On April 27, 2022, International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) testified before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) about the detrimental impacts of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) on the Liquid Terminal Industry. ILTA’s testimony provided several objective methods to evaluate freight rail service and whether freight rail is meeting the needs of its customers. The same negative sentiment toward freight rail was shared by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman, Peter DeFazio. Chairman DeFazio stated that he “has been beating the drums about the dangers of precision scheduled railroading for years[.]”
Recently, the STB also took action against the freight rail industry. The STB now requires that the freight rail industry report on service data that provides greater transparency into the inability of freight rail to provide effective service to its customers. The STB’s opinion can be referenced here at the end of the page. ILTA is grateful for the Chairman’s attention to this issue and welcomes the opportunity to work with the STB, Chairman DeFazio, and others to help address this issue.