STB adopts final rule on waybill data collection

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted a final rule aimed at improving the board's waybill sample data collection by creating a more robust dataset for decision-making and analyses. The rule takes effect Jan. 1, 2021.

Specifically, the rule would increase the sampling rates of certain non-intermodal carload shipments and specific separate sampling strata and rates for intermodal shipments, STB officials said in a press release.

The board initiated the rulemaking as part of its rate reform efforts. The final rule follows a notice of proposed rulemaking that was issued in November 2019.

Board members expect the enhanced dataset to provide more comprehensive information to the STB and other users of waybill sample data in a variety of contexts, including exemption decisions, stratification reports, traffic volume and rate studies, board-initiated investigations and certain rate cases.

The final rule also eliminates the paper system for reporting waybill data.