A publicly filed schedule of rates, rules, and regulations applicable to railroad transportation services. Tariffs are filed with and accessible through the STB and must be applied consistently to all shippers who qualify. Under the Staggers Act, railroads may supplement tariff rates with confidential contracts.
A confidential rate negotiated between a railroad and a shipper under a transportation contract authorized by the Staggers Rail Act. Contract rates are not publicly filed and may include volume commitments, service guarantees, and other terms. They are the primary pricing mechanism for large shippers and most intermodal traffic.
A rate applicable to a specific commodity or group of commodities between defined origin and destination points, typically lower than the general freight rate. Commodity rates reflect the volume, regularity, and competitive characteristics of the traffic. They are published in commodity tariffs or established in contracts.
A rate filed in a railroad's public tariff and available to any qualifying shipper without negotiation. Published rates are less common than contract rates for large shippers but remain the default for smaller shippers and exempt traffic. They provide price transparency but less flexibility than contracts.
A tariff document issued by a railroad or the AAR that contains rules, rates, or procedures applicable to a broad class of transactions, such as car hire rules (AAR Circular OT-10) or interline settlement rules. Circulars supplement individual commodity tariffs with general terms and conditions. They are incorporated by reference into specific tariffs.
The legal duty of a railroad to provide transportation services to any shipper who requests them at published or negotiated rates, without unjust discrimination. Class I railroads in the United States are common carriers under federal law. The obligation is a fundamental principle of rail regulation that balances the public interest against railroad operational discretion.