Part ofrailroad safety →

HR9074FEDERALIN_COMMITTEE

High Impact

Proposed Law: Mandatory Two-Person Crews for Freight Trains

Original title: Safe Freight Act of 2024

July 19, 2024

railroad safety transportation labor freight hazardous materials

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

If passed, this law would mandate staffing levels for s, directly impacting operational costs for major rail companies and changing labor requirements for freight transport across the United States.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Class I railroad carriers

These companies must comply with new minimum crew size requirements and may need to adjust staffing or seek waivers.

Railroad conductors and locomotive engineers

These workers are the required personnel for the mandated 2-person crew structure.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Background

Class I railroads are the largest freight rail companies in the United States, defined by the Surface Transportation Board based on annual revenue thresholds. context
The debate over crew size has been a central issue in railroad labor negotiations for years, with unions advocating for two-person crews for safety and carriers seeking to implement one-person operations. context

Summary

This bill requires major freight railroad companies to staff most trains with at least two qualified crew members: one conductor and one locomotive engineer. It establishes specific safety standards for crew sizes while providing limited exceptions for certain types of short-distance or non-mainline operations.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

If passed, this law would mandate staffing levels for s, directly impacting operational costs for major rail companies and changing labor requirements for freight transport across the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this rule apply to all freight trains?

No. There are exceptions for trains on non-mainline tracks, certain mechanical assistance locomotives, and short-distance light locomotives. However, s and trains 7,500 feet or longer are not eligible for these exceptions.

What happens if a railroad company cannot meet the 2-person requirement?

The bill allows railroad carriers to seek a waiver from the Secretary of Transportation in accordance with existing federal regulations.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Connected Entities

dateJuly 18, 2024“Date the bill was introduced”Map →

date2024“Year of the Act”Map →

organizationSecretary of Transportation“Responsible for overseeing railroad safety and issuing waivers”Map →

organizationUnited States Government Publishing Office“Source of the Congressional Bill”Map →

personMrs. Sykes“Introduced the bill in the House of Representatives”Map →

personMr. Rulli“Co-sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives”Map →

organizationClass I railroad carriers“The entities subject to the crew size requirements”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy75
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz40
Current news / social attention level

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