AAR Circular Letter Summary – December 2019

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About AAR Circular Letters

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

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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-13428
Implementation of Revisions to General Rules 5, 17, 25, 43 and Appendix D – Section 1 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: December 18, 2019
Effective: December 18, 2019

The AAR’s Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) has approved the several revisions to Section 1 OTLR manual – General Rules 5, 17, 25, 43 and Appendix D. The revisions, included in the text of the circular, include various changes, clarifications and deletions. The implementation of these revisions is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the OTLR’s manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachments for General Rules 5, 17, 25, 43 and Appendix D in your Section 1 copy 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-13489
Implementation of Revised MSRP Section D, TRUCKS AND TRUCK DETAILS, 2019
Issued: December 6, 2019
Effective: December 6, 2019

The new edition of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section D, TRUCKS AND TRUCK DETAILS has been issued. The printing includes all revisions issued through circular letters since June 2016. The manual can be purchased online at the following website: www.aarpublications.com. All previously implemented standards and specifications are included in this printing of Section D. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13492
Implementation Circular for EHMS Alerts AEIUMLER, WPDWHEEL and WPDAXLE
Issued: December 11, 2019
Effective: December 12, 2019

EHMS Alerts, AEIUMLER, WPDWHEEL and WPDAXLE were implemented on December 12, 2019 and are available in EHMS. Circular Letters C-13452, C-13453 and C-13454 issued November 8, 2019 may also be reviewed for content.

 

C-13495
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section F, SENSORS, Standard S-6010, Wheel Profile Detector
Issued: December 16, 2019
Effective: December 16, 2019

Standard S-6010 is implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13496
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section F, SENSORS, Standard S-6200, Machine Vision Detector
Issued: December 16, 2019
Effective: December 16, 2019

Standard S-6200 is implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13497
Implementation Circular for EHMS Alerts MVECOUPLER and MVFCOUPLER
Issued: December 17, 2019
Effective: December 17, 2019

EHMS Alerts, MVECOUPLER and MVFCOUPLER were implemented on December 17, 2019 and are available in EHMS.

 

C-13498
Implementation of Revisions to AAR Intermodal Interchange Rules, Section A, and Appendix B, Tank Containers, and Bias Ply Tires
Issued: December 19, 2019
Effective: December 19, 2019

The stacking of a dry or non-hazardous container on a non-hazardous ISO tank is now permitted, and the removal of the minimum Standard for Retreading and Repairing Bias Ply Tires has been accepted. AAR Intermodal Interchange Rules, Section A, and Appendix B, are now implemented and effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

CPC-1354
Final Action, Revisions to MSRP Section C-III, Specification for Tank Cars (M-1002), Appendix B – Certification of Tank Car Facilities and associated Chapter 1 Definitions (Docket T91.2.4)
Issued: December 20, 2019
Effective: January 1, 2020.

Revisions to MSRP Section C-III, Specification for Tank Cars (M-1002), Appendix B – Certification of Tank Car Facilities and associated Chapter 1 Definitions is implemented and effective January 1, 2020. The complete revision is attached to the circular. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13499
Implementation Circular for Updates to EHMS Alert, AEITAG and EHMS Data Summary AEI TAG
Issued: December 26, 2019
Effective: October 9, 2019

Updates to the auto close logic for EHMS Data Summary AEI TAG and Alert AEITAG were implemented on October 9, 2019 and are available in EHMS.

 

Call for Comment

C-13494
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specifications M-220 and M-214, Regarding Inspection and Reconditioning of Side Frames and Bolsters for Interchange Service Past 52 Years from Date Cast
Issued: December 13, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The entirety of proposed changes to M-214 and M-220 are attached to the circular.

The revision to M-214 (Side Frames and Bolsters, Used and Reconditioned – Classification and Repair Procedure) includes: Update in scope, added section for reconditioning castings over 47 years from cast date for increased service life, required inspection of castings per M-220 and required reporting of subject castings.

The revision to M-220 (Casting Component Nondestructive Testing Requirements) includes: Updated record keeping requirements, addition of Appendix B for nondestructive inspection of bolsters and addition of Appendix C for nondestructive inspection of side frames

 

Notice of Circulars

C-13487
AAR Safety Alert Related To Loading and Unloading of Rail Cars
Issued: December 6, 2019
Effective: N/A

During loading and/or unloading of rail cars caution must be taken to ensure personnel are in the clear, if any part of the load were to move or shift unexpectedly. Car rocking motion may cause unsupported packages or articles with a higher center of gravity to fall. Minimize access to the car. Exercise caution when in or around a partially loaded car. Lift operators should stay on lift equipment, whenever possible, while in or around a partially loaded car. Railroads 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-13488
2020 Field and Office Manuals of the AAR Interchange Rules Effective January 1, 2020
Issued: December 6, 2019
Effective: N/A

The 2020 edition of the Field and Office Manuals of the AAR Interchange Rules is scheduled to be available January 1, 2020. Manuals may be ordered via the website www.aarpublications.com.

The Field Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules contains all rules dealing with car repair, responsibility for, disposition of and settlement of freight cars, Appendix A (Definitions), Appendix C (Rules for EOT Telemetry Devices) and Appendix D (NIT League Job Codes).

The Office Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules, combines mandatory rules covering all aspects of billing car repairs, mechanical requirements for new and rebuilt cars as defined in Rule 88, settlement of disputes, transfer of adjustment of lading. The Office Manual also contains the AAR Price Matrices of charges showing the labor and material breakdown and applicable charges for each Job Code.

The price of the manuals includes all revisions and/or changes issued during the year. Changes in like number will be forwarded for insertion in the manual(s) to all purchasers without the necessity of reordering.

 

C-13490
Informational Circular, Car Repair Facility Labor Rate – Effective January 1, 2020
Issued: December 11, 2019
Effective: January 1, 2020

The Car Repair Facility Labor Rate, effective January 1, 2020 is $141.24. This represents an increase of 0.2 percent ($0.35) from the calculation for October 1, 2019. The changes to the rate involved health & welfare rates, payroll taxes, a general wage increase for one railroad, the complete amortization and removal of back pay amounts for machinists, and a new overhead study. More information concerning U.S. Class I railroad health & welfare premiums, payroll tax rates and the overhead study are included in the circular. The change will be reflected in the January 1, 2020 release of the AAR Office Manual.

C-13491
Informational Circular, Office Manual Rule 107, Freight Car Index Factor
Issued: December 11, 2019
Effective: January 1, 2020.

The Car Repair Billing Committee has approved the 2019 Freight Car Index Factor of 201 to be used in 2020. This number is unchanged from the 2018 Freight Car Index Factor. The Freight Car Index Factor is based on the Freight Car Producer Price Index from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. The new Freight Car Index Factor will be published in Rule 107 of the Office Manual, and will become effective January 1, 2020.

 

C-13493
Informational Circular, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 3.E.12
Issued: December 12, 2019
Effective: N/A

The revision to Rule 3.E.12 provides a definition of the unique car grouping count (UCGC). A UCGC is the number of unique groupings of cars surrounding and including the car in question when one or more LORF‐NCF events have occurred. This definition will be included in the January 2020 release of the Field Manual.

 

CPC-1355
Notification to Industry on Updated AAR M-1002 Exhibit T-1 Transition M-1002 Appendix B Certification Element Form
Issued: December 20, 2019
Effective: December 20, 2019

An updated “Exhibit T-1: Transition M-1002 Appendix B Certification Element Form” is available for use. The facility primary point of contact is responsible for completing this form and providing it to the AAR BOE lead auditor in advance of the 2020 M-1002/M-1003 audit. The AAR BOE lead auditor will utilize this information to assign required resources and then schedule and perform the 2020 M-1002/M-1003 audit. The intent of this information is to assist the facility and the AAR BOE lead auditor in transitioning the certification elements in accordance with AAR CPC-1354 Appendix B and Chapter 1. The Exhibit T-1 Version 1.0 form (attached to the circular) supersedes Exhibit T-1 Orig. form published in CPC-1351.

 

Upcoming Event

Midwest Associate of Rail Shippers 2020 Winter Meeting
January 14-16, 2020
The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois

The Greenbrier Companies will be attending the MARS 2020 Winter Meeting! President and COO, Lorie Tekorius, will be speaking at the Railcar Equipment Update on Wednesday, January 15 at 10:15 a.m.

Be sure to stop and visit with us at Booth 25 for details on all of the services that Greenbrier has to offer!

Details and materials can be found here.

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.