NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Farm shippers will soon get more rail-service visibility as the Surface Transportation Board adds two weekly reporting metrics for Class I railroads. STB says railroads must begin reporting original estimated time of arrival and industry spot-and-pull data on July 8.
The original estimated time of arrival will be used to measure whether manifest shipments arrive within 24 hours of the railroad’s original estimate. Industry spot and pull will track local railcar placements and pickups, giving shippers more insight into service reliability.
STB also launched a beta Open Data Portal with machine-readable data and visual tools for service measures such as train speeds and terminal dwell times. The agency says it plans to expand the portal over time.
The issue is practical for agriculture. An Oregon short line tied to Venell Farms filed a complaint after a Marys River bridge collapse cut off rail service, forcing grain, feed, grass seed, and fertilizer traffic onto trucks.
For farmers, better data may not solve every local rail problem, but it can make service failures easier to document.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Stronger rail reporting could help grain and input shippers track delays, missed placements, and local service breakdowns.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
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