president. It also checks to ensure that federal agencies considered the final rule’s consequences, including its benefits and costs.
OIRA’s review may take as long as 90 days, although the review period can be extended once by 30 days.
The notification about OMB’s review of the train crew size rule doesn’t indicate how the final rule is different from the initial proposed rule from July 2022.
Rail unions traditionally support regulation that would require at least two people operating a freight train. A number of states have also passed laws requiring freight train crew sizes of at least two people. But the railroads say such regulation isn’t needed because its safety benefits are unproven, and the regulation may stymie future technological advancements. Short-line railroads also argue that they should be exempt from the rule because many short lines operate on shorter networks where two-person crews may not be needed.
The notification’s abstract says: “This rulemaking would address the potential safety impact of one-person train operations, including appropriate measures to mitigate an accident’s impact and severity, and the patchwork of State laws concerning minimum crew staffing requirements. This rulemaking would address the issue of minimum requirements for the size of train crews, depending on the type of operations. In an effort to encourage public participation, FRA extended the comment period from 60 to 146 days and held a public hearing on December 14, 2022.”
Subscribe to FreightWaves’ e-newsletters and get the latest insights on freight right in your inbox.
Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Joanna Marsh.
Kevin
Kenneth
It takes roughly 20 rail workers to move roughly 200 loads from Chicago to Cali, and you wanna talk about not being competitive?
pfft.
John Stevens
Before you make comments you either need to be a railroader or fully understand what really goes on on the railroad. I don’t tell my doctor how to do his job, I don’t tell my dog groomer how to do her job. If the railroads are allowed to go to one man jobs you will see a mass exodus of employees as we don’t want to be on the rails alone. It’s not safe. This is about nothing more than cooperate greed
Ray manl
Two man crew just seems like a minimum requirement… Bigger issue is the length of trains currently…also “right of way”… obviously needed but shud have some rules and regulations
Tim S.
To Mr. Kenneth Strawbridge:
Well you might be surprised that trucks can be driven without a driver even in the cab, but hey, keep lobbying yourself out of a job. First time the owner of the rig gets someone hurt or anything… they(YOU) will be at fault for everything. I wouldn’t be so quick to focus only on immediate profit when ultimately it drives you completely out of the industry as a whole.
Kenneth Strawbridge
Railroad labor unions are the best friends the trucking industry has. Trains can, and do, operate safely and efficiently with one person crews. Rail labor just wants to make rail less competitive with trucking for whatever reason.
Victor
As with trucking and airlines, there is no one size fits all solution. What works for the Class 1 systems may not work for a short line running on demand for a single customer on 10 miles of track. But that’s what the government tries to do.
Harold
True trains could run by themselves, but there is always a need to have someone in the CAB to prevent accidents. Our tracks go through towns and crossings that people travel over. Long hours, un predictable work schedules make it safer to have two up there. It’s easier to stay awake with another person up there. You can’t have anything else to keep you awake on those 12 hour shifts.
Stephen Webster
We need a min of a 2 man crew on all trains any train over 25 cars or hazmatt should require a 3 person crew within 20 miles of city of over 10 000 people