AAR Circular Letter Summary – December 2017

Date

Share

About AAR Circular Letters

Circular letter summaries are produced monthly by Greenbrier’s Regulatory Management team, a division of Greenbrier Management Services Group.

Download GMS brochure:

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-13030
Notice of Implementation of Circular No. 42-M, General Rules Covering Loading or Carload Shipments of Commodities in Closed Cars (DP&FC)
Issued: December 1, 2017
Effective: December 1, 2017

The revision to Circular 42 (attached to the circular), are now implemented and effective immediately.

 

C-13031
Implementation of Revisions to Figure 14-B– Section 2 AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: December 1, 2017
Effective: December 1, 2017

The implementation of the revision to Section 2 is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment (included in the circular) for Figure 14-B in your copy of Section 2 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of this circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.

 

C-13032
Implementation of Revisions to Figure 154-B– Section 2 AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: December 1, 2017
Effective: December 1, 2017

The implementation of this revision to Section 2 is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment (included in the circular) for Figure 154-B in your copy of Section 2 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of this circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.

 

C-13034
Implementation of Revised MSRP Section T, M-1004 Specification for Fuel Tenders, Including the Addition of New Appendix G, Wiring and Electrical Hardware
Issued: December 7, 2017
Effective: December 7, 2017

Editorial changes made to M-1004 are described in the circular. AAR intends to make M-1004 and all supporting Standards available for purchase under a new MSRP titled Section T – Interoperable Fuel Tenders for Locomotives at www.aarpublications.com (http://www.aarpublications.com/). Until then, M-1004 and supporting standards will only be available via implementation Circular Letters.

 

C-13035
Implementation of Revisions to Figures 109 – Section 2 AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: December 13, 2017
Effective: December 13, 2017

The implementation of the revision to Section 2 is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment for Figure 109, included in the circular, into your copy Section 2 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of this circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.

 

C-13036
Implementation of New Figure 43-Q– Section 2 AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: December 13, 2017
Effective: December 13, 2017

The implementation of the revision to Section 2 is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment for Figure 43-Q, included in the circular, into your copy Section 2 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of this circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.

 

C-13037
Implementation of Revisions to Figure 43-K– Section 2 AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: December 13, 2017
Effective: December 13, 2017

Drawings and item descriptions were revised to improve the clarity of the loading method. Please see the attachment included in the circular for the full details of these changes. The implementation of this revision to Section 2 is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment for Figure 43-K, in your copy Section 2 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of this circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.

 

Notice Circulars

C-13033
AAR MSRP Section J, M-1003 Quality Assurance Program 2018: AAR Quality Assurance Auditor and Industry Conference & M-1003 Training Classes)
Issued: December 4, 2017
Effective: N/A

The 30th Annual AAR Quality Assurance Auditor and Industry Conference will be held the week of January 22, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas. The conference agenda and schedule for upcoming QA auditor classes is included in the circular.

 

C-13038
Informational Circular, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 36.F
Issued: December 13, 2017
Effective: December 13, 2017

C-13017 was issued on November 15, 2017 to revise Field Manual Rule 36.B Correct Repair Chart Group B3 – Bearings with Tapered Rollers (Rotating End Cap). Based on feedback from the industry, a new job code has been created to support this change. The entire text of the revision is identified in the circular. This revision will be included in the January 2018 release of the Field Manual.

 

C-13039
Informational Circular, Revisions to Field and Office Manuals, Appendix A, Valvular Components
Issued: December 14, 2017
Effective: December 14, 2017

A definition for “Valvular Components” has been added to Appendix A of the Field and Office Manuals. This addition is intended to clarify the language used in Field Manual Rule 4 and the requirements for handling submerged air brake equipment. The entire text of the addition is identified in the circular. Please be advised that the specific components listed in the new definition are intended to serve as guidelines, and should not be considered inclusive of all valvular components. This change will be included in the January 2018 release of the Field and Office Manuals.

 

C-13040
Informational Circular, Revisions to Field and Office Manuals, Appendix A, Valvular Components
Issued: December 20, 2017
Effective: January 1, 2018

The Car Repair Facility Labor Rate, effective January 1, 2018 is $127.29, a decrease of 1.3 percent ($1.69) from the calculation for October 1, 2017.

 

 

C-13041
Informational Circular, Revisions to Field and Office Manuals, Appendix A, Valvular Components
Issued: December 20, 2017
Effective: January 1, 2018

The Car Repair Billing Committee has approved the 2017 Freight Car Index Factor of 203 to be used in 2018. This is a 2.64% decrease from the 2016 Freight Car Index Factor of 209. The new Freight Car Index Factor will be published in Rule 107 of the Office Manual, and will become effective January 1, 2018.

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.