US appeals court upholds two-person freight train crew rule

freight railroads crew requirements railroad safety Federal Railroad Administration 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has upheld a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rule requiring most freight trains to operate with at least two-person crews. In a 2–1 decision, the court rejected challenges brought by six major railroads, including Union Pacific and BNSF, as well as two industry groups.

The railroads argued that the FRA exceeded its rule-making authority and failed to adequately consider the costs associated with maintaining two-person crews instead of transitioning to automated one-person operations. However, the court denied their petitions for review.

The rule follows increased scrutiny of railroad safety, particularly after the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Labor organizations, such as the SMART-TD union, defended the requirement, arguing that two-person crews are essential for monitoring tracks, managing controls, and responding to emergencies. While the majority upheld the rule, one dissenting judge argued that the FRA’s research did not sufficiently support the minimum crew size and that the cost-benefit analysis failed to account for necessary labor costs.

Entities

11th Circuit Court of Appeals · BNSF · BNSF Railway · Berkshire Hathaway · Federal Railroad Administration · SMART-TD · U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit · Union Pacific

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected an appeal from six railroads and two industry groups. wdez.com · jack1065.com · kelo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Railroads argued the crew-size rule exceeded the FRA's general rule-making authority. wdez.com · jack1065.com · kelo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Railroads claimed the FRA failed to consider the costs of complying with the rule versus shifting to one-person crews. wdez.com · jack1065.com · kelo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) implemented a rule requiring many trains to operate with at least two crew members. wdez.com · jack1065.com · kelo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A dissenting judge argued that FRA research and evidence did not support the minimum crew size requirement. wdez.com · jack1065.com · kelo.com