RR-13 RR-13-02-01 — Freight Billing and Collections
This process involves the billing and collection of freight revenue for US Class I railroads, focusing on accurate calculation and timely payment to customers.
🗺 BPMN Process Flow
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📋 Process Attributes
| Process ID | RR-13-02-01 |
|---|---|
| Domain Family | COMMERCIAL |
| L1 Domain | Finance, Revenue Accounting & Procurement |
| L2 Process Group | Freight Billing and Collections |
| Trigger | Completion of a train journey with loaded or unloaded freight cars |
| Outcome | Successful completion produces accurate freight bills, timely payments from customers, and updated financial records. |
| Systems | NetControl TRAIN II up.com customer portal Interline Settlement System (ISS) Wabtrax |
| Regulatory Hooks | 49 CFR Part 232 STB fuel surcharge calculation decision GCOR 6.28 |
📋 L4 Process Steps
| Step | Name | Role | System | Input | Output | KPI | Pain Point / Risk | Decision? | Exception? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Train Arrival Notification | Yardmaster | NetControl | Train arrival data | Arrival confirmation | Terminal dwell under 24 hours | Delays in train arrivals affecting billing timelines | N | N |
| 1.2 | Freight Car Inspection | Car Inspector (Carman) | Wabtrax | Train arrival data | Inspection report | 0% defect rate in inspected cars | Defective cars being released to the road | Y | Y |
| 1.3 | Freight Bill Generation | Revenue Accountant | TRAIN II | Inspection report, train journey data | Freight bill | 100% accurate freight bills generated | Errors in freight bill calculations | N | Y |
| 1.4 | Fuel Surcharge Calculation | Cost Analyst (regulatory costing) | Fuel surcharge program | Freight bill, train journey data | Updated freight bill with fuel surcharge | Compliance with STB fuel surcharge calculation decision | Non-compliance with fuel surcharge regulations | Y | N |
| 1.5 | Freight Bill Review | Revenue Accountant | TRAIN II | Updated freight bill with fuel surcharge | Reviewed and approved freight bill | 0% errors in reviewed bills | Errors detected after review | N | Y |
| 1.6 | Freight Bill Distribution | Revenue Accountant | up.com customer portal | Reviewed and approved freight bill | Customer notification of freight bill | 95% customer response rate within 24 hours | Delayed notifications affecting payment timelines | N | Y |
| 1.7 | Payment Receipt | Revenue Accountant | up.com customer portal | Customer notification of freight bill | Payment confirmation | 98% payment rate within 30 days | Late payments affecting cash flow | N | Y |
| 1.8 | Financial Record Update | Revenue Accountant | TRAIN II | Payment confirmation | Updated financial records | 100% accurate financial record updates | Errors in updating financial records | N | Y |
| 1.9 | Interline Settlement | Revenue Accountant | Interline Settlement System (ISS) | Payment confirmation, train journey data | Settlement report | 0% discrepancies in interline settlements | Discrepancies affecting revenue sharing | Y | N |
| 1.10 | Audit Review | Revenue Accountant | TRAIN II | Settlement report, financial records | Audit report | 0% audit findings | Audit findings leading to adjustments | Y | N |
| 1.11 | Adjustment Processing | Revenue Accountant | TRAIN II | Audit report | Adjusted financial records | 95% adjustments processed within 7 days | Delayed processing of audit findings | N | Y |
| 1.12 | Final Review and Close | Revenue Accountant | TRAIN II | Adjusted financial records | Closed billing cycle | 100% closure of billing cycles within 30 days | Overdue billing cycles affecting financial reporting | N | Y |
📊 KPIs & Risk Register
KPIs
Terminal dwell under 24 hours Train speed above 20 mph 100% accurate freight bills generated Compliance with STB fuel surcharge calculation decision 95% customer response rate within 24 hours 98% payment rate within 30 days 100% accurate financial record updates 0% discrepancies in interline settlements 0% audit findings 95% adjustments processed within 7 days 100% closure of billing cycles within 30 days
Key Risks
Defective cars being released to the road Errors in freight bill calculations Non-compliance with fuel surcharge regulations Late payments affecting cash flow Audit findings leading to adjustments Delayed processing of audit findings Overdue billing cycles affecting financial reporting
Swim Lanes
Revenue Accountant · 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12 Cost Analyst (regulatory costing) · 1.4 Yardmaster · 1.1 Car Inspector (Carman) · 1.2