U.S. RAIL EMBARGOES ARE IN EFFECT TODAY
Several Class 1 railroads updated their freight embargoes to exceed those recommended by the American Association of Railroads (AAR). Instructions by the AAR to all Class 1 railroads included securing HAZMAT and security-sensitive commodities in preparation for the possibility of a nationwide rail labor strike before President Biden’s prescribed cooling-off period expires on September 16, 2022.
In addition to the AAR prescribed measures reported on Monday, September 12, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Norfolk Southern (NS) announced the following additional freight embargoes:
BNSF
- Effective Wednesday, September 14 at 12:01 am, BNSF will not allow Temperature Controlled Intermodal (TCI) units to in-gate at any of its intermodal facilities
- Customers are encouraged to pick up their TCI units that have reached their final destination and units at origin that have not been loaded onto a train
- Non-running TCI units used for dry bulk shipments may still be in-gated
Norfolk Southern
- Bulk Commodities Moving in Unit Train Service will operate until Thursday, September 15, 2022, to the degree crew availability allows
- Intermodal – effective 17:00 local time on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, NS will close gates to Intermodal traffic. General Guidelines:
- In-gates for loaded or empty Intermodal units for rail movement will close at all NS Intermodal terminals
- Traffic originating at on-dock port facilities and privately owned Intermodal terminals will not be accepted
- Customers with eastbound interline shipments should contact the originating rail carrier regarding guidelines for the acceptance of traffic at origin
- Until further notice, out-gates will remain open at all NS Intermodal terminals during normal business hours for customers to pick up units
- EMP and TMX – customers using EMP and TMX containers should note the following:
- In-gates for loaded or empty intermodal units for rail movement will close at all NS Intermodal terminals
- Traffic originating at on-dock port facilities and privately owned intermodal terminals will not be accepted
- Customers with eastbound interline shipments should contact the originating rail carrier regarding guidelines for the acceptance of traffic at origin
- Until further notice, out-gates will remain open at all NS Intermodal terminals during normal business hours for customers to pick up units
- Automotive General Guidelines
- All Automotive origin facilities will close to vehicle in-gates for rail movement, effective 17:00 Wednesday, September 14th
- Customers with eastbound interline shipments should contact the originating rail carrier regarding guidelines for the acceptance of traffic at origin
- Until further notice, out-gates will remain open at all NS Automotive facilities during normal business hours for car haul carriers to pick up vehicles
Ninety thousand workers from the 2 largest U.S. rail labor unions could strike as early as September 16 if talks continue to stall.
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