Sampling procedures

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
Appendix B

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB) STATEMENT 81-1
PROCEDURE FOR SAMPLING WAYBILL RECORDS
Effective: January 1, 2021

I.
A.

Sample of Waybill Record1

Definition of Frame for Study

The waybill records to be used as a frame for this study shall include all waybills and
other documents used in lieu of waybills to authorize movement of revenue freight and/or used
as a basis for settlement. Apply the sample to all waybill records which cover the following
linehaul revenue movements or settlements for movements:
1. Terminations on the reporting railroad’s or system’s lines or any of their U.S. railroad
subsidiaries,
2. Terminations for traffic of foreign railroads for which the reporting railroad (or its
subsidiaries) has a joint-line settlement agreement to do the waybilling and revenue
billing.
If the files are not complete for the subject traffic of this study (population), then notify
the STB’s Office of Economics. The subject traffic not covered by the files would have to be
sampled individually. Include substituted truck for rail service, LCL, outbound transit
movements where the net freight charges may be zero, exempt traffic, and traffic moving under
contract rates. All revenue traffic must be included.
B.

Stratification and Replication

Waybills in the file to be used as a frame for this study may be in any order. The waybill
files used must be the final audited waybill settlement files.
Stratify each waybill record in the study frame into one of seven strata by traffic type2
and size based on the total number of carloads/TCUs for the waybill movement. Table 1 shows

1
Option: The respondent railroads have an option to transmit 100% of the applicable traffic with data in
prescribed form as shown in Attachment 1 on a quarterly basis as defined below in Part IV, Subpart A. The STB
will apply the same sampling procedure described below. When the sample is completed, the STB will return the
railroads’ file of 100% of waybill data elements retaining only the sampled data and the control totals.
2
The two traffic types are carload traffic (i.e., non-intermodal) and intermodal traffic (i.e., trailer/container
units or TCUs).

16

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
the specifications of stratification. For each reporting period, obtain the total count of waybills
in each of the seven strata. These are the population counts.
Select four systematic subsamples from each of the seven strata. Each systematic
subsample for a stratum will have its own random start. A different random start for each of the
four subsamples is to be drawn from Table 2. Draw random starts from Table 2 just as you
would read across a page of ordinary print. For each row there are 10 separate random starts.
After drawing a random start, select every Kth waybill record for each subsample. Table 1
contains the values of the Kth interval for each stratum. For each reporting period, obtain counts
of selected waybills for each of the seven strata. This sampling procedure is illustrated below in
Part V.
Draw the study waybills for each stratum from a continuous sequential counting of the
waybills from work-day to work-day and from week to week until the end of the reporting
period. At the beginning of each reporting period, the sequential count of waybills would have
to restart from “1” for each stratum. Then assign a new set of random starts from Table 2 for
each of the seven strata and proceed as in Item No. 2. Ensure that every group of waybills in the
population has been sampled once and only once. After a waybill record has been selected, it
must be transmitted no matter how unusual it is. There is to be no substitution.

II.
A.

Quality Control

Quality of Railroad’s Input

The reporting railroad has the responsibility to maintain the quality of submitted waybills
in machine readable input (MRI) form, especially for key items. Failure to meet minimum
standards will lead to increased rejection of waybill records which will be returned to respondent
for correction. If necessary, the whole file for a reporting period might be returned for
correction. If errors are serious and persistent, it is possible that the STB may order the railroad
to supply additional data for the submitted waybill copies or records for a special study. It may
require joint efforts by railroads, the STB, shipper groups, and others to eliminate errors that are
industry wide (for example, commodity code errors which involve the origin freight stations).
B.

Computer Edit of MRI

Shipment data on waybills selected for STB study will be reviewed for validation (e.g.,
improbable Freight Station Accounting Codes (FSACs) or Standard Transportation Commodity
Codes (STCCs)) and extreme outliers (e.g., intermodal equipment on tank cars, unusually high
weights for the commodity carried). Quantitative comparisons can be made on a quarterly basis
against comparable data from the Quarterly Report of Freight Commodity Statistics (QCS
reports) as reported by the Class I railroads. Errors will probably be greatest in the beginning
until any programming bugs are eliminated and ambiguous instructions are clarified. The

17

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
advantages of MRI will be greater for those railroads who effectively edit study waybills before
submitting them to the STB.

III.

Elimination of Routine Submission of Hard Copy Waybills

No hard copy waybills will be required when the waybill sample is submitted in an
acceptable format. The STB, however, may order railroads to submit hard copies for other
purposes such as special studies.

IV.
A.

Transmission of MRI

Submission of Sampled Waybill Data

Submit sampled waybill data in the prescribed format as shown in Attachment 1, Waybill
Data Elements, to the agent designated by the STB. Respondent railroads shall submit files on
an audit month basis unless the railroad chooses to report on an audit quarter basis. Quarters
shall cover the following four periods: (1) January, February, and March; (2) April, May, and
June; (3) July, August, and September; and (4) October, November, and December.
Identification of the file should include: addressee, addresser, official to contact with
telephone number, and identification of the file including the reporting period.
Please send a separate Transmittal Form OPAD-1 for each transmitted file to the
designated contractor with the following information:
1. Identification of the file.
2. The number of waybills selected in the sample for each of the seven strata.
3. The total population count of waybills for each of the strata from which the sample was
selected. The total count for the seven strata combined should equal 100% of the subject
traffic as defined in the “Definition of Frame for Study” of this procedure.
B.

Timely Reporting

The respondent railroads shall transmit the files to the designated contractor within 60
days of the end of the reporting period.
C.

STB Contact Information

For additional assistance with the procedure for sampling waybill data, please send an
email to [email protected], or write to:
Surface Transportation Board
Office of Economics
395 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20423-0001
18

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)

V.

Illustration: Drawing Four Subsamples from a Stratum

Assuming that random starts Nos. 36, 139, 28 and 102 were drawn in that order from
Table 2 for stratum 6 (in actual application draw new random starts), then “36” is in subsample
1, “139” is in subsample 2, “28” is in subsample 3, and “102” is in subsample 4. Each waybill
selected by random starts and every Kth (stratum 6) waybill selected thereafter is assigned its
subsample code as follows:
Stratum 6 (Start of reporting period):
Random Numbers:
36 139
28 102
Subsample Code:
1
2
3
4
Kth Interval:
+160 +160 +160 +160
Count or Waybills in Stratum:
Record Numbers:
Subsample Code:

1,

2, ... 28, ... 36, ...102,... 139, ...188,... 196, ...262,... 299, etc.
3,
1,
4,
2,
3,
1,
4,
2,

Enter stratum code and subsample code into data record
for selected waybill.
*
*
Population
Obtain count of total number of waybills in stratum 6
counts and record (population count) and number of waybills selected. This
is the sample for the reporting period.
counts by strata
*
*
Accumulate records for the reporting period and data
Transmittal Form
elements for selected waybills for STB study.
*
*

Waybill Records

Contractor

Submit file to contractor designated by STB.

Similarly, repeat the sampling procedure for each remaining stratum using the Kth interval and
the random starts applicable to that stratum.

19

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)

Stratum
1
2
3
4
5

Stratum
6
7

Table 1: Selection of Waybills for STB Study
No. of NonIntermodal
Carloads
Random
Kth
3
per Waybill
Starts
Interval
1 to 2
*
20
3 to 15
*
20
16 to 60
*
16
61 to 100
*
12
101 and over
*
8
No. of
Intermodal
TCUs per
Random
Kth
Waybill
Starts
Interval
1 to 2
*
160
3 and over
*
20

Sample
Rate
1/5
1/5
1/4
1/3
1/2
Sample
Rate
1/40
1/5

3
Draw from Table 2 a new random start as required at the beginning of the reporting period for each
subsample (1, 2, 3, and 4) within a stratum. Draw random starts from Table 2 just as you would read across a page
of ordinary print. For each row there are 10 separate random starts. After random numbers for a stratum have been
exhausted, return to first row and repeat. Thus, for stratum 1 there are four random starts, for stratum 2 there are
four random starts, etc.

20

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
Table 2: Random Starts for MRI Sample
Use for Stratum 1 (1-2 Cars), Stratum 2 (3-15 Cars), and Stratum 7 (3 and over
TCUs)
Rate of 1 of 5
13
11
1
7
20
3
19
18
5
10
16
2
8
9
14
12
4
17
6
15
14
7
20
15
8
16
6
9
19
12
2
4
1
18
17
5
10
3
11
13
9
7
11
12

19
13
5
15

11
20
7
1

12
17
18
3

5
6
16
19

2
10
4
2

Use for Stratum 3 (16-60 Cars) Rate of 1 of 4
8
16
14
6
2
4
11
9
7
13
1
10
4
3
11
16
12
7
14
1
4
6
7
8

3
9
6
10

5
10
13
3

12
2
8
14

15
5
15
12

15
13
6
8

11
2
16
12

6
3
9
14

14
1
4
3

3
11
11
2

5
3
7
10

2
2
4
12

6
9
10
11

4
10
8

7
3
7

7
6
5

5
1
3

Use for Stratum 5 (101 or More Cars) Rate of 1 of 2
7
1
4
6
8
5
2
2
3
5
6
7
4
5
6
1
7
4
7
4
3
5
1
8
7
4
5
1

3
8
8
6

8
3
6
2

1
2
2
3

5

6

8

5
8
12
5

14
18
17
8

13
7
10
7

16
8
10
9

1
4
15
10

4
15
20
6

16
9
16
11

3
1
13
14

2
5
15
1

9
11
13
2

Use for Stratum 4 (61-100 Cars) Rate of 1 of 3
11
4
8
12
1
10
7
9
6
5
12
10
1
8
7
4
2
6
3
1
9
5
8
12
1
2
11
9

3

9
9
10
6

2

3
4
4

4

8
8
2

1

6
11
12

5
12
1

7

8

21

6

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
2
5
6

4
4
4

5
1
2

3
2
4

1
1
7

7
7
1

Use for Stratum 6 (1-2 TCUs) Rate of 1 of 40
38
76
109
134
155
7
79
46
37
141
69
28
53
20
144
63
126
16
39
71
68
6
151
17

3
8
5

7
2
3

6
5
6

8
3
8

132
131
19
159

65
5
74
117

95
160
121
58

91
12
66
78

130
84
41
118

13
47
97
87

25
50
114
149

18
123
4
136

99
23
42
54

86
104
81
15

140
40
127
128

77
143
34
32

59
98
9
64

61
107
1
119

120
14
80
60

148
142
106
51

88
62
27
101

156
85
48
138

103
22
94
35

96
115
52
2

73
72
26
89

67
154
3
57

145
137
158
70

21
75
152
111

33
24
135
92

147
113
31
108

157
49
133
45

153
36
10
43

82
122
129
56

112
110
83
146

8
125
11
150

29
139
93
102

30
105
90
124

55
44
100
116

22

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)

ATTACHMENT 1
WAYBILL DATA ELEMENTS
One fixed sized main record is to be developed for each selected waybill. Left justify
alpha-numerics—space fill; right justify numerics—zero fill. Maintain validation check against
overflows. Include the total freight revenue, total fuel surcharges, total transit charges, total
misc. charges, total weight of lading, total number of carloads, and TCUs as covered by the study
waybill in the appropriate items of this attachment. Round revenue items including other
charges to the nearest dollar ($) (e.g., $0.49 rounds down, $0.50 rounds up). Show weight of
lading in units of hundredweight (CWT). The asterisk in front of the number for the data
element indicates that it is a key item. (A key element is an element that must be reported in
order for a railroad to qualify for MRI. All other elements that can be obtained from the
railroad’s computer files should be reported.)
DATA ELEMENTS FOR STB STUDY
*1.

Waybill Record: (1 digit numeric)
Data reported are based on the waybill record (MRI). This number will be one (1) until
further notice.

*2.

Waybill Number: (6 digit numeric)
Assigned to each waybill document by the originating railroad.

*3.

Waybill Date: (6 digit numeric)
Of the form MMDDYY, where MM is month, DD is day, and YY is year. It is the date
the waybill is prepared by the originating railroad.

*4.

Accounting Month and Year: (4 digit numeric)
Of the form MMYY, where MM and YY are the month and year during which the study
waybill was entered into the railroad’s revenue accounting system. This information is
subsequently reflected in the net income statement of the company for the specified
account month.

*5.

Number of Carloads on Waybill: (4 digit numeric)
Indicate the total number of carloads on the sample waybill.

23

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
*6.

Car Initials: (4 character alpha-numeric)
Identify the car ownership as recorded in the Official Rail Equipment Register issued by
the Association of American Railroads. Enter the first car in record for this study
waybill.

*7.

Car Number: (6 digit numeric)
Assigned by the owner and which, when combined with the owner’s car initial code,
uniquely identifies the freight car used in the move.

*8.

Intermodal (TOFC/COFC) Service Code: (3 character alpha/numeric, space fill)
The code for the Intermodal Service Code (ISC) must be entered in the first position of
the field. If possible, when different ISCs are used during the course of the sampled
waybill movement, enter the code for the applicable ISC at termination in the first
position of the field, and the code for the applicable ISC at origination in the second
position of the field. For example, ‘B C’ indicates that the TOFC movement started on
ISC 20 and terminated on ISC 22. NOTE: three blanks in this field will indicate the
movement is not intermodal in nature. ‘Unknown’ ISC’s are indicated by ‘X’.
REVISED INTERMODAL SERVICE PLAN CODE REPORTING

Intermodal
Service
Code

Unit Owner

15

Motor/Rail

20

Rail

22

Rail

25

Rail

27

Rail

40

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

42

45

Service
Provided by
Carrier
R-R, Ramp
to Ramp

Determination of Charges

STB
Alternate
Coding

Agreed between Trucker & Rail

A

Truck Competitive Rates

B

Truck Competitive Rates

C

Special Mode of Code 20 Rates

D

Truck Competitive Rates

E

T-R-T, Door
to Door

Domestic Container Movements Without Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Applies to U.S./Canada/Mexican
Traffic. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.

F

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

T-R, Door to
Destination
Ramp

Domestic Container Movements Without Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Applies to U.S./Canada/Mexican
Traffic. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.

G

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

R-R, Ramp
to Ramp

Domestic Container Movements Without Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Applies to U.S./Canada/Mexican
Traffic. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.

H

T-R-T, Door
to Door
T-R, Door to
Destination
Ramp
R-R, Ramp
to Ramp
R-T, Origin
Ramp to
Door

24

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
Intermodal
Service
Code

Unit Owner

Service
Provided by
Carrier

47

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

R-T, Origin
Ramp to
Door

60

Patron

62

Patron

65

Patron

67

Patron

80

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

T-R-T, Door
to Door

82

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

T-R, Door to
Destination
Ramp

85

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

R-R, Ramp
to Ramp

87

Steamship/
Stack
Operator

R-T, Origin
Ramp to
Door

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

*9.

Determination of Charges

STB
Alternate
Coding

Domestic Container Movements Without Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Applies to U.S./Canada/Mexican
Traffic. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.

I

Patron Supplied Equipment

K

Patron Supplied Equipment

L

Patron Supplied Equipment

M

Patron Supplied Equipment

N

T-R-T, Door
to Door
T-R, Door to
Destination
Ramp
R-R, Ramp
to Ramp
R-T, Origin
Ramp to
Door

International Shipments With Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.
International Shipments With Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.
International Shipments With Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.
International Shipments With Prior or Subsequent
Waterborne Movement. Includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico. Equipment Supplied by Stack Operator or Steamship
Line.
Unknown

O

P

Q

R
X

Number of TCUs on Waybill: (4 digit numeric)
Indicate the number of TCUs for the study waybill.

*10.

Trailer or Container Initials: (4 character alpha-numeric)
Identifying the ownership of the trailer or container on flat car as recorded in the
Intermodal Equipment Register. Enter the first trailer or container in record for this study
waybill.

*11.

Trailer or Container Number: (6 digit numeric)
Assigned by owner and which, when combined with the owner’s trailer/container initials,
uniquely identifies the trailer/container used in move.

25

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
*12.

Commodity Code (STCC-HAZMAT): (7 digit numeric)
STCC which identifies the product designation for the commodity being transported. For
hazardous materials or hazardous substances only, use the 49-series HAZMAT Code in
lieu of the regular STCC.

*13.

Billed Weight (CWT): (9 digit numeric)
The total billed weight (hundredweight) of the commodity being transported for the study
waybill (the weight protecting the rate).

14.

Actual Weight of Lading (CWT): (9 digit numeric)
Record the total actual weight of the commodity being transported (hundredweight) for
the study waybill.

*15.

Freight Revenue ($): (9 digit numeric)
Show total freight line-haul revenue from origin to destination on waybill in dollars for
the study waybill. The total freight line-haul revenue should include any fuel surcharges
associated with the waybill.

16.

Transit Charges ($): (9 digit numeric)
Show transit charges in dollars for the study waybill. This field should not be masked.

17.

Miscellaneous Charges ($): (9 digit numeric)
Show total of all other charges excluding transit and freight revenue charges in dollars for
the study waybill. This field should not be masked.

*18.

Interstate/Intrastate: (1 digit numeric (inferred))
Infer an “Interstate” routing via exception tables in routings where the origin and
destination stations are within a state, but the customary interstate routing exists and
reenters the state. Interstate should also include import, export, ex-lake and lake cargo
movements.
(1)
(2)
(9)

*19.

Interstate
Intrastate
Unknown

Transit: (1 digit numeric)
(0)

Not a transit movement

26

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
(1)

(9)
20.

All Rail/Intermodal: (1 digit numeric)
(1)
(2)
(9)

21.

Not a water movement
Ex-Lake (From Great Lakes to reporting railroad)
Lake Cargo (Rail to Great Lakes)
Intercoastal
Coastwise
Inland waterways
Unknown

Substituted truck for rail service: (1 digit numeric)
(0)
(1)
(9)

24.

Neither import nor export
Imported commodity
Exported commodity
Commodity imported and exported (e.g., bridge traffic)
Unknown

Type of Move via Water: (1 digit numeric (inferred))
(0)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(9)

23.

All Rail (unimodal)
Intermodal (a continuous movement involving a railroad(s) and another mode)
Unknown

Type of Move (Import/Export): (1 digit numeric (inferred))
(0)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(9)

22.

Transit - indicates that the shipment is the outbound movement from a transit point
where some service had been performed to the destination point (which can be
another transit point)
Unknown

Not a substituted truck-for-rail
Study movement involves substituted truck for rail service
Unknown

Docket 28300 Miles: (4 digit numeric)
Enter the Docket 28300 miles of the respondent railroad for the study waybill movement.

25.

Rebill: (1 digit numeric)
(0)
(1)
(2)
(3)

Local shipment
Originated – Delivered
Received – Delivered
Received – Terminated
27

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
26.

Stratum identification: (1 digit numeric)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(9)

*27.

One to two carloads per waybill
Three to fifteen carloads per waybill
Sixteen to sixty carloads per waybill
Sixty-one to one hundred carloads per waybill
One hundred-one or more carloads per waybill
One to two intermodal trailer/container units (TCUs) per waybill
Three or more intermodal trailer/container units (TCUs) per waybill
Optional study: 100% selection of all waybills

Subsample code number: (1 digit numeric)
Enter the subsample code number which identifies the waybill as being selected in
subsample 1, 2, 3, or 4. Enter code 9 for optional study where there is 100% selection of
all waybills.

*28.

Transborder Flag: (1 digit alpha-numeric)
(0)
(1)

*29.

Contract Rate Flag: (1 digit alpha-numeric)
(0)
(1)

*30.

Normal U.S. Termination
Pseudo termination near the border or shipment terminated in either Canada or
Mexico

Not a contract rate
Contract rate (contract rate flag and reported revenue is CONFIDENTIAL and used
only by the STB and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA))

Waybill Identifier for Retrieval: (25 digits alpha-numeric)
Code(s) or number(s) to be filled in by reporting railroad which will aid the reporting
railroad in identifying and retrieving a copy of study waybill for error check or for STB
special study as required.

*31.

Reporting Railroad: (3 digit numeric)
Identify reporting railroad’s AAR code. The reporting railroad’s code might differ from
the terminating railroad’s code as shown in item No. 32T since the reporting railroad
might be reporting for its subsidiary or for other railroads under joint-line settlement
agreements.

28

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
*32.

Routing: (Total of 85 characters)
Use code abbreviations for interchanges (junctions) and numerical codes for railroads
from Freight Mandatory Rule 260 as published by the Association of American
Railroads. See attached format layout for description of data required. For origin FSAC,
record code for actual originating station on origin railroad. For termination FSAC,
record code for actual termination station on terminating railroad.

*33.

Fuel Surcharges ($): (9 digit numeric)
Show any fuel surcharges in dollars for the study waybill. This field should not be
masked.
FORMAT LAYOUT OF WAYBILL DATA ELEMENTS
Field
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

Data Description
Waybill Record
Waybill Number
Waybill Date
Accounting Period (mo/yr)
Number of Carloads
Car Initials
Car Number
TOFC/COFC Plan
Number of TOFC/COFCs
Trailer/Container Initials
Trailer/Container Number
Commodity Code (STCCHAZMAT)
Billed Weight (CWT)
Actual Weight (CWT)
Total Freight LH Revenue ($)
Transit Charges ($)
Miscellaneous Charges ($)
Interstate/Intrastate Code
Transit Code
All Rail/Intermodal Code
Type of Move: Import/Export
Type of Move via Water
Substituted truck-for-rail service
Docket 28300 miles
Rebill
Stratum Identification
Subsample Code
29

Positions Form Column(s)
1
N
1
6
N
2-7
6
N
8-13
4
N
14-17
4
N
18-21
4
A/N
22-25
6
N
26-31
3
A/N
32-34
4
N
35-38
4
A/N
39-42
6
N
43-48
7
9
9
9
9
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1

N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N

49-55
56-64
65-73
74-82
83-91
92-100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107-110
111
112
113

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
Field
28
29
30
31
32
32A
32B
32C
32D
32E
32F
32G
32H
32I
32J
32K
32L
32M
32N
32O
32P
32Q
32R
32S
32T
32U
33

Data Description
Transborder
Contract Rate Flag
Waybill Identifier
Reporting Railroad
Routing
Origin FSAC
Origin Railroad
Interchange #1 Rule 260
First Bridge RR
Interchange #2 Rule 260
Second Bridge RR
Interchange #3 Rule 260
Third Bridge RR
Interchange #4 Rule 260
Fourth Bridge RR
Interchange #5 Rule 260
Fifth Bridge RR
Interchange #6 Rule 260
Sixth Bridge RR
Interchange #7 Rule 260
Seventh Bridge RR
Interchange #8 Rule 260
Eighth Bridge RR
Interchange #9 Rule 260
Termination Railroad
Termination FSAC
Fuel Surcharges ($)

Positions Form Column(s)
1
N
114
1
N
115
25
A/N
116-140
3
N
141-143
85
A/N
144-228
5
N
144-148
3
N
149-151
5
A/N
152-156
3
N
157-159
5
A/N
160-164
3
N
165-167
5
A/N
168-172
3
N
173-175
5
A/N
176-180
3
N
181-183
5
A/N
184-188
3
N
189-191
5
A/N
192-196
3
N
197-199
5
A/N
200-204
3
N
205-207
5
A/N
208-212
3
N
213-215
5
A/N
216-220
3
N
221-223
5
N
224-228
9
N
229-237

File Specification:
Reporting railroad: xxx (AAR code)
Name and telephone no. of contact for technical assistance
Accounting period = xx (M)/xx (YR); xx, xx, xx, (M), xx, (YR)
Total Record Count
*Stratum 1 Record Count
*Stratum 2 Record Count
*Stratum 3 Record Count
*Stratum 4 Record Count
*Stratum 5 Record Count
*Stratum 6 Record Count

= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx

30

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
*Stratum 7 Record Count

= xxx,xxx,xxx

*Population Count
*Stratum 1 Population Count
*Stratum 2 Population Count
*Stratum 3 Population Count
*Stratum 4 Population Count
*Stratum 5 Population Count
*Stratum 6 Population Count
*Stratum 7 Population Count

= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx
= xxx,xxx,xxx

Note: The file specification should be noted on an external label, as well as, transmitted with
other documentation. Data for items with asterisks need not be listed on external label but
should be maintained by reporting carrier. It should also be transmitted with other
documentation (Transmittal Form OPAD-l). If the reporting railroad’s files differ for any of the
physical characteristics listed here, then the railroad must obtain STB permission to submit its
files for MRI.
Testing Procedures
Before installing a procedure for selecting and processing a waybill sample, each
participating railroad must undergo a ‘pilot test’ to determine that all data will be received and
that all data is correct.
As a check on the completeness of the sample, each participating carrier will submit a
sample file for a quarter of a year. The information in this file will be compared with the
carrier’s QCS report for the quarter. If the sample information (expanded by the inverse of the
appropriate sampling fraction) lies within an acceptable sampling confidence interval as
determined by the STB or its contractor, the sample will be deemed complete.
To check the validity of submitted waybills, the designated contractor will determine the
nature, number, and percent of errors found in the file compared to the current waybill sample.
If there are no significant errors found in the submitted sample, the sample will be deemed
correct. If there are significant errors in the carrier’s current waybill submissions, then the
carrier may meet the second requirement if it corrects the errors and changes its error checking
procedure. When a carrier believes its procedures detect and correct all significant errors, it may
submit the file generated by the new process. To ensure the validity of the submitted data, the
STB may request some hard copies of waybills for review.

31

Docket No. EP 385 (Sub-No. 8)
Any carrier who satisfies the above two tests may submit files in lieu of the sample of
hard copies of waybills at the beginning of any quarter. The timing of the testing and acceptance
for the file will be negotiated with each respondent carrier or a group of affiliated carriers filing
on a consolidated basis.
Supplemental Information Regarding the Waybill Sample
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3521, the Board has approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect the Waybill Sample. This existing
collection (OMB Control No. 2140-0015) may be accessed at
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain and by searching for “Surface Transportation
Board.”
For existing, approved collections, the Board is required to seek an extension of its
approval at least every three years and to seek approval for any modification of it. During the
review process for an extension or modification, comments may be submitted at
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by selecting “Currently under Review - Open for Public
Comments” or by using the search function, as described above. For further information
regarding this collection, please contact Chris Oehrle, PRA Officer, Surface Transportation
Board, 395 E Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001 or send an email at [email protected].
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 8778339.
The estimated total, annual hourly burden for filing this report is approximately 561.3
hours. The details of this estimate may also be found at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
The data contained in the Waybill Sample is considered highly confidential proprietary
information. Waybill Sample data is released, subject to appropriate protective conditions,
through the STB’s Office of Economics. The regulations governing release of that data are set
forth at 49 C.F.R. § 1244.9.

32