Source: Supply Chain Dive
Date: 27th May 2026 

Additional performance metrics will provide greater transparency into rail reliability and delivery performance.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) has introduced new reporting requirements for Class I railroads, a move widely viewed as a positive development for shippers seeking greater visibility into rail service performance.

Effective 8 July, Class I rail carriers will be required to report two additional service metrics on a weekly basis: Original Estimated Time of Arrival (OETA) and Industry Spot and Pull (ISP).

The OETA metric measures the percentage of shipments delivered within 24 hours of their originally estimated arrival time, providing a clearer picture of rail service reliability. The ISP metric measures how often railroads successfully spot or pull railcars at customer facilities according to their scheduled commitments.

The new reporting requirements stem from ongoing concerns regarding rail service performance following significant disruptions experienced during the rail crew shortages of 2022. Shippers have long advocated for increased transparency to better understand service levels and hold carriers accountable for operational performance.

The reporting framework applies primarily to carload freight movements, which include commodities such as agricultural products, chemicals, lumber, metals, automotive components, and industrial materials. These sectors rely heavily on rail transportation as a critical component of their supply chains.

In addition to the new reporting requirements, the STB continues to advance its broader data modernisation initiative through the development of its Open Data Portal. The platform presents rail service information through more accessible visual dashboards and analytical tools, making performance data easier for shippers and supply chain stakeholders to interpret and utilise.

While the new rules do not introduce direct regulatory penalties tied to service performance, the increased transparency is expected to strengthen accountability across the rail industry. Shippers will have access to more detailed performance data that can support supply chain planning, service benchmarking, and discussions with rail carriers when operational issues arise.

The initiative is also expected to improve dispute resolution by providing objective performance metrics that both carriers and customers can reference when evaluating service quality.

As rail networks continue to play a critical role in North American supply chains, enhanced reporting standards represent an important step toward improving visibility, reliability, and confidence in rail transportation performance.

What This Means for Rail Freight Specifically

• Shippers will gain better visibility into actual rail service performance.
• Delivery reliability and facility service levels will become more measurable.
• Rail carriers will face greater public accountability for service quality.
• Improved performance data can support network planning and transportation procurement decisions.

Supply Chain & Logistics Considerations

• Better rail service visibility supports more accurate inventory and production planning.
• Manufacturers and commodity exporters can use performance metrics to evaluate carrier reliability.
• Increased transparency may strengthen rail service negotiations and dispute resolution processes.
• Data-driven decision-making will become easier as rail performance information becomes more accessible.

The new reporting requirements highlight the growing importance of visibility, performance measurement, and data-driven transportation management across increasingly complex multimodal supply chains.