What new weekly service metrics will Class I rail carriers be required to report under the STB's final rule, and why do chemical trade groups consider them important?

Under the STB's final rule, Class I rail carriers must begin weekly reporting of two service metrics: original estimated time of arrival (OETA) — defined as the percentage of manifest shipments delivered no later than 24 hours after the original estimated arrival time — and industry spot and pull (ISP), which measures success in local placements (spots) and pick-ups (pulls) of loaded and unloaded railcars. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) support the rule because these metrics 'mark an important step toward more consistent, meaningful measurement of rail performance' and will 'give shippers better insight into service reliability and help policy makers hold railroads accountable.' ACC also emphasized that the STB rejected proposed weakening changes — such as broad exclusions for embargos — preserving the metrics’ usefulness, while ACD’s Eric Byer stated the data will help 'identify trends in rail service,' 'pinpoint problems,' and enable the STB to 'monitor performance, identify service failures earlier, and hold carriers accountable when disruptions impact the supply chain.'

What reporting requirement was eliminated by the STB’s final rule, and what is the significance of that change?

The STB’s final rule eliminates the supplemental reporting of Positive Train Control (PTC) expenditures by Class I rail carriers, deeming it 'now-unnecessary.' This change streamlines reporting requirements without compromising safety oversight, as PTC implementation is now largely complete and federally mandated; the STB determined continued separate expenditure reporting no longer serves a meaningful regulatory purpose. The removal reflects a broader effort to modernize and focus reporting on operational performance — specifically service reliability — rather than historical infrastructure investment tracking. As noted in the body, the rule 'streamlines and improves reporting requirements,' shifting emphasis from outdated or redundant data collection to timely, actionable metrics like OETA and ISP that directly affect shippers’ ability to plan and manage supply chains.

Chemical trade groups support regulator's final rule to improve rail service reporting

May 12, 2026

US chemical trade groups support the Surface Transportation Board's new rule improving rail service reporting. The measure enhances transparency and supply chain monitoring for chemical shipments, accounting for 20% of US chemical transportation by tonnage.

icis

2026-05-12

Chemical trade groups support regulator's final rule to improve rail service reporting

Chemical trade groups support regulator's final rule to improve rail service reporting

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