Minnesota Train Derailment: Investigation Underway as Hazardous Material Spills
A train carrying ethanol derailed and caught fire in Raymond, Minnesota, around 1 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2023, prompting a mandatory evacuation of the city of about 800 people. Four cars containing ethanol ruptured and caught fire, and there is a risk that four additional cars containing ethanol may also release. 14 of the […]
Railroads and Unions Back to Negotiations
The potential for a rail strike is once again a possibility starting November 14th as members from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) have rejected new labor contracts. These are the same labor contracts that have been in revision since January of 2020. This recent rejection sends both unions and railroads back […]
Crisis Averted: Class I Railroads Will Not Strike
The railroad strike has been narrowly averted after a 20-hour negotiation meeting between unions and rail management. The two parties were able to reach a tentative deal early on Thursday, September 15th, with involvement from the United States President, Joe Biden. Railroad workers are governed by different labor laws compared to most workers, one that […]
Surface Transportation Board Severely Disappointed in Class I Railroads
The four major U.S. Class I railroads are under heavy scrutiny by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for not providing enough information regarding their rail service recovery plans. The STB issued a requirement for all four railroads on May 6th to submit a rail service recovery plan in response to shippers’ concerns about deteriorating rail […]
Looming Strike Could Impact Railroad
Further supply chain disruptions are currently in the making as railroad giant Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) plans to unveil a new attendance incentive program that may cause over 35,000 employees to go on strike as soon as February 1st, 2022. BNSF claims the points-based program intends to improve shipping lead times, though […]