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Association of American Railroads

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Association of American Railroads

  • Login
  • Publications
  • Join AAR
  • Data Center
  • News & Events
  • Blog
  • COVID-19

Association of American Railroads

  • Railroad 101
    • Industry 101
      • COVID-19
      • Economic Regulation
      • Positive Train Control
    • Freight Rail Resources
      • Signal Newsletter
      • Fact Sheets
      • Podcasts & Interviews
      • Railroad Chronology
  • Impact
    • Private Investments
    • Economic Impact
    • Freight Rail in Your State
    • Railroad Jobs
    • Sustainability
    • Consumers
    • Amtrak
    • Occupied Crossings
  • Policy
    • Economic Regulation
      • Final Offer Rate Review
      • Revenue Adequacy
      • Competition
      • Staggers Rail Act 40th Anniversary
    • Operational Regulation
      • Crew Size
      • Mexican Crew Interchange
      • Hazmat/Tank Cars
      • Emerging Safety Technologies
    • USMCA & Trade
    • Infrastructure Priorities
      • Highway Trust Fund
      • Truck Size & Weight
      • Section 130
      • CREATE
      • Shortline Tax Credit
      • Environmental Permitting
      • Passenger Rail
      • Railroad Right of Way Access
  • Safety
    • COVID-19
    • Employee Safety
    • Positive Train Control
    • Safety Record
    • Hazmat Safety
      • Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)
      • Crude Oil by Rail (CBR)
    • Network Safety
    • Pedestrian & Drivers
    • Preparedness & Response
      • Community Planning
      • First Responder Training
      • Natural Disasters
      • Physical & Cybersecurity
  • Technology
    • Workforce
    • Safety
      • Positive Train Control
      • Track
      • Equipment
    • Service
    • Sustainability
  • Industries We Support
    • Agriculture
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    • Automotive
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    • Energy
      • Coal
      • Ethanol
      • Crude Oil
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      • Pulp & Paper

Rail Cost Indexes

All-Inclusive Index Less Fuel (AII-LF)

 This index was created to provide a parallel measure of the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor without the influence of the fuel cost component. All of the components (Labor, M&S, etc.) used in the All-Inclusive Index Less Fuel match those of the All-Inclusive Index used to calculate the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor. In addition, a forecast error adjustment to the All-Inclusive Index Less Fuel is also calculated using the same methodology applied in the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor.

AII-LF Q12021


Index of Monthly Railroad Fuel Prices (MRF)

This index, which is a component of both the RCR and RCAF, measures changes in the price of locomotive diesel fuel purchased by freight railroads.

MRF 2021/1


Railroad Cost Recovery Index (RCR)

The RCR is a price index that measures changes in the price level of inputs to railroad operations: labor, fuel, materials & supplies, and other operating expenses. The RCR, which has been produced in its current form since 1977, is published quarterly in Association of American Railroads (AAR) Railroad Cost Indexes. This publication contains both quarterly and annual versions of the RCR for the United States as a whole, and the east and west regions. In addition, AAR Railroad Cost Indexes contains other railroad-related indexes such as the All-Inclusive Index and the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor.

RCR Index DescriptionRCR SampleSubscription Info


Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF)

The RCAF was established in response to the requirement in the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 that a quarterly cost-recovery index be created. Each quarter, the AAR submits the RCAF index to the Surface Transportation Board for approval. (Includes the RCAF-U and RCAF-A).

RCAF Description RCAF HISTORY 2021Q1

Quarterly filings are below.


RCAF Quarterly Filings & Decisions

2021Q1

  • AAR RCAF 2021Q1 Submission 12 4 2020
  • STB RCAF 2021Q1 Decision 12 16 2020

2020Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2020Q4 Submission 9 4 2020
  • STB RCAF 2020Q4 Decision 9 18 2020

2020Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2020Q3 Submission 6 5 2020
  • STB RCAF 2020Q3 Decision 6 18 2020

2020Q2

  • AAR RCAF 2020Q2 Submission 3 5 2020
  • STB RCAF 2020Q2 Decision 3 18 2020

2020Q1

  • AAR RCAF 2020Q1 Submission 12 5 2019
  • STB RCAF 2020Q1 Decision 12 19 2019

2019Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2019Q4 Submission 9 5 2019
  • STB RCAF 2019Q4 Decision 9 20 2019

2019Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2019Q3 Submission 6-5-2019
  • STB RCAF 2019Q3 Decision 6-20-2019

2019Q2

  • AAR RCAF 2019Q2 Submission 3-26-2019
  • AAR RCAF 2019Q2 Submission 3-5-2019
  • STB RCAF 2019Q2 Decision 3-29-2019

2019Q1

  • AAR RCAF 2019Q1 Submission 12-5-2018
  • STB RCAF 2019Q1 Decision 12-19-2018

2018Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2018Q4 Submission 9-5-2018
  • STB RCAF 2018Q4 Decision 9-19-2018

2018Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2018Q3 Submission 6-5-2018
  • STB RCAF 2018Q3 Decision 6-18-2018

2018Q2:

  • AAR RCAF 2018Q2 Submission 3-5-2018
  • STB RCAF 2018Q2 Decision 3-16-2018

2018Q1: 

  • AAR RCAF 2018Q1 Submission 12-5-2017
  • STB RCAF 2018Q1 Decision 12-20-2017

2017Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2017Q4 Submission 9-5-2017
  • STB RCAF 2017Q4 decision 9-19-2017

2017Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2017Q3 Submission 6-5-2017
  • STB RCAF 2017Q3 Decision 6-20-2017

2017Q2

  • AAR RCAF 2017Q2 Submission 3-3-2017
  • STB RCAF 2017Q2 Decision 3-17-2017

2017Q1

  • AAR RCAF 2017Q1 Submission 12-5-2016
  • STB RCAF 2017Q1 Decision 12-20-2016

2016Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2016Q4 Submission 9-2-2016
  • STB RCAF 2016Q4 Decision 9-20-2016

2016Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2016Q3 Submission 6-3-2016
  • STB RCAF 2016Q3 Decision 6-16-2016

2016Q2

  • AAR RCAF 2016Q2 Submission 3-3-2016
  • STB RCAF 2016Q2 Decision 3-18-2016

2016Q1

  • AAR RCAF 2016Q1 Submission 12-4-2015
  • STB RCAF 2016Q1 Decision 12-18-2015

2015Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2015Q4 Submission 9-4-2015
  • STB RCAF 2015Q4 Decision 9-18-2015

2015Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2015Q3 Submission 6-5-2015
  • STB RCAF 2015Q3 Decision 6-18-2015

2015Q2

  • AAR RCAF 2015Q2 Submission 3-5-2015
  • STB RCAF 2015Q2 Decision 3-20-2015

2015Q1

  • AAR RCAF 2015Q1 Submission 12-5-2014
  • STB RCAF 2015Q1 Decision 12-17-2014

2014Q4

  • AAR RCAF 2014Q4 Submission 9-5-2014
  • STB RCAF 2014Q4 Decision 9-19-2014

2014Q3

  • AAR RCAF 2014Q3 Submission 6-5-2014
  • STB RCAF 2014Q3 Decision 6-20-2014

2014Q2

  • AAR RCAF-2014-Q2

Questions?

Tiffany Placker
(202) 639-2381
[email protected]

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Association of American Railroads

America’s freight railroads operate the safest, most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sound freight transportation system in the world — and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) is committed to keeping it that way. Founded in 1934, AAR is the world’s leading railroad policy, research, standard setting, and technology organization that focuses on the safety and productivity of the U.S. freight rail industry. AAR Full members include the major freight railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Affiliates and Associates  include non-Class I and commuter railroads, rail supply companies, engineering firms, signal and communications firms, and rail car owners.

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