The STB has statutory authority over the Carload Waybill Sample (49 CFR 1244). Railroads terminating over 4,500 cars per year are required to file a sample of waybills with the STB. The primary purpose of the Carload Waybill Sample (Sample) is regulatory oversight. This database contains rail shipments data such as origin and destination points; type of commodity; number of cars, tons, revenue; length of haul; participating railroads; interchange locations; and Uniform Rail Costing System (URCS) shipment variable cost estimates. The Waybill Sample contains confidential information and is used primarily by Federal and State agencies. It is not available for public use.

However, there is a public-use version of the Sample that contains aggregated non-confidential data. Movements are generally aggregated to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) region to BEA region level at the 5-digit Standard Transportation Commodity Code level.

Information about the Carload Waybill Sample can be found at the STB’s website: www.stb.dot.gov/stb/industry/econ_waybill.html .