As of September 14, 2022, a tentative agreement has been reached with 10 out of the 12 unions. Based on the feedback from the railroads, now they are still trying to negotiate with the unions to avert the strike.
Most Railroads prohibit DG and Reefer as first step for safety concern. Please see below updates from each rail carriers as below.
USPTI team will keep monitoring the status and keep you updated.
RAILROAD
WHAT ACTIONS THE RAILROAD TAKES NOW
BNSF
BNSF will begin to take steps to manage and secure the shipments of hazardous and security-sensitive materials as early as Monday, September 12.
These are necessary steps to ensure we are handling security sensitive and hazardous cargo in accordance with federal regulations and also to ensure that no hazardous cargo is left unattended or unsecured in the event of a work stoppage.
Stop taking reefers effective Wednesday, September 14 at 12:01 am.
The majority of intermodal facilities will remain open at normalized gate allocation levels through the weekend. BNSF will take additional actions to control inventory levels by restricting in-gates at select intermodal and automotive facilities on Friday, September 16 at 12:01 am, as follows:
Intermodal: Cicero, Corwith, Memphis, Seattle International Gateway (SIG) and South Seattle Intermodal Facilities:
Effective 12:01 am on Friday, September 16, BNSF will close all in-gates for loaded or empty intermodal units.
All other BNSF intermodal and automotive facilities will continue to allow in-gates at normalized allocation levels.
NS
NS must ensure that no hazardous material or freight that requires special security is left on an unattended train out on the network in the event of a sudden strike. To prevent this, NS must begin issuing embargoes for certain types of shipments from 9/12, which includes rail security-sensitive material (RSSM) and certain time-sensitive shipments outlined in the embargo.
Foresee a curtailment of service up to 72 hours before the end of the cooling-off period to prepare for a safe and orderly stoppage should there be a strike.
Effective 17:00 local time on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, Norfolk Southern will close all gates to Intermodal traffic.
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.
UP
Union Pacific will begin to secure hazardous and other security-sensitive materials on our property for the safety of our customers, employees and communities we serve. In addition, from 9/12, we will embargo new shipments of hazardous commodities until those shipments can safely arrive at their destination.
In the event of a work stoppage, Union Pacific will immediately activate plans to safely cease all train operations. If the work stoppage continues beyond 24 hours, we will issue embargoes for all rail traffic. When the strike ends, we will lift embargos or issue permits to enable our network to safely resume operations as quickly as possible.
Intermodal and automotive ramp gate operations will continue as normal in the first 24 hours after a work stoppage. After 24 hours of a work stoppage, we will discontinue all ingate operations, though remain open for outgate operations.
CXS
Embargo on all TIH/PIH shipments and other safety-sensitive freight effective Monday, Sept. 12.
KCS
No advisory from KCS.
CN
From 9/12, CN will
embargo traffic originated at or destined to points in the U.S. with permits.
embargo all Rail Security-Sensitive Materials or RSSM commodities (such as PIH/TIH) between Canada and the U.S., and implement a permit system
Canada to Canada shipments of all commodities will be moved per normal operations.
Further instructions on the shipment of commodities will be provided as the situation evolves.
CP
CP is not a party to the National Carriers’ Conference Committee and not involved in the continuing labour negotiations.
In the event of a service interruption at other railroads in the U.S, CP will continue to fully operate in Canada as well as in the US, subject only to any applicable embargo imposed by any of the U.S. railroads.
