In response to growing concerns about delayed fertilizer deliveries to North Dakota dealers and farmers, Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D) reported on April 14 that he has received assurances from BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose that the railroad is assigning additional unit trains and adding crews to address the problem.
According to an announcement from Hoeven, the senator pressed Rose over the weekend on the importance of getting fertilizer to farmers within the critical planting window. Hoeven said Rose responded by saying that BNSF is reallocating resources to significantly reduce the delays, including assigning unit trains with
locomotives to move fertilizer products more quickly. Hoeven said Rose also promised to add more crews to move the increased unit trains, and to work with customers to load and unload cars rapidly.
“Dedicated unit trains carrying only fertilizer will enable the cars to get to their destination without being uncoupled and reassigned multiple times before arriving,” Hoeven said. “This will allow the fertilizer cars to keep moving.”
Hoeven’s announcement came just five days after North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed an executive order waiving the Hours of Service (HOS) requirements for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting anhydrous ammonia in North Dakota.
Citing “lengthy rail delays” and a disruption in ammonia production at Agrium Inc.’s Redwater fertilizer plant in Alberta, Dalrymple said a “state of emergency” exists that makes the waiver necessary to ensure that carriers, agribusinesses, and farmers “can secure, obtain, transport, and deliver anhydrous ammonia to meet the needs of our state.” The waiver will remain in effect through May 24, 2014.