The Surface Transportation Board 's (STB) Rate Reform Task Force has issued a report that recommends possible changes to the board's rate review methodologies and policies, reports Progressive Railroading.
The STB established the task force in January 2018 to recommend improvements to the existing process and propose new methodologies that are more up to date with current transportation issues and trends.
To complete its report, the task force met with shippers, carriers, academics, practitioners and other interested parties.
In its statement, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commended the STB for issuing the completed report.
"Based upon an initial review, the NGFA believes the task force has produced a thoughtful, succinct and good-faith document that contains an accurate portrayal of the systemic problems with each of the STB’s existing methodologies and procedures available to rail customers to exercise their legal right to challenge unreasonable rail rates," the statement said.
The NGFA said it is evident from the report that the task force listened and earnestly evaluated comments and input made by the NGFA and other rail stakeholders during its year-long process of reaching out to rail customers and carriers alike.
The NGFA said it was pleased that the task force report also contains several new, innovative and intriguing concepts that it said warrant consideration as the STB and stakeholders examine ways to improve and, in some cases replace, the agency’s current rate-challenge methodologies and procedures to establish more streamlined, timely, less cumbersome and more cost-effective ways for rail customers to challenge unreasonable rail rates, which NGFA members believe have become more prevalent and significant given the rapid consolidation of the North American rail marketplace.
As NGFA’s Rail Arbitration System, established in 1998, has shown, merely having realistic access to a workable forum for resolving disputes can help discipline business conduct.
To read the full statement, click here.