Annual Tank Car Facility Survey

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, is conducting a national survey of tank car facilities to monitor industry-wide progress in upgrading tank cars that transport Class 3 flammable liquids. This survey is authorized by Section 7308(c) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (Pub. L. 114-94) signed into law on December 4, 2015. This legislation requires the Department of Transportation to provide estimates of the number of tank cars being built or retrofitted each year to meet the new DOT-117 or 117R specifications.

The 2023 Annual Tank Car Facility Survey includes businesses that are certified to build or modify tank cars. More specifically, the survey is interested in collecting information from all shops and facilities in the United States that are building or modifying tank cars to the newer DOT-117 or 117R specification. Even if your facility has not previously done this kind of work, you may still be contacted to participate. On average, the survey is estimated to take 30 minutes to complete. If you are not sure whether your facility should be included in the survey, please contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, at 1-800-853-1351 or by email at TankCarSurvey@dot.gov.

Your company’s participation in this census is voluntary, however your response is needed to ensure an accurate and comprehensive picture of the tank cars being used to transport flammable liquids. A summary report of aggregate findings will be provided to Congress and published on the BTS web page at www.bts.gov. No individual information or company names will be included in the published reports. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics, its employees, and agents will use the information you provide for statistical purposes only and will hold your individual information 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 responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your informed consent. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, Federal information systems are protected from malicious activities through cybersecurity screening of transmitted data.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please call 1-800-853-1351 or contact us by email at TankCarSurvey@dot.gov. Or refer to our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).