Yard Dwell
The Yard Dwell Time Report is a measure of the weekly average terminal dwell time, measured in hours, for the 10 largest terminals for each carrier. This information can help in determining the efficiency of each terminal, and give you reliable information for planning rail routes. Data for the Yard Dwell Time Report is derived from information reported by Class 1 railroads to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on a weekly basis. This data excludes cars on a run-through basis and includes only U.S. operations for Canadian railways.
The graphs below represent an average Yard Dwell by railroad, as well as average Yard Dwell for each individual yard.
Why is this important?
How can data on Rail Yard Dwell Time help you? By monitoring the time it takes railroads to move cars through classification yards, you can identify and anticipate where your transit times may be affected. Most shippers rely on notices of late shipments to be informed of service delays. Monitoring railroad tracking performance data for yard dwell allows you to be more proactive.
Using this information, you can forecast where your railcars might see longer delays, and plan accordingly. You can also see which months or quarters tend to see increased rail yard dwell time across multiple terminals. You can also use the Rail Yard Dwell Time report to forecast dwell times in given areas, make comparisons between terminals or rail carriers, and more.
Trains Delayed
The Trains Delayed Report shows, as a weekly average, the daily number of loaded and empty trains held short of destination or scheduled interchange for longer than six consecutive hours. This information can help you anticipate delays from particular railroads or during particular times, and adjust your schedule or route accordingly. If you are experiencing more delays than expected, you can also use the Trains Delayed Report to measure your delays against the average for each rail carrier. This report uses information provided by Class I railroads to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on a weekly basis. This data does not include yards or local trains and includes only U.S. operations for Canadian railways.
Why is this important?
The weekly average of trains delayed can provide helpful insights into a railroad’s performance. This data can also show you when you might expect more delays, especially when working with specific carriers. With the Trains Delayed Report, you can monitor railroad performance data and anticipate where your transit times might be affected. You can also compare the performance of different rail carriers when you can choose between them. It’s also helpful to compare rail carriers across different time periods, and see when delays affect specific railroads and how much. This way, your forecasted transit times will be more accurate and you can mitigate the effects of unexpected delays.
Cars Held
The Total Cars Held Report shows the average number of cars in revenue service that have not moved in 48 hours or more. This information is based on daily snapshots taken throughout the week, according to information provided by Class 1 railroads to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on a weekly basis. This information is useful in determining which railroads are affected by service issues, when you might expect longer holding times, and how you might anticipate or plan for these events.
This data set includes loaded and empty moves for all car types. It does not include cars placed at a customer facility, in constructive placement, placed for interchange to another carrier, in bad order status, in storage, or operating in railroad service. In addition, only U.S. operations are included for Canadian railways. Please note that the railroads changed their reporting method on March 29, 2017. Prior to that date, they reported the weekly number of cars instead of the daily average.
Why is this important?
How can you use the Total Cars Held Report? Monitoring railroad tracking data for the frequency of cars held by each carrier allows you to quickly identify carriers experiencing service issues, and those that are making improvements. You can also view data between carriers and make comparisons. This information can help you make the most informed decisions when selecting a transit facility or rail route. In addition, you can forecast cars held according to a date range or carrier you are working with. Some months or quarters may see a spike in cars held for certain railroads, while others may see gradual increases, decreases, or relatively steady advancement.
Related Resources
Velocity
Velocity is the speed of a train from origination to destination, including the amount of time a train dwells in a yard for a crew change, pick-up or set-off of traffic.
Volume Reports
A collection of three reports from the Class I railroads that give a picture of the volume going through the rail industry. These reports are Cars Online, Weekly Carloads, and Weekly Carload Comparison.
