Railroads Must Now Report Key Performance Data Weekly

Effective July 8, Class I railroads are required by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to submit two new metrics on a weekly basis. This final rule, announced in a May 8 press release, is a response to years of shipper advocacy for enhanced reporting.

The newly mandated metrics are Original Estimated Time of Arrival (OETA) and Industry Spot and Pull (ISP). OETA will measure the percentage of shipments arriving within 24 hours of their scheduled arrival time. ISP, conversely, will gauge a carrier's effectiveness in loading and unloading goods at a facility precisely when the railroad indicates it will.

These metrics apply to carload shipments, which encompass diverse items such as non-perishable agricultural products, automotive components, and lumber. The STB's initiative aims to increase accountability and address service reliability issues that have plagued the rail industry, partly due to factors like crew shortages experienced in 2022.

While the STB offers railroads flexibility in reporting methodologies, requiring them to document their data derivation process, Professor Michael Gorman noted the rule lacks a strong regulatory enforcement component beyond public disclosure. This is part of a broader STB effort to modernize data collection and make information more accessible through platforms like its Open Data Portal.