AAR Open Top Loading or Closed Car Rule Updates

For Solicitations of Comments for Revision:
In accordance with the requirements of AAR Rule 123, comments are herein solicited and should be sent with any additional attachments to:

Manager-AAR Loading Rules and Damage Prevention
TTCI
P.O. Box 11130
55500 DOT Road
Pueblo, CO 81001

Or send an email.

All comments received within 30 days from the date of the Circular Letter will be considered by the OTLR Committee prior to any action on the implementation of these changes.

Access More AAR Rules
All AAR open top loading and closed car loading standards are available online for free download.

As a courtesy, we are providing the following information to inform our customers about new AAR rule changes. For more information regarding AAR rule updates, please contact Brent Lichty, Senior Engineer - Shipment Quality. 

Implementation of Revisions

April 2020

  • Circular Letter: C13555: Implementation of Revisions Figures 58-A and 63-B, New Figures 58-D and 63-C - Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
    • Figure 58-A: Vehicles, Heavy Armored and Similar (Flat Bottom Hull Stryker), 60,100 Lb or Less - Flatcars, Chain Tiedown
    • Figure 58-D: Vehicles, Heavy Armored and Similar (Double V-Hull (DVH) Stryker), 63,000 Lb or Less - Flatcars, Chain Tiedown (NEW)
    • Figure 63-B: Trailer, M200A1 - Flatcars, with Chain Tiedown
    • Figure 63-C: Trailer, Modified M200A1 with Welding Shop Equipment - Flatcars, Chain Tiedown (NEW)
       
  • Circular Letter: C-13554: Implementation of Revisions to Figures 78-B, 83 and New Figure 83-A - Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)  
    • Figure 78-B: Tanks and Similar Units, over 30,000 Lb to 100,000 Lb, Inclusive, Secured with Chains - Flatcars
    • Figure 83: Tanks and Similar Units 100,000 Lb to 140,000 Lb - Flatcars, DODX 140-Ton, with Chain Tie-Downs
    • Figure 83-A: Tanks and Similar Units (ABRAMS M1A2 SEPv3) 144,000 Lb or Less - DODX 140-Ton, With Chains (NEW)
  • Circular Letter: C-13553: Implementation of Revisions to Figures 88-B, 88-F and New Figure 91 - Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR) 
    • Figure 88-B: Military Vehicles, Pneumatic Tires, Non-Articulated, 75,850 Lb or Less, Secured with Chains - Flatcars
    • Figure 88-F: Military Vehicles, Armoured, Pneumatic Tires, Non-Articulated, 75,850 Lb or Less, Secured with Chains - Flatcars
    • Figure 91: Modular Fuel System - Flatcars, Chain Tiedown (NEW)
  • Circular Letter: C-13541: Solicitation of Comments: To Archive Figure 280: Pipe, Steel, Bare, Coated or Wrapped, 14 in. to 72 in OD, 80 Ft. Long, Single Pile, Double End Overhang - Flatcars - Section 2 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
     
  • Circular Letter: C-13540: Solicitation of Comments: To Archive Figures 5-A, 5-B, 12-A, 14 and 55 - Section 5 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
     
  • GIS 835: Double Layer Loads of Nonhazardous Materials Secured with HLASH RHS Securement System in a 20 ft. Container (NEW) (ILG) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 834: Hazardous or Nonhazardous Loads Secured with Cordstrap® Barriers in 40 ft. containers (NEW) (ILG) (DP&CF)
  • GIS 833: Double Layer Loads of Hazardous or Nonhazardous Materials Secured with Cordstrap® Barriers in a 20 ft. Container (NEW) (ILG) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 832: 47 on Diameter Roll Paper Loaded in 60 ft. Cushioned Boxcars with Plug Doors (NEW) (CCLG Part 2) (DP&FC) 
  • GIS 831: Metal Intermediate Bulk Containers with Disposable Inflatable Dunnage Bags and Lengthwise Void Fillers - Goodpack USA (NEW) (CCLG Part 7) (DP&FC)

February 2020

  • GIS 830: 72 in. Diameter Roll Paper Loaded in 60 ft. Cushioned Boxcars with 16 ft. Double Plug Doors Secured with Double-S Straps (DP&FC)

December 2019

  • Closed Car Loading Guide Part 2: Best Practices for Loading of Roll Paper in Rail cars (DP&FC)
    • GIS 828: 44 in. Diameter Paper Rolls in 50ft. Cushioned Boxcars Using Horizontal Airbags (DP&FC)
    • GIS 829: 39 in. Diameter Paper Rolls in 50 ft. Cushioned Boxcars Using Vertical Airbags (DP&FC)
       
  • GIS 827: Drum Layer Separators for Intermodal Shipments (Hazardous or Nonhazardous) Revises Separator Table in ILG (01/16) Methods: B-3; B-8; B-9 (GIS798); G-2; G-3; I-1; I-2; & I-4 (GIS792) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 826: Building Brick in Closed Cars - Incomplete Layer Securement - Woodpack Walls (Litco) (CCLG Part 5, Section 7.1.1 & 7.1.2 (revised); Section 7.7 (New) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 825: Loading Bundled Ingots with Open Doorways - Incomplete Layers (CCLG Part 10, Section 3.2; 6.2 ; & 6.6.10 (revised) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 824: Case Goods Secured with Stopak Blocker D.I.D Bags (Intermodal Loading Guide Method F-6) (New) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 823: Plywood and Similar Panel Products Loading Doorway Areas (CCLG Part 3, Section 7.3.1; 7.3.2 ; 7.3.3; & 7.4.3 (revised) (DP&FC)
  • GIS 822: Palletized or Crated Auto Parts Secured by Web Strap Assemblies in 53 ft. Containers (Intermodal Loading Guide Method H-16) (New) (DP&FC)
  • GIB #2: Rules and Pocedures for Testing of New Loading and Bracing Methods or Materials (DP&FC)