EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AND UNIT TRAINS

While the Interstate Commerce Act prohibits common carrier transportation firms from practicing service discrimination and railroads have been able to provide efficient service for high volume shippers through the use of unit trains, smaller shippers have argued before the ICC that unit train service discriminates against them by depriving them of an adequate car supply. ICC has justified keeping a maximum of 20% of the car fleet in unit train service because of the volumes handled and cost effectiveness. This paper models the impact of unit train operation on the smaller shippers and proves that car supply for all shippers is improved. It also finds the ICC's 20% maximum is inappropriate and likely curtails the supply of cars for small shippers.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Requests for this publication should be directed to J.G. Britton, Director of Operations, AAR Technical Center.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Research Center

  3140 South Federal Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616
• Authors:
  • Romig, W J
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coal; Coal industry; Freight traffic; Open top cars; Railcar shortages; Railcar supply; Regulations; Unit trains
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission
• Old TRIS Terms: Car shortage; Car supply; Government regulations
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Law; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139310
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 6 1976 12:00AM