WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board today issued a decision that extends the temporary reporting of employment data through the end of the year and that requires certain updated information from BNSF Railway, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific.
The board originally required the big four U.S. Class I railroads to submit employment information beginning in May 2022 as part of monitoring of widespread service problems that were related to crew shortages.
This year, railroads expect to see increased traffic, the board noted. While the four railroads have increased overall workforce levels since May 2022 and have met most of what they set as interim labor force targets, their employment levels are still approximately 14,000 below pre-pandemic levels and have been essentially flat for the past six months, the STB said.
To help determine the durability of service recovery efforts, today’s decision extends monthly reporting of employment data by Class I carriers. The big four systems are directed to provide detailed information regarding hiring and retention plans and provide an additional update containing labor force targets.
BNSF, NS, and UP are directed to continue to submit data about trainees in their monthly
employment data.
Because service performance data from recent weeks show that service has improved since April 2022, the board said it does not see the need to extend the service data reporting.
CN and CPkc should also have to report their employment numbers, at least on their US operations. Then we would have, as Paul Harvey used to say, “The REST of the story!”