February 04, 2026
Brothers and Sisters,
The month of February saw Congress truly begin to come back from the holidays and start their work again. As such, this month was a chance to have them hear from us directly once they were back in the nation’s capital.
ATDA leadership and I met directly with the FRA to discuss key safety issues we’ve been seeing and that you all have been reporting to us. We discussed how critically important these issues are to you all and to the safety of the communities these trains run through. A reminder to please use the reporting tool found on our website. If you are experiencing problems with the dispatching software, it is vitally important for us to know about them. Likewise, I encourage you all to submit these issues directly to the FRA for review. The more the federal agency directly observes these challenges, the more likely it is for them to address them. See the reporting tool here: https://railroads.dot.gov/railroad-safety/federal-railroad-administration-alleged-violation-reporting-form
Throughout the month, President Dowell and I continued to bring these issues to key members of Congress, including members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Our days were filled with numerous meetings where we met directly with representatives and their staff. We received positive feedback and commitments that these issues affecting you all are important.
At the end of February, ATDA officially endorsed the Railway Safety Act. You can see the press release here: https://atda.org/atda-supports-the-2026-railway-safety-act/. The Railway Safety Act is a comprehensive piece of rail safety legislation that addresses issues such as train length, defect detection, and the two-man crew requirement on freight trains. In the wake of the East Palestine derailment in Northeast Ohio, comprehensive safety legislation still has not been passed and made into law. The time has come to make rail safety a priority, and ATDA will work to ensure that priority becomes reality.
As always, reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I remain available to you all as much as I can.
In solidarity,
Jeffrey Robb
