Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association Forms to Address Opportunities

In September of 2015, a group of 10 leading food and beverage companies got together for three days to discuss improvements to managing and utilizing their private railcar fleets. From this summit, the PRFBA organization was born.

The association meets with the four Class 1 North American railroads at least twice per year as a group and the BOD’s meet with the railroads as well throughout the year.
The association meets with the four Class 1 North American railroads at least twice per year as a group and the BOD’s meet with the railroads as well throughout the year.

A group of 13 global food and beverage companies based in North America have formed the Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association (PRFBA) to discuss opportunities and solutions to their similar challenges with railcar service. The membership also collaborates with other trade associations with regard to industry changes and legislation, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), that directly impact the food and beverage arena.


In September of 2015, a group of 10 leading food and beverage companies got together for three days to discuss improvements to managing and utilizing their private railcar fleets. From this summit, the PRFBA organization was born. In January of 2016, the association became incorporated and 12 members joined officially as the “charter members.” Since that time, one more company has joined the association with several others in the works.

Membership is per company and each company can appoint one or more “designated representatives.” In most cases, each member company has a primary DR and a back-up DR on the membership roster.

The PRFBA membership voted in a board of directors in February.

The association meets with the four Class 1 North American railroads at least twice per year as a group and the BOD’s meet with the railroads as well throughout the year.

The association has provided the members with a forum to work together to harness the railroad service and ultimately provide a better foundation for private railcar food and beverage shipper’s in North America.

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