American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson recently submitted comments to leaders of the US House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee after the Committee’s inaugural hearing on the state of US transportation infrastructure and supply chains failed to include customer perspectives.
AFPM requested that these comments - offered on behalf of fuel refiners and petrochemical manufacturers, who are among the nation’s top freight rail shipping customers - be added to the official 1 February hearing record.
Excerpts from Chet Thompson’s letter include: “While AFPM members utilise all aspects of midstream infrastructure, this statement focuses on freight rail, as it poses the most significant challenges to our operations and supply chains. Indeed, reduced rail competition and the resulting deterioration in service have greatly hindered our members’ ability to move feedstocks to their facilities and products to consumers.
“[…] Over the past few decades, through consolidation the number of major United States railroads has drastically contracted, resulting in decreased rail competition, degraded rail service, exponential rate increases, and higher prices for consumers.
“AFPM supports bipartisan legislation to reauthorise the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and to provide it with the resources and authorities it needs to quickly address rail service issues. More specifically, AFPM encourages Congress to: update the common carrier obligation, foster increased competition in freight rail, and enhance the STB’s ability to address critical service issues.”