rail

Senate Confirms Kloster to STB; Fills Third Republican Seat

The Senate confirmed Republican Richard J. Kloster to the Surface Transportation Board on May 11. The confirmation, which followed party-line voting, fills a vacant seat on the independent agency that oversees rail, motor carrier, and pipeline matters. Kloster's seat represents a third Republican position on the five-member board. The STB is currently reviewing an amended merger application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, which has drawn opposition from shippers and industry groups. Canadian National Railway called for regulatory remedies to address competitive concerns. A coalition opposing the proposed combination—including the American Chemistry Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, and Teamsters Rail Conference—mobilized ahead of the carriers' revised filing. The STB also moved forward on streamlining internal data collection procedures in May.