WASHINGTON (May 12, 2026) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) welcomes the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) final rule to strengthen freight railroad service reporting and increase transparency across the network. The addition of new Original Estimated Time of Arrival (OETA) and Industry Spot and Pull (ISP) metrics—reported on a weekly basis—marks an important step toward more consistent, meaningful measurement of rail performance.
ACC urged the STB to move forward with these reforms and appreciates the Board’s decision to reject proposed changes that would have weakened the usefulness of the new reporting metrics, including broad exclusions for embargos and other carveouts. The overall framework will give shippers better insight into service reliability and help policy makers hold railroads accountable.
This new proposal is an important part of a set of reforms needed to improve that nation’s freight rail system. ACC also strongly supports STB’s reciprocal switching proposal to remove regulatory barriers to competitive rail service. Unlike the unnecessary and costly UP-NS rail merger, the combination of smarter service metrics and pro-competitive policies demonstrate how the STB can help build a better freight rail system—one that delivers for American manufacturers, strengthens supply chains, and supports the U.S. economy.
ACC remains committed to working with the Board to adopt policies that bolster access to competitive and reliable freight rail service.
