About AAR Circular Letters
Circular letter summaries are produced monthly by 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-14584
MSRP K-III – S-9203C AEI Site-to-Host Consist & Wayside Report Format
Issued: June 25, 2025
Effective: June 25, 2025
This implementation circular is being released to the industry for revisions to the AAR’s Manual of Standards & Recommended Practices (MSRP) Section K III – Wayside Electronics and Mobile Worker Communications Architecture.
Modifications will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section K-III. Please update your standards reference library and be governed accordingly.
C-14586
AAR MSRP Section K-I Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concepts of Operations, Standard S-9008.V1.1
Issued: June 26, 2025
Effective: June 26, 2025
S-9008.V1.1 was Adopted in 2024 and Revised in 2025 and is attached to this circular in PDF format. S-9008.V1.1 will be incorporated into the next issue of the MSRP Section K-I Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concepts of Operations. In the interim, please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-I and be governed accordingly.
C-14585
July 2025 Field and Office Manuals, Summary of Comments and Implementation Details
Issued: June 26, 2025
Effective: July 1, 2025
In March and April 2025, several Circular Letters soliciting comments on the proposed rule changes were issued. See Circular for full recap of those letters seeking industry comment, an indication of comments received (if any), consideration and implementation details.
Notice of Circulars
C-14579
Car Repair Facility Labor Rate – Effective July 1, 2025
Issued: June 2, 2025
Effective: July 1, 2025
The Car Repair Facility Labor Rate effective July 1, 2025 is $173.79 per hour, an increase of $2.97 (or 1.74%) from the labor rate estimated on April 1, 2025. The 1.74% increase is the result of national agreements between railroads that participate in nationwide collective bargaining and the BRC, IAM, and IBBM.
This will be reflected in the July 1, 2025 release of the AAR Office Manual.
C-14580
Canadian Car Repair Facility Labor Rate – Effective July 1, 2025
Issued: June 2, 2025
Effective: July 1, 2025
The Canadian Car Repair Billing Labor Rate calculation for July 1, 2025 is $254.39 CAD (Two hundred and fifty‐four Canadian dollars and thirty‐nine cents), an increase of one dollar and six cents from the calculation for April 1. For comparison purposes, this converts to about $183.43 in U.S. dollars.
The change will be reflected in the July 1, 2025 release of the Canadian Price Master.
C-14581
Remaining 2026 AAR M-1003 Quality Assurance Auditor Training Classes
Issued: June 5, 2025
Effective: June 5, 2025
The AAR’s Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) wants to remind interested parties that the remaining AAR M-1003 Quality Assurance Training classes are filling up quickly. Enrollment is first come, first-serve basis so early registration is recommended. See Circular for full schedule and details.
C-14583
August 2025 Joint Technical Committee Meetings in Colorado Springs
Issued: June 20, 2025
Effective: June 20, 2025
The annual “Fall” Technical Committee Meetings will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 19 -21, 2025. The following Committees will be meeting at that time:
- BSC – Brake Systems Committee
- EEC – Equipment Engineering Committee
- QA – QA Committee
- SEFCC – Specially Equipped Freight Car Committee
- WABL – Wheel, Axle, Bearings, and Lubrication Committee
- AAR Rolling Stock TAG
C-14582
Announcing the 2026 AAR’s 38th Quality Assurance Industry Conference
Issued: June 20, 2025
Effective: June 20, 2025
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) is pleased to announce the 38th Annual AAR Quality Assurance Industry Conference February 17-19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
See Circular for full details.
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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.
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