About AAR Circular Letters
Circular letter summaries are produced monthly by Greenbrier’s Regulatory Management team, a division of Greenbrier Management Services Group.
AAR circular letters provide information of general applicability to the railroad industry, including proposed and final rules, revisions, standards and recommended practices, and calls for comments. These summaries provide the main points of circular letters issued in the prior month, as well as important implementation deadlines.
For access to the complete circular letter, please go to my.aar.org/circulars. Circular letters are a fee-based service provided by the AAR’s Transportation Technology Center Incorporated (TTCI). You may subscribe online at publications@aar.com or call 719.584.0538.
Implementation Circulars
C-14009
IMPLEMENTED, AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-1 Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concept of Operations, Standard S-9080.V3.0
Issued: August 5, 2022
Effective: August 5, 2022
S-9080.V3.0 defines policy-related items related to or required for PTC interoperability and document standard(s) and will be incorporated into the next issue of the MSRP Section K-1 Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concept of Operations. In the interim please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-1 and be governed accordingly.
C-14012
IMPLEMENTED, AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging, Standard S-9371.V4.0
Issued: August 25, 2022
Effective: August 25, 2022
S-9371.V4.0 contains the messages passed between a PTC onboard segment and an Energy Management (EM) system that operates on a locomotive. S-9371.V4.0 will be incorporated into the next issue of the ASRP Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging. In the interim please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-IV and be governed accordingly.
C-1401
IMPLEMENTED, AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging, Standard S-9355 Appendix A V1.0
Issued: August 26, 2022
Effective: August 26, 2022
S-9355.Appendix A V1.0 is external content to the requirements in AAR Standard S-9355, “Class C Messaging.” It identifies the Class C multicast message groups. S-9355.Appendix A.V1.0 will be incorporated into the next issue of the MSRP Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging. In the interim, please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-IV and be governed accordingly.
C-14015
IMPLEMENTED, AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging, Standard S-9355.V2.0
Issued: August 26, 2022
Effective: August 26, 2022
S-9355.V2.0 – Class C Messaging, specifies the Class C messaging protocol. S-9355.V2.0 will be incorporated into the next issue of the MSRP Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging. In the interim, please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-IV and be governed accordingly.
C-14014
IMPLEMENTED, AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging, Standard S-9370.V.1.0
Issued: August 26, 2022
Effective: August 26, 2022
S-9370.V1.0 contains interoperable requirements for various Event/Status and requests. S-9370.V1.0 will be incorporated into the next issue of the MSRP Section K-IV Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging. In the interim please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-IV and be governed accordingly.
C-14017
Notice of Implementation of Circular No. 43-H, Rules Governing the Loading, Blocking, and Bracing of Freight in Closed Containers and Trailers in Intermodal Service (DP&FC)
Issued: August 29, 2022
Effective: August 29, 2022
The revision to Circular 43, attached to the circular, are now implemented and effective immediately.
C-14018
Implementation: Revisions to MSRP F, Sensors, S-6103 Wheel Profile Detector – Section 5.0 Measurement Standards
Issued: August 30, 2022
Effective: August 30, 2022
This implementation circular is being released to the industry as notice of revisions to S-6103. The revisions are described in the circular, and the standard is attached. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
Call for Comment
C-14011
Solicitation of Comments: Revisions to MSRP F, Sensors, S-6008 Data Summary – Salient Wheel Impact
Issued: August 24, 2022
Effective: 30 days for comment.
AAR’s Equipment Health Monitoring Committee (EHMC) recently approved a proposed modification to the subject section as it relates to the autoclose logic for wheel impact load detectors (WILD). The proposed changes are detailed in the circular.
C-14013
Solicitation for Preliminary Comments/Input for Revisions to the Field Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules, Rule 53 Running Boards – Dome Platforms – Brake Steps – Cross Platforms. Revision to Rule and Update to the Correct Repair Tables.
Issued: August 25, 2022
Effective: 30 days for comment.
The purpose of the circular letter is to solicit preliminary comments and industry input for revisions proposed to Rule 53. The intent is to gather product information for the reformatted correct repair tables, though comments will also be accepted on other sections of the Rule. A draft of the proposed Rule is attached to the circular.
Notice of Circulars
C-14008
Save the Date – Announcing the 2023 AAR’s 35th Quality Assurance Auditor and Industry Conference
Issued: August 3, 2022
Effective: February 7-9, 2023
The Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) has scheduled their Annual AAR Quality Assurance Auditor and Industry Conference for February 7-9, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
C-14010
AAR M-1003 Quality Assurance Training Class Schedule for Remainder of 2022
Issued: August 16, 2022
Effective: Various Dates
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) has posted the final schedule for the remaining 2022 AAR M-1003 Quality Assurance Training classes. The schedule and a description of the classes is included in the circular.
Upcoming Event
NEARS Conference
September 20 – 22
Join us at the next NEARS Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Be sure to check out the The Railcar Revolution Has Begun session on Wednesday, September 21 at 3:45 pm ET. Panel featuring United States Steel, Norfolk Southern and Greenbrier.
Greenbrier’s Regulatory Services Group
Peace of mind for your business.
The Regulatory Management Group, led by James Rader, provides regulatory, engineering, process consulting and advocacy support to the railcar repair industry and the petrochemical rail shipper community.
- ASNT Level III Subscription Services
- DOT Compliance Assessments (Corporate and Plant)
- DOT Hazardous Materials Training (Corporate and Plant)
- Expert Witness Services in Rail-Related Litigation
- Federal Government Claims Mitigation (e.g. FRA and PHMSA)
- Nondestructive Testing Programs
- Quality Assurance Program Development
- Regulatory Counsel and Policy Advocacy
- Railcar Repair Management (Design Review, Drawings, Engineering and AAR Approval Administration)
- Tank Car Reliability and Maintenance Programs (49 CFR Subpart F of Part 180)
- Tank Car Maintenance Data Collection and Reliability Performance Analysis
- Welding Program Development
For inquiries about these summaries or any of our services, please reach out to: regulatoryservices@gbrx.com
About Greenbrier Management Services (GMS)
Greenbrier Management Services (GMS) is North America’s most comprehensive railcar management solutions provider. GMS manages nearly 400,000 railcars and has invested over 20 years in developing technology, processes, and people to provide the best railcar management products and services in the industry. GMS is powered by proprietary software and the best subject matter experts in the railcar business.
COMPREHENSIVE. INTEGRATED. VALUE.
Combined, these two vitally important capabilities are able to deliver world-class solutions to every type of customer, from Class I railroads, lessors and industrial shippers to financial investors. GMS brings broad expertise to cover nearly any railcar management need that customers may have and its integrated solutions and reporting can be customized for any customer function or management need.