Officials with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) are calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation to embrace pro-innovation and performance-based regulations.
In comments to the U.S. DOT’s Request for Information, the AAR urged the department to modernize regulations and move away from the Biden Administration’s crew staffing rule mandating two crew members per train in perpetuity. The association said the mandate conflicts with the Trump Administration’s policy goals of regulatory reform, technological advancement and data-driven rulemaking.
“For too long, outdated, arbitrary regulations have stood in the way of implementing data-backed solutions that can further strengthen railroads’ already remarkable safety record,” AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies said. “As technology advances, railroads must be empowered to innovate — not be hamstrung by prescriptive rules, including some written more than 50 years ago. As a critical economic enabler, domestic growth and prosperity are contingent upon maintaining freight railroads’ ability to safely, reliably and affordably deliver for American businesses and communities.”
AAR called for an overall shift from obsolete regulations to performance-based standards to drive innovation and allow railroads to adopt modern technologies. AAR also urged the DOT to consider equity across all transportation modes when addressing regulations about new and emerging technologies.
Specifically, the association called for a repeal of crew staffing requirements; modernize track inspection regulations, revise regulations started during the first Trump administration, and finalize a previously proposed rule on modern air-brake technology by extending inspection intervals.
Officials with AAR said the proposed changes would reduce regulatory burdens while helping the department meet its responsibility to ensure transportation system safety.