Tank Car Advance Letter

U.S. Department of Transportation		1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

<<MONTH XX>>, 2018

Dear <<name here>>,

I am writing to ask for your support and participation in the 2018 Annual Tank Car Facility Survey. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is conducting this survey to track the progress of enhancing the safety of tank cars transporting Class 3 flammable liquids. As a builder or retrofitter of rail tank cars certified to carry Class 3 flammable liquids, we are asking for your assistance.

Signed into law on December 4, 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act requires that an Annual Tank Car Survey be conducted by BTS on behalf of the Department of Transportation. Summary results will be included in an annual report to Congress. The information collected is for statistical purposes only and BTS will hold the information in confidence to the full extent permitted by law. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (Title 5 of Public Law 107-347) and other applicable Federal laws, your responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your informed consent.

Please log on to the website listed below using your facility’s assigned user name and password. Once logged in, you will be prompted to answer several questions. Please complete the requested information regarding the projected number of DOT-117 or DOT-117R tank cars that you expect your facility to build and/or retrofit in 2018. Your response to the Tank Car Facility Survey is voluntary, however, complete reporting is strongly encouraged to ensure the results provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of industry’s progress in upgrading to the new, safer tank car standards. On average, the questionnaire should take thirty minutes to complete.

Website link: <<www.website.gov>>

User Name: <<LOGIN ID>>

Password: <<PASSWORD>>

If you have any questions or comments about this study, or would like assistance in completing the questionnaire, please email the Tank Car project director at [email protected].

Thank you for your time and participation in this survey.

Sincerely,

Patricia Hu, Director

Bureau of Transportation Statistics