This bill amends 49 U.S.C. 11101 to require that rail carriers provide transportation or service "in a manner that meets the shipper's need for timely, efficient, and reliable rail service and fulfills the shipper's reasonable service requirements." It adds a list of factors the Surface Transportation Board (the Board) must consider when deciding if a carrier failed to provide reasonable service. Those factors include changes in service frequency, local schedules, employment levels (clerical, customer service, maintenance, dispatch, and train and engine employees), crew availability and consolidation, equipment and infrastructure availability and maintenance, whether service meets a shipper's local operational needs, the shipper's prior service experience and facility limits, the shipper's commitment of equipment or resources, how carriers handle equipment owned by others, and whether carrier conditions (including demurrage) are reciprocated to meet shipper needs. The bill also amends subsection (b) to require service terms to include reasonable transit or cycle times and other service standards consistent with the requesting party's needs. It requires the Board to expedite proceedings: any proceeding about an alleged violation must finish within 180 days, and proceedings to obtain service terms under subsection (b) must finish within 45 days. Section 11701 procedures and remedies apply, and the Board may prescribe reasonable transit or cycle times or other service standards as remedies when it finds a violation.
No publicly available information.
Proponents would point to the bill's language that aims to ensure rail carriers meet shippers' needs for timely, efficient, and reliable service. The bill creates specific factors for the Board to consider and sets faster deadlines for Board proceedings, and it gives the Board authority to set transit or cycle times and service standards when a violation is found.
No publicly available information.