Respondent Letter

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

<>, 2020

Dear <>,
I am writing to request your participation in the 2020 Annual Tank Car Survey. The U.S.
Department of Transportation continues to work with the railroad industry to track the
progress on enhancing the safety of rail tank cars transporting Class 3 flammable liquids.
We are aware that this is a very difficult time with the Coronavirus upending normal
business practices and normal life entirely. Despite the uncertainty, as a builder or
retrofitter of rail tank cars certified to carry Class 3 flammable liquids, your response to
this survey is crucial to improve transportation safety. We greatly appreciate your
participation.
Signed into law on December 4, 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
requires that an Annual Tank Car Survey be conducted by the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Summary results
will be provided in an annual report to Congress. The information collected is for
statistical purposes only and BTS will hold individual responses in confidence to the full
extent permitted by law. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (Title 5 of Public Law 107-347) and other applicable
Federal laws, your response will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your
informed consent.
In 2019 we asked for your assistance with the 2019 Annual Tank Car Survey and the
results are included in the 2019 report: Fleet Composition of Rail Tank Cars Carrying
Flammable Liquids: 2019 Report, which can be found on the Tank Car Data Collection
Program under the Reports Tab at: https://www.bts.gov/tankcarreports.
Please log on to the website listed below with the enclosed user name and password.
Once logged in, you will be prompted to answer several questions. On average, the
survey should take thirty minutes to complete, including the time needed to assemble the
required data. Please complete the necessary information regarding your projections of
the number of DOT-117 or DOT-117R tank cars that you expect your facility to build
and/or retrofit in 2020.
Website link: https://tankcar.bts.gov/survey
User ID:
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Password:

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Please complete the survey by June 30, 2020. If you have any questions or comments
about this survey, or would like assistance in completing the questionnaire, please email
the Tank Car project director at TankCarSurvey@dot.gov or (202) 366-2857.
Thank you for your time and participation in this survey.
Sincerely,

Patricia Hu
Director
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

<>, 2020
Dear <>,
In early June, you should have received a letter requesting your participation in the 2020 Annual
Tank Car Facility Survey. We are following up on this request as responses are needed by
July 24th, 2020. If you have already responded to the survey, please disregard this letter. The
U.S. Department of Transportation is working with the railroad industry to track the progress on
enhancing the safety of rail tank cars transporting Class 3 flammable liquids. As a builder or
retrofitter of rail tank cars certified to carry Class 3 flammable liquids, we are asking for your
assistance.
Signed into law on December 4, 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act requires
that an Annual Tank Car Survey be conducted by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Summary results will be provided in an
annual report to Congress. The information collected is for statistical purposes only and BTS
will hold individual responses in confidence to the full extent permitted by law. In accordance
with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (Title 5 of
Public Law 107-347) and other applicable Federal laws, your response will not be disclosed in
identifiable form without your informed consent.
This survey requests information on the projections of the number of DOT-117 or DOT-117R
tank cars that the facilities listed below plan to build and/or retrofit in 2020. Only summary
information for all facilities is required.
To complete the survey, please log on to the website listed below with the enclosed user name
and password. Once logged in, you will be prompted to answer several questions. On average,
the survey should take thirty minutes to complete, including the time needed to assemble the
required data.
Website link: https://tankcar.bts.gov
User ID:
<>
Password:
<>
If you have any questions or comments about this survey, or would like assistance in completing
the questionnaire, please email the Tank Car project director at TankCarSurvey@dot.gov. In

addition, if the facilities listed in this letter is not a complete or accurate listing for your
company, please contact us with any corrections.
Thank you for your time and participation in this survey.
Sincerely,

Clara Reschovsky
Tank Car Data Collection Project Manager
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Department of Transportation