STB Grants AAR Ex Parte Petition

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Sept. 8 granted an Association of American Railroads (AAR) petition to open a proceeding to consider revisions to the Board’s regulations governing ex parte communications. Ex

(BNSF Photograph)

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Dips in Week 36

The Association of American Railroads in reporting freight rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 6, 2025 (Week 36) noted that total U.S. rail traffic was 467,880 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.4% from

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Remains Flat in Week 35

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 30, 2025 (Week 35) came in at 521,502 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9%—virtually flat from the same week in 2024, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Sept. 3.

(Courtesy of STB)
Commentary

Did Primus Engineer His Own Ouster?

The firing by POTUS 47 of outspoken Surface Transportation Board (STB) member and Democrat Robert E. Primus Aug. 27 leaves the five-member agency short two members as it awaits a formal merger

(CPKC Photograph)

AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 34

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 34 weeks of 2025 (ending Aug. 23) was up 2.7% from the prior-year period, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest rail traffic report. While the United States and Canada both saw gains, Mexico experienced a loss.

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Dips Slightly Through Week 33

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 16, 2025 (Week 33) came in at 512,970 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.7% from the same week in 2024, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Aug. 20.

(BNSF Photograph)

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Up Through Week 32

U.S. rail traffic not only rose for the week ending Aug. 9, 2025, vs. the same week last year but also realized a modest gain through 2025’s first 32 weeks, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Aug. 13.

(Photograph From FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight Fact Sheet)

FAA, TSA Eye ‘Beyond Visual Line of Sight’ Drone Operations Rule

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are proposing “performance-based regulations to enable the design and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at low altitudes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and for third-party services, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM), that support these operations.” Routine BVLOS operations “hold tremendous potential for railroads,” Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ian Jefferies said following the Aug. 6 release of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 31

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 31 weeks of 2025 (ending Aug. 2) was up 2.9% from the prior-year period, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest rail traffic report. While the United States and Canada both saw gains, Mexico experienced a loss.

(Courtesy of Unsplash)

ASLRRA, AAR Respond to Proposed Reg Change for Commercial Vehicles at Crossings

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) on July 29 told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) they oppose its proposal to amend regulations related to driving certain commercial motor vehicles (CMV) at grade crossings.

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