SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

How to E-File

E-filings (electronic filings) can be made in lieu of almost all paper filings. E-filing is a file attachment process.  The document(s) you submit must include the name and address of the person responsible for the filing.

Files up to 500 MB in size can be accepted as attachments. E-filing may not be used to submit large filings (over 500 MB).

Instructions for E-filing and payment of fees

If you wish to pay any fee associated with your e-filing, please click on the link for Pay.gov.  That link will take you to the Board’s electronic payment system, Pay.gov, a website operated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  Once you make a payment, you will be e-mailed a confirmation number.  Please keep that confirmation number.  You will need to provide it on the Board’s e-filing form, or to Board staff, to complete the submission of your document or otherwise communicate about your fee payment.  Additional information about the Board’s fees is available here.

After payment of any filing fee, return to this page to continue with e-filing a formal filing or recordation.  If you are requesting a fee waiver, please be advised that if no payment has been received, the filing will not be processed until after a determination is made on the fee waiver request.  If you submit the appropriate fee with your fee waiver request, the filing is accepted and the Board refunds the fee or a portion thereof if the fee waiver is ultimately granted.  See 49 C.F.R. § 1002.2(b), (e).

Documents received after 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time may not be processed until the next business day.  Once your filing has been formally accepted by the Board, the public version of the filing will be placed on the “Filings” page of the Board’s website.

Acceptable E-Signature Formats

Unless otherwise directed by the Board, e-filed documents may be signed using a scanned handwritten signature image or an “/s/” followed by the typed characters representing the name of the person signing.

Filing in Hardcopy

E-filing is not mandatory.  For more information on how to file in paper, please click here.

Electronic Submission of Evidence or Workpapers

Evidence or workpapers consisting of mathematical calculations must be submitted in Microsoft Office file format or in usable native format. Evidence should be e-filed. The e-filing system accepts files up to 500 megabytes and it is recommended to compress large files before e-filing. If the compressed file size exceeds 500 megabytes, the files should be separated, compressed to 500 megabytes or less, and then submitted via e-filing. For additional information on the submission of evidence or workpapers, please click here.