Fueling the debate

摘要

Rail shippers took the offensive and Class Is assumed a defensive stance during the Surface Transportation Board's fuel surcharge hearing in Washington, D.C., last month. Claiming surcharges are determined by a wide range of factors that aren't relevant to the amount of fuel consumed and are "unfairly assessed" as a percentage of a freight rate, representatives from more than 20 shippers and shipper organizations called on the board to review each railroad's surcharge program and establish parameters for imposing surcharges if Class Is fail to make voluntary changes.