AAR Circular Letter Summary – September 2018

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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

CPC-1337
Recommended Railroad Operating Practices for Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Issued: September 6, 2018
Effective: September 9, 2018

AAR’s Safety and Operations department is adding a section to OT-55 reflecting the railroad industry’s commitment to providing electronic emergency response information. This is the only change from OT-55-P. AAR Circular No. OT-55-Q (attached) becomes effective September 9, 2018 and supersedes OT-55-P.

 

C-13197
Implementation of Revisions to AAR Intermodal Interchange Rules, Section L, Rule 156, Depreciated Value Table Update
Issued: September 13, 2018
Effective: September 13, 2018

The purpose of this circular letter is to notify the industry of revisions to AAR Intermodal Interchange Rules, Section L, Rule 156, update to the Depreciated Value Table. AAR Intermodal Interchange Rules are now implemented and effective immediately. A copy of the document is attached to the circular. The publication will also be available for free download and reference at the AAR Transportation Technology Center’s website: http://www.aar.com/standards/IntermodalOperatons‐interchange‐rules.html

 

C-13198
Implementation of Editorial Revisions to MSRP Section E, BRAKES AND BRAKE EQUIPMENT, Standard S-424, Angle Cock Location, Figure Edits
Issued: September 14, 2018
Effective: September 14, 2018

The purpose of this circular letter is to notify the industry of editorial revisions to E, brakes and brake equipment, Standard S-424, Angle Cock Location, to accurately describe the correct information in the table. The revised S-424 is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section E. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13199
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section E, BRAKES AND BRAKE EQUIPMENT, Standard S-4001, Rubber Products – Performance, Clarifying the Requirements for Certification
Issued: September 14, 2018
Effective: September 14, 2018

Standard S-4001, attached to the circular, is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section E. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

C-13201
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specification M-202, Truck Bolsters Cast or Structural – Design and Testing, Regarding Updated Failure Criteria
Issued: September 19, 2018
Effective: September 19, 2018

Specification M-202, attached to the circular, is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section S. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.

 

Call for Comment

C-13196
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section G, Wheels and Axles, M-107/M-208, Alternate Wheel Profile AAR-2A, Wheel Approval Process, and Class D Requirements
Issued: September 13, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments

The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments for proposed revisions to MSRP Section G, Wheels and Axles, M-107/M-208, addition of alternate wheel profile AAR-2A, update to the wheel approval process, and update to Class D wheel requirements. The proposed addition of alternate wheel profile AAR-2A and the wheel approval process have associated costs, outlined in the circular. The proposed revisions to the Class D wheel requirements do not have costs associated with implementation.

 

C-13200
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specifications M-211 and M-215 Regarding Casting Marks
Issued: September 19, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments

The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments for revisions proposed to Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specifications M-211 and M-215, regarding coupling system casting marks used to identify the specification under which a component was approved, and regarding updates to figures that detail marking locations and sizes. CSTCC has revised the proposed changes to clarify locations of markings and define the affected components by updating and referencing M-211 Figures A.9 and A.10. Changes to Figures A.9 and A.10 show marking locations for couplers and knuckles and include corrections to minimum dimensions for markings. The proposal is attached to the circular.

 

Notice Circulars

C-13202
Car Repair Facility Labor Rate – Effective October 1, 2018
Issued: September 21, 2018
Effective:
 October 1, 2018

The Car Repair Facility Labor Rate, effective October 1, 2018 is $139.54, an increase of 0.4 percent ($0.52) from the calculation for July 1, 2018. The changes made which affected the rate are described in the circular. The change will be reflected in the October 1, 2018 release of the AAR Office Manual.

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.

 

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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.