The Surface Transportation Board (STB) oversees freight rail’s market-based, balanced economic regulatory framework.
This framework allows freight railroads to manage assets and pricing without overt government intervention. It also lets shippers address rail service concerns. Freight railroads support a continuation of existing balanced regulatory policies. The current regulatory framework — made possible by the bipartisan Staggers Act of 1980 — protects rail customers against unreasonable railroad actions while allowing railroads to earn enough to make massive investments into their private, nearly 140,000-mile network. These investments ensure freight rail remains America’s critical connector.
Freight Rail Policy Stance: The STB must not implement wholesale changes that would compromise railroads’ ability to earn the revenue necessary to reinvest in the network and their employees to meet customer demand.
