# Regulatory Relief for End of Car Cushioning Units

**Action Urgency Score:** 30/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Transportation Department; Federal Railroad Administration |
| Type | Final rule |
| Action | Final rule. |
| Published | 2026-08-31 |
| Effective | 2026-09-30 |
| Significant | No |
| CFR parts | 49 CFR 215 |
| Summary | This rule amends freight car draft arrangement and end-of-car cushioning unit (EOCC) regulations to make permanent relief currently provided by waiver. The amendments will allow a freight car to remain in service if the EOCC is operative and equipped with a unit condition indicator (UCI) that indicates a non-discharged EOCC. This change will permit such EOCCs to remain in service despite the presence of clearly formed oil droplets on the unit. The amendments preserve the requirement to repair or replace an EOCC with clearly formed oil droplets if the unit does not have a UCI. |
| Document number | 2026-17782 |

## Why this score
- Final rule.

Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/31/2026-17782/regulatory-relief-for-end-of-car-cushioning-units). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T21:40:49.974Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.