CIRCULAR NO. OT-34-G. IN EFFECT AS OF JUNE 1, 2013. PROCEDURES
FOR INSPECTING AND REPORTING EQUIPMENT. TO THE AAR CAR GRADE ...
Association of American Railroads Safety and Operations • Business Services 425 Third Street, SW • Washington, D.C. 20024
CIRCULAR NO. OT-34-H IN EFFECT AS OF JUNE 1, 2014 PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING CAR GRADE INSPECTIONS General Application Box, Gondola, and Covered Hopper Cars: The submission of Car Grades is an industry process maintained at Railinc that can be utilized for empty car distribution to rail customers. It Is imperative that each classification performed under paragraph six Car Classification, AAR Interchange Rule 1 - Care of Freight Cars be reported within twenty-four hours of the classification. Changes in car grade can be reported using the TRAIN II and/or Umler messages. (See the TRAIN II User’s Manual or Umler Data Specification Manual). Non-TRAIN II reporting companies (railroads and/or car owner/agent/company) classifying freight cars must use the Umler web application to report car classifications as defined in AAR Rule 1. Umler access for reporting car classifications can be by contacting Railinc’s Customer Support Center at
[email protected] or (877) 724-5462. The Car Grade reporting process is utilized by the railroad industry to improve car distribution using TRAIN II movement event messages and/or Umler messages or web application for non-TRAIN II reporters to report physical inspections for applicable freight cars covered under AAR Mechanical Interchange Rule 1 - Care of Freight Cars. The mandatory application of Rule 1 improves utilization, customer satisfaction and supports the Association of American Railroads; and the railroad industry's objective to supply defect free equipment to rail customers. TRAIN II and Umler reporting requirements for car grades are specified in the Office Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules, Rule 93. The car grade classifications for applicable freight cars are specified in Rule 1, Field Manual of the AAR Interchange Rules. (See attached Appendix .) Once a car grade inspection is reported to a car, it can only be changed by subsequent inspection. For example, a Class A box car is inspected and the roof is not watertight. The inspection code L would be reported to accurately describe the car. In addition, covered hoppers can receive the car grade N which is generated from a waybill reported with a Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC) listed in Appendix A, Car Service Rule 14. Cars that remain in service will be assigned a car grade of “N” which shall remain with the car for the life of the car. Box and gondola cars graded A, B, or C that contain refuse are, after inspection, graded X, Y or Z respectively. These cars can move to home rails exempt from the provisions of Car Service Rule12. Box cars having waybills reported with STCC (4029114) Municipal Garbage Waste will be assigned the car grade W and Transportation Code G. Once the car is assigned the car grade W. The car grade W cannot be removed from the car and will remain with the car until retired or dismantled. The Transportation Code G also remains with the car. The car is assignable to Pool Type G pools. When the car grade W is assigned to a car as a result of the reporting of a waybill with an incorrect STCC. The erring railroad must provide documentation to correct the error. Such documentation is to be reported to Railinc’s Customer Support Center at
[email protected] in order to have a Railinc administrator remove the car grade W. This correction will be distributed to the industry. Boxcar Classifications Reported by Shippers Boxcar shippers and certified receivers can report specific car classifications via their serving carrier as follows: E - Door defects (Shipper/Receiver) H - Floor defects (Shipper/Receiver) I - Wall defects (Shipper/Receiver) J - Roof defects (Shipper/Receiver) M - Restraining devices missing or defective (Shipper/Receiver) R - Dirty equipment (shipper only report) (Shipper only) T - Car certified clean and defect free 'T' (Receiver only) The grades are to be sent to the serving carrier for transmission via TRAIN II or Umler systems. This reporting is restricted to railroads.
Circular No. OT-34-H
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Revised June 2014
Classification of Covered Hopper Cars Loaded With Ruminant Proteins: Covered hopper car (mechanical designation LO) that is reported to TRAIN II with a waybill having a STCC reporting that the car’s lading was a ruminant protein will receive a Car Grade of N and a Transportation Code of G (see AAR Car Service Rule 14, Appendix A for a list of STCC’s for ruminant proteins.) Once the car is assigned the car grade N. The grade N cannot be removed from the car and will remain with the car until retired or dismantled. The Transportation Code G also remains with the car. The car is assignable to Pool Type G pools. When the car grade N is assigned to a car as a result of the reporting of a waybill with an incorrect STCC. The erring railroad must provide documentation to correct the error. Such documentation is to be reported to Raiinc’s Customer Support Center at
[email protected] in order to have a Railinc administrator remove the car grade N. This correction will be distributed to the industry. This circular is issued on behalf of the AAR Equipment Assets Committee. By direction of,
Jeffrey J. Usher Asst. Vice President-Business Services Supersedes Circular OT-34- G, June 1, 2013 Appendix—Circular OT-34-H Inspection: All empty box cars (XL, XLI, XM, XP, XPI, RB, RC, RBL, RP, RPL) and gondola cars (GB, GBS) must be inspected and classified when on shop, repair, upgrade, or clean out tracks as outlined below: Car Type—Box CLASS Roof
A Watertight
B Watertight
L Meets A or B Standard Except Roof Not Watertight
C Not Watertight
Floor
Smooth, no Splinters No Leaks, Odor, Oil Spots, Contamination
Won't Leak Lading No Protruding Patches No Leaks, Odor, or Contamination
Meets A or B Standards
Will Hold Rough Freight
Lining
Intact Smooth No Splinters Watertight
Intact Watertight
Meets A or B Standard Except Lining Not Watertight
Poor
Doors
Watertight Fixtures (Including Locks, Hasps, etc.) in Good Condition
Watertight Fixtures (Including Locks, Hasps, etc.) in Good Condition
Meets A or B Standard Except Doors Not Watertight
Fixtures (Including Locks, Hasps, etc.) in Good Condition
K
U Car is Unfit for Loading Secure Disposition per Section 3
Future loading constrained due to violation of Car Service Rule 14. See also AAR Interchange Rule No. 97
Car Type—Gondolas A No holes in floors
B Holes in floor 1"– 6" over less than 10% of area not located over trucks
C Holes in floor 6"– 12" over less than 10% of area not located over trucks
D Holes over 12" over more than 10% of floor area, but less than 30%
K Future loading constrained due to violation of Car Service Rule 14. See also AAR Interchange Rule No. 97
No holes in sides
Holes in sides 1"– 6" over less than 10% of area
Holes in sides 1"– 6" over less than 10% of area
Holes in sides larger than 6"
Gates not missing
Gates not missing
Gates not missing
Gates may be missing
U Car is unfit for loading Secure Disposition per Section 3
Dirty Car—A Box Car or Gondola Car Containing Refuse Shall Be Classified in the Following Manner: CLASS Interior
X Meets class A criteria above but contains refuse
Y Meets class B criteria above but contains refuse
Z Meets class C criteria above but contains refuse
Car Grades for Shipper/Receiver Grading Only CLASS
E • Door Defect
H • Floor Defect
Circular No. OT-34-H
I • Wall Defect
J • Roof Defect
M • Restraining Devices Missing or Defective
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R • Dirty Equipment (Shipper Only Report)
T • Car Certified Clean and Defect Free (Receiver Only Report)
Revised June 2014
