final offer rate review

4 Class I railroads seek stay of federal order for rate disputes

Four Class I railroads want the Surface Transportation Board to pause the implementation of an arbitration program to resolve rail rate disputes involving smaller financial amounts.

CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC), Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) and the U.S. subsidiaries of Canadian railway CN (NYSE: CNI) argue that STB’s deadline for the Class I railroads to commit to a five-year arbitration program as prescribed in STB’s December order is too soon. 

They contend that the sign-up...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/4-class-i-railroads-seek-stay-of-federal-order-for-rate-disputes

STB’s new rules attempt to ‘strike a balance’ between railroads, shippers

The Surface Transportation Board has issued decisions on two final rules aimed at helping the railroads and shippers resolve rate disputes involving smaller amounts of money.

The decisions pertain to modifying an existing voluntary arbitration program and creating a new procedure for rate challenges, named final offer rate review (FORR). 

The two rules are the board’s attempt to “strike a balance between the competing interests of various stakeholders,” STB Chairman Marty Oberman said Monday in a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stbs-new-rules-attempt-to-strike-a-balance-between-railroads-shippers

STB presses on with small rate dispute proceeding

The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request by rail shipper groups to temporarily suspend a rulemaking proceeding on whether a voluntary arbitration program for small rate disputes should be established.

But the board has asked the Class I railroads to indicate whether they plan to consent to rate case arbitration if revenue adequacy is taken into account, STB announced Wednesday.

STB’s decision, available here, also modifies the deadline for how long comments can be received on this...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-presses-on-with-small-rate-case-dispute-proceeding

STB moves forward with competing rulemakings on small rate disputes

A photograph of a rail yard.

The Surface Transportation Board is going ahead with two rulemakings aimed at resolving rail rate disputes involving relatively smaller amounts of money.

One is a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a voluntary arbitration program for small rate disputes, while the other is a supplemental notice for a proposed rulemaking on the final offer rate review (FORR) procedure. 

Reviewing the two rulemakings concurrently allows the board and stakeholders to compare them before taking a final action...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-moves-forward-with-competing-rulemakings-on-small-rate-disputes

Rail News – Regulatory Round-Up

A photograph of a locomotive engine hauling railcars. Trees line either side of the track.

Last week, the Surface Transportation Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada took steps that could potentially lead to a modification of existing regulations. Here’s what happened:

Surface Transportation Board welcomes talks with stakeholders on rate review

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is allowing board members and staff to meet informally with stakeholders over the board’s proposed rule regarding final offer rate review. The proposed rule is part of the proceeding Ex Parte

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-news-regulatory-round-up