ACC to STB: ‘Rail Performance Has Yet To Improve Significantly’

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
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“To date, steps by Class I railroads to boost hiring and other measures have not translated into meaningful service improvements,” the American Chemistry Council (ACC) told the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in an update earlier this month on rail challenges and their impact on U.S. chemical producers.

ACC Senior Director-Regulatory Affairs Jeffrey Sloan in an Aug. 5 email shared results from the association’s July 2022 member survey about supply chain/freight transportation issues as well as other member feedback, plus the association’s views on the expanded service metrics that STB in May required the “Big Four” Class I railroads—BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific—to report under EP 770-1.

In July, nearly half (46%) of ACC survey respondents reported that “rail delays/service challenges had gotten worse since the fourth quarter of 2021,” Sloan told the STB, which on Aug. 12 posted his email on its website (download below). “Only 7% reported that service improved. For comparison, when asked the same question in March, 39% reported that service had gotten worse.”

Additionally, 90% of respondents reported experiencing “longer transit times for rail service,” Sloan wrote. “High numbers of companies continued to report missed switches (66%), reduced service days (64%), increased demurrage charges (59%), and increased rates (59%).” Also, 43% reported “they were forced to increase the size of their tank car fleet because of freight rail service issues. As Board members know, adding railcars to handle the same volume of shipments adds substantial costs for shippers and contributes further congestion to the rail network.”

“Furthermore, ACC members continue to face new challenges and obstacles, including embargos and restrictions, that severely hamper their ability to maintain operations and meet customer demand,” reported Sloan, who noted that a BNSF embargo on rail shipments into California; CSX service challenges in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area; and continued congestion in New Orleans, La., are affecting some members.

However, ACC “appreciates” STB’s requirement that Class I railroads report more comprehensive and customer-centric performance metrics for a six-month period, according to Sloan. “This data provides valuable information on railroad performance, including some initial visibility on first mile/last mile service,” he wrote. “Individual ACC members also use the terminal and operating division data for insight on rail service impacting their facilities and routes.

Chart Courtesy of ACC
Chart Courtesy of ACC

“The system-wide metrics reported in EP 770-1 provide further evidence that overall rail performance has yet to improve significantly. For example, as shown in the attached charts [see above], the weekly average of carriers’ ‘spot and pull’ fulfillment has declined since reporting began. On-time performance for manifest traffic improved somewhat, but progress appears to have stagnated since mid-June.”

Sloan also called on the STB to extend the time period for collecting the new metrics.

DOWNLOAD SLOAN’S EMAIL BELOW:

FURTHER READING:

‘Big 4’ Submit Service Recovery Plans to STB

Oberman to ‘Big 4’: Recovery Plans ‘Woefully Deficient’

Analysis: ‘Big 4’ Revised STB Service Recovery Plans

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