Ag Transport Coalition Releases First Performance Measurement Report

WINNIPEG, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ag Transport Coalition has today released its first-ever weekly performance measurement report.  The weekly reports will play an important role in decision making; informing commercial decisions and serving as the basis for both short and long-term actions by government. 

Each week the Ag Transport Coalition will report on performance across a range of key indicators including rail car demand, railway car supply, timeliness of railway car supply, corridor performance, railway dwell times at origin and railway dwell times at destination.

The performance measurement initiative is part of a five-year transportation strategy and action plan made possible by matching investments from the ag industry and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) through Growing Forward 2 programming. This initiative complements existing Government activities to monitor the performance of the grain handling and transportation system.

Performance data will cover more than 90% of grain traffic in Canada using data collection services of QGI consulting.  Individual participants will have confidential access to performance information specific to their facilities, and ATC partners will receive aggregated data for the detailed industry performance report that will be made public each week. 

This initiative builds on The Rail Freight Service Review Panel's recommendation in its January 2011 report that called for enhanced performance reporting "aimed at providing better visibility to individual shippers to help them prepare for negotiations with the railways...and better information for addressing systemic service and other public policy issues." 

Ag Transport Coalition members look forward to advancing discussions with Government and the railways on the next steps to ensure that the transportation system is meeting the needs of Canadian businesses, contributing to their competitiveness and supporting economic growth throughout Canada.

Weekly reports can be found on the Ag Transport Coalition website www.agtransportcoalition.com

* The Ag Transportation Coalition is comprised of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Pulse Canada, the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA), The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA), the Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC) and the Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA).

SOURCE Ag Transport Coalition

Image with caption: "Ag Transport Coalition (CNW Group/Ag Transport Coalition)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150126_C8010_PHOTO_EN_11496.jpg

Media contacts: Alberta Wheat Commission: Victoria Russell, Phone: [phone], Cell: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Canadian Canola Growers Association: Rick White, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Canadian Oilseed Processors Association: Woody Galloway, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Inland Terminal Association of Canada: Kevin Hursh, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Manitoba Pulse Growers Association: Francois Labelle, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Pulse Canada / Canadian Special Crops Association: Greg Cherewyk, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Western Grain Elevator Association: Wade Sobkowich, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]