CRS examines autonomous railcars' potential labor savings

A Congressional Research Service report examines autonomous railcars intended to operate alone or in platoons, potentially reducing labor costs for smaller shipments and mitigating the transit time penalty associated with frequent rail-yard stops. [1]

What the report covers

The report discusses driverless locomotives, autonomous railcars, remote control locomotives, and automated track inspections as technologies that could increase labor efficiency in train operation and track inspection. [1]

It states that freight carriers, vehicle manufacturers, and technology companies have explored driverless locomotives and freight cars that do not require a locomotive to move. [1]