STB slashes rate-case filing fee

The Surface Transportation Board announced Thursday that it is cutting the fees that shippers pay to file a railroad rate or unreasonable practice complaint from $20,000 to $350. The board is maintaining the $150 fee to file an expedited small rate case.

The board said it based its decision on three considerations: "The filing of a complaint is often the Board’s only mechanism for investigating and addressing potential rate violations or other unlawful practices. High fees for the filing of formal complaints may discourage shippers and others from bringing complaints before the Board. The changes to the Board’s regulation sreducing such fees should improve the agency’s management of its docket and resources."

On Feb. 15, the board filed a notice of proposed rulemaking reducing some fees. At that time, Chairman Daniel R. Elliott said, “Charging a small business more than $20,000 to bring a complaint is not right.”

In Thursday’s announcement, the board said: “While Chairman Elliott believes the new fee structure will make it easier for shippers to file formal cases with the Board, he invites them first to avail themselves of the free, informal mediation service offered through the agency’s Rail Customer and Public Assistance Program. He added that the agency also offers a successful program of formal mediation.”