News Releases for January 2002
January 21, 2002
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Hoeven Urges Burlington Northern to Revise Rate Differentials
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven Thursday urged Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad’s Chief of Staff Jeff Moreland to find an equitable solution to the company’s continued rate differential for shipping grain. Hoeven said he would like to see the company revise its rate structure to help North Dakota’s farmers and rural communities.
According to Hoeven, Moreland agreed to reassess the pricing situation, and to instruct his staff to examine the possible unintended impacts of the contract pricing exclusive to shuttle trains shippers.
“Last summer when we discussed the issue, they said that they would evaluate the rates and compile the data from the 2001 grain shipping season,” Hoeven said. “I called again yesterday to encourage them to use that information to change the rates which I believe may be distorting grain movement patterns in the state.”
Hoeven called Moreland Thursday to again encourage the company to change its preferential rates for large-scale grain shippers. Hoeven previously met with Moreland and company CEO Matt Rose in August regarding the shipping rates.
Hoeven said that he received a commitment from BNSF to evaluate possible consequences of the selective shipping rates and to send a delegation of BNSF senior managers to meet with him within the next few weeks.
“BNSF needs to change its pricing methods in a way that is fair to all of our grain elevators,” Hoeven told the company official. “The way the railroad has structured its rates needs to be adjusted.”
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