Total employment among the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads fell nearly 14% year-over-year amid the railroads’ continued deployment of precision scheduled railroading.
The Association of American Railroads recently laid out some issues that Amtrak, host railroads and the federal government must grapple with as they implement on-time performance metrics and standards for Amtrak.
October’s total employment level among the U.S. Class Is was the second lowest for 2020 as railroads implement PSR.
The Senate has confirmed the appointments of Robert Primus and Michelle Schultz.
1998: The Surface Transportation Board has approved the division of Conrail between Norfolk Southern and CSX, which will be left in control of most railroad traffic in the eastern half of the United States.
A panel of economic experts weighs in on the future of the Surface Transportation Board and the rail industry itself.
Rail stakeholders debate the legacy of precision scheduled railroading and the common carrier obligation.
The rail equipment and technology provider is one of many companies that have laid off or furloughed employees because of the lower-volume environment exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rail reform law faces backlash from pro-regulation forces; tragic mistake to reverse course, former DOT secretary says.
A rail shippers coalition continues efforts to ask the Surface Transportation Board to consider collecting first-mile and last-mile data.
GoRail sent a letter on the 40th anniversary of the Staggers Act telling the Surface Transportation Board not to make wholesale changes to rail regulation. The letter had over 1,000 signatures from local, state and federal officials and executives.
Brad Hildebrand discussed Cargill’s reliance on dependable rail service during FreightWaves Last Mile Logistics Summit.
Grain members of Surface Transportation Board advisory committee say the railroads have been supplying sufficient amounts of power and crews to meet service needs.
The independent federal rail agency is looking at the market factors determining exemption from board oversight. The board also separately declared five Class I railroads as being revenue adequate in 2019.
A bountiful harvest, anticipated surge in export volumes as well as wild card factors could test U.S. rail network capacity post-PSR.
Changes with significant impact on rail customers are taking place across New England.
The Class I railroads update agencies on service issues; shippers use the opportunity to ask for data collection on first-mile and last-mile movements.
The Board is modifying what data it collects from the waybill samples of the U.S. freight railroads.
The Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Railroad Administration administrator seek answers about Class I rail performance, while labor groups question furlough-related actions.
An increase in U.S. rail traffic pulled headcount higher in July.
The rule outlines seven ways to determine whether a shipper is facing market dominance, or a situation in which shippers have limited rail shipping options. But the effectiveness of the new rule remains to be seen, some say.
The nominations of a Republican and Democrat to the Surface Transportation Board are pending before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.
The reduction in employee levels comes as the railroads deploy cost-cutting measures to match network capacity needs with market demand.
A new rule adopted by the Surface Transportation Board, effective July 20, calls for the Class I railroads to report when railcars designated for chemicals or plastics are held for longer than two days.
Actions by the Surface Transportation Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada show both agencies exploring whether there is a need to modify existing regulations.
Some shipping groups say the Board’s recent actions on demurrage and accessorial charges will help bring about more productive rail rate disputes.
The board hopes the decisions will clarify the controversial practice for stakeholders.
Total headcount falls to its lowest level amid continued declines in U.S. rail volumes.
The rule, effective on April 3, addresses concerns of shippers, particularly those involved in paper products, steel scrap and agricultural goods.
Slumping rail volumes and the Class I railroads’ operational efficiency efforts contribute to the headcount decline.
Employment levels at the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads hit their lowest point in years, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board.
Darren Prokop explains why Positive Train Control – a positive safety measure for “Lower 48” railroads – doesn’t make sense for the Alaska Railroad.
Improving rail volumes and service are among the crucial issues to look out for as the railroads reveal their 2020 guidance in the coming days.
The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads continue to shed employees.
Proposal providing relief for shippers could be rolled out next year.
Stakeholders address the Surface Transportation Board, which is mulling over whether it should change the way it defines revenue adequacy.
How the board calculates cost of capital is outdated. How much of an overhaul is needed?
The rail regulatory agency says the changes would help make the rate review process more accessible and transparent.
The regulatory agency for rail receives a flurry of feedback on rail rate reasonableness and demurrage and accessorial charges.
The number of employees working for the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads slumps to its lowest level in years.
The proposed actions address major rail shipper complaints voiced to the Board earlier this year.
The rulemakings address cost of capital calculations and rail performance data for chemicals and plastics traffic; shippers also press Board to act on fuel surcharges.
As precision scheduled railroading takes hold, headcount levels drop to their lowest in years.
The Surface Transportation Board has proposed two rules that could ease shippers’ burdens when contesting rail rates.
Three Class I U.S. rail operations earned enough returns on investment in 2018 to support their capital projects.
Headcount continues to fall at U.S. rail operations as the railroads implement precision scheduled railroading.
A federal appeals court denies a request by rail shippers to form a class lawsuit, and U.S. Senators press the Surface Transportation Board to take action.
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking public comments on Brookfield Asset Management’s proposed acquisition of shortline operator Genesee & Wyoming. Broofield announced plans to acquire GWR earlier this month in a deal valued at $8.4 billion.
U.S. railroads had fewer employees on their payroll in June amid lower rail volumes overall and company decisions to trim workforce levels as part of changes to their operating models.
Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific are modifying some of the ways they collect demurrage and accessorial charges for some commodities, but some shippers are questioning the modifications.
Although the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee has voted in favor of the nomination of an additional board member to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), whether and when she will be installed remains to be seen.
The service problems associated with precision scheduled railroading (PSR) have motivated forest products and scrap recycling shippers to press the Surface Transportation Board to renew a longstanding request for regulatory oversight.
Should the Class I railroads see U.S. rail volumes sustainably increase, furloughed workers could be called back to meet network capacity needs, resulting in a bump up of headcount levels. But another factor that could affect headcount levels in the long-term is the deployment of automation technologies.
The Surface Transportation Board is considering initiating a more formal review of how it resolves rail rate disputes.
Market expert Jim Blaze dissects the recent Surface Transportation Board hearings on demurrage and accessorial charges. Read his observations on the relationships between the railroads and their shipper customers…
“The board has the authority to define reasonable practices. If you were in our shoes, what would you do?” said Surface Transportation Board vice chairman Patrick Fuchs to a panel representing BNSF, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.
Regulators frustrated by carriers’ lack of candor in justifying service fees
At least 35 groups will be testifying before the Surface Transportation Board this week to provide their perspective on how the Class I railroads assess demurrage and accessorial charges. The charges have become controversial because some shippers say the changes that the Class I railroads have made in administering the charges are unfair.
Nevada joins Colorado in requiring freight trains to have at least two crew members on board. Meanwhile, preliminary data from the Surface Transportation Board shows April rail headcount level to be the lowest so far in 2019 and since January 2017.
FreightWaves market expert Jim Blaze looks at a regulatory spat between Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway over the concept of “open access.” Learn why that is important to all railroads – and shippers!
Rail shippers could gain more leverage in rate disputes should the Surface Transportation Board (STB) proceed with its staff recommendations for how to reform rate review methodologies.
The number of employees working for the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads rose by nearly 1 percent in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same period last year, according to data collected by the Surface Transportation Board.
The Surface Transportation Board wants to hear from shippers and the Class I railroads on whether the railroads should supply more rail performance data to the board.
The request by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) asking the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to include a cost-benefit analysis into its rulemaking process is being viewed by some as a positive step towards aligning STB procedure with other U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies.
A current rail attorney who was with the STB for many years wonders whether it has ever broken free of the changes envisioned by the Staggers Act.
Senate confirmation of Patrick Fuchs and Martin Oberman could be catalyst for STB Chairman Ann Begeman to take action on pending shipper proposals.
In a 45-minute chat at a Credit Suisse conference, Jim Foote insists that it isn’t all about cost-cutting.
Mike Lacey sees some improvement in his relationship with railroads, but it’s coming from a very low point.
Most of the gains that helped customers came in the first 25 years after the Staggers Act that deregulated the system. Since then, the gains have not been in service.
Every major railroad serving the U.S. got a letter from the Surface Transportation Board.
