AAR Circular Letter Summary – March 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-13288
Implementation of Revision to MSRP Section C-II DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND CONSTRUCTION OF FREIGHT CARS, Chapter 4 Design. Editorial Change to the Longitudinal Force Design Requirements for Bulkhead Flat Cars
Issued: March 10, 2019
Effective: March 10, 2019

The revised Chapter 4 is attached to the circular. The revision includes removing a discrepancy to the longitudinal design forces for bulkhead flatcars. Changes are implemented and effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13293
Mandatory Compliance Date for S-486 and S-4027 Single Car Test Revision Criteria
Issued: March 14, 2019
Effective: May 1, 2019

The purpose of this circular letter is to remind the industry that the AAR Brake Systems Committee has implemented revisions to Section E, S-486 as well as S-4027 in reference to the manual and automated single car tests, respectively. Both revisions have a mandatory compliance date of May 1, 2019. The “AAR Requirements for Compliance to S-4027” are attached to the circular.

 

Call for Comment

C-13286
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section I, Intermodal Equipment Manual, M-930, M-931, M-998, RP-853, Appendix E CSU Testing, Lift Pad, and IBC Tension Testing
Issued: March 7, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The revisions include editorial review of “should or shall” language, as well as the addition of new Appendix E to describe the chassis shipping unit (CSU) testing, recommended thickness of the trailer lift pad, revised description of the interbox connector (IBC) tension testing and recommended thickness of the trailer lift pad. The proposal is attached to the circular.

 

C-13287
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section D TRUCKS AND TRUCK DETAILS, Specifications M-976 Truck Performance for Rail Cars. Addition of Traction Ratio Test
Issued: March 10, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The curve and tangent rolling resistance test in paragraph 4.1.2.2 has been replaced with a new test method, the “traction ratio” test. Changes are highlighted with change bars in the draft of M-976 9attached to the circular).

 

C-13289
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section D TRUCKS AND TRUCK DETAILS, Addition of new Specification M-979 Center Bowl Liner – Requirements for Approval
Issued: March 11, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

Specification M-979 was assembled out of existing publications and is intended to be comprehensive for application of bowl liners, including application to M-976 Trucks and Intermodal cars. The proposed specification is included in the circular. Adoption of M-979 will require the retirement of M-976 Appendix A, RP-261, and S-3004.

 

C-13290
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to AAR Intermodal Interchange Rules, Section A, Rule 21, Appx A, Appx B, Appx F, Job Code Photo Glossary, IBC Photo Glossary, and Specialized Container Photo Glossary, Chassis Shipping Units, and Billing Procedure
Issued: March 11, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The update to Section A is the new Rule 21 covering the interchange requirements for 53 ft. Chassis Shipping Units. The revisions to the Appendix A billing procedures include additions of vendor office, and an editorial revision to the required billing information. The revisions to the Appendix B repair procedures include editorial revisions to body repairs, floors, roof repairs, splicing of side rails, and a new repair policy for corner posts. Appendix F and the Job Code Photo Glossary have been updated to include a new Job Code 2023 for replacement of the Tandem/Tridem Slider Pin. The proposal is attached to the summary.

 

C-13291
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section G-II, WHEEL AND AXLE MANUAL, S-659, RP-631, RP-632, and RP-633, Southern CJ-33, Wheel Storage, Bearing Storage, and Vertical Split Rim
Issued: March 12, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The proposal includes revision of the addition of Southern CJ-33 wheels to the list of wheels that must not be returned to service, revision to outside wheel storage conditions, revision to the number of days a loose bearing can be stored prior to shipping, and revision to include vertical split rim on the steel wheel defects list. The associated costs are broken down in the circular, the proposal is attached.

 

CPC-1346
Solicitation of Comments on Proposed Revision to MSRP Section C Part III, M-1002, Specifications for Tank Cars, Chapter 1
Issued: March 20, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

These revisions update existing requirements for the retention of radiographic film when used for the manufacture or repair of tank car tanks. The changes to Chapter 1 Table 19 are from “10 years” to “Current qualification interval” for the retention of radiographs and radiographic reports or UT reports. Please submit industry comments using the Exhibit PC-1 form (attached to the circular).

 

C-13295
DRAFT Standard S-9502.V1.0 – PTC Track Data Exchange, is available for review and comment. In support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-VI, Railway Data Management and Communications
Issued: March 26, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The document is intended to provide a common track data exchange format for use between railroads in support of track data maintenance activities for interoperable PTC operations. The data exchange process and mechanism are dependent on arrangements between the railroads exchanging information. Access to the draft can be found at www.railinc.com.

 

C-13296
DRAFT Standard S-9357.V1.0 – Mutually Authenticated Key Exchange, is available for review and comment. In support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-IV, Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging
Issued: March 26, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The standard defines a mechanism for mutual authentication and authorization between devices using X.509v3 mutual certificate authentication. Access to the draft can be found at www.railinc.com.

 

C-13297
DRAFT S-9358.V1.0 – Anonymous Key Exchange, is available for review and comment. In Support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-IV, Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging
Issued: March 26, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The standard defines a mechanism to exchange per-session shared key material for use cases that do not require a high degree of identity assurance. Access to the draft can be found at www.railinc.com.

 

C-13298
DRAFT S-9359.V1.0 – Interoperable Certificate Revocation Responder Service, is available for review and comment. In support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-IV, Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging
Issued: March 26, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment

The standard defines a service and messages to check the revocation status of a certificate. Access to the draft can be found at www.railinc.com.

 

Notice Circulars

CPC-1345
UTC Inspections Required
Issued: March 8, 2019
Effective: March 8, 2019

Union Tank Car Company has requested assistance in capturing 17 tank cars to complete stub sill maintenance. This Early Warning is being issued to remove the noted tank cars from service. The listed cars are assigned Severity Code 01. The full list of cars and instructions is included in the circular.

C-13292
Informational Circular, Car Repair Facility Labor Rate – Effective April 1, 2019
Issued: March 13, 2019
Effective: April 1, 2019

The Car Repair Facility Labor Rate, effective April 1, 2019 is $135.76, a decrease of 3.6 percent ($5.07) from the calculation for January 1, 2019.

 

Upcoming Events

Chlorine Institute’s 2019 Annual Meeting, Technology Symposium & Table Top Expo
April 8-11, 2019
Houston, TX

Greenbrier Management Services is excited to be participating in this event hosted by the Chlorine Institute.

Paul Connor, Performance Assurance Engineer from our Regulatory Services Group, will be on hand to visit and answer questions. We all look forward to seeing you!

Registration and program details can be found at: www.chlorineinstitute.org

 

AAR Hazmat & Tank Car Committee Meeting – Q2
April 16-18, 2019
The Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

Come visit us! The Greenbrier Companies will be hosting a table at the AAR tank Car Committee meetings in April in Denver and we would love to see you.

Details and materials can be found at: https://www.aar.org/tank-car-committee-meeting-materials/

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.