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

July 2020

Circular Letter: Circular Letter: C-13612: Solicitation of Comments: To Edit the Figures 29-B, 29-C, 29-I, and 29-K: Coils of Flat Steel - Section 2 of the AAR Open Top Loading Manuals (OTLR)

  • Figure 29-B: Coils of Flat Steel, 86 IN. O.D. or Less, Removable Steel Cradles - Gondolas or Bulkhead Flatcars
  • Figure 29-C: Coils of Flat Steel, Hot Rolled, Semi-Finished, Unprocessed, 86 IN. O.D. or Less, Width not less than 75% of O.D. - Gondolas, with Longitudinal Troughs
  • Figure 29-I: Coils of Flat Steel, 86 IN. O.D. or Less, Coil Sheet Width Less than 65% of O.D. - Gondolas, with Longitudinal Troughs and Cushioning Devices or Long-Travel Draft Gears
  • Figure 29-K: Coils of Flat Steel, 86 IN. O.D. or Less, Coils Sheet Width Less than 75% of O.D. - Coil Cars with Longitudinal Troughs, Cushioning Devices, or Long-Travel Draft Gears and NO CROSSBARS   

Circular Letter: C-13611: Revisions to Figures 88, 109, 128-B and 129 from Section 2 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)

  • Figure 88: Iron Ore, Limestone, Coal, Coke, Bulk Minerals and Similar Material - Hopper and Gondolas
  • Figure 109: Beams Steel, H and I , Maximum Size 42 IN. , 18 FT Long and Over, Webs Horizontal or Vertical - Bulkhead Flatcars, with Cushioning Devices
  • Figure 128-B: Pipe, Steel, Bare, Coated, 4 IN. to 20 IN. O.D., 25 FT Long and Over - Bulkhead Flatcars with Cushioning Devices
  • Figure 129: Pipe, Steel, Uncoated and Varnish Coated, 4 IN. to 10 3/4 IN. O.D. - Bulkhead Flatcars

Circular Letter: C-13609: Solicitation of Comments: To Include Cordura Sleeves in Figures 14-B: Plate or Slab, Horizontal, Steel, 20 Ft. long or Over on Flatcars or Bulkhead Flatcars - Section 2 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules (OTLR)


June 2020

Circular Letter: C-13606: AAR SAFETY ALERT regarding Improperly Secured Tie-Down Cables on Centerbeam Cars

The Damage Prevention Freight Claim Committee has recently approved the following closed car documents (DP&FC)

  • GIS 838: Unitizing with Stretch Wrap or Film, Stretch Wrap Roping, Shrink Netting or Shrink Film
  • GIS 839: Contour pad Application with Roll Paper
  • GIS 840: 79 IN. Diameter Roll Paper Loaded in 60 FT. Cushioned Boxcars with 16 FT. Plug Doors Secured with Double -S Straps


May 2020

Circular Letter: C-13592: Revisions to Figures 150, 420, 421, 422, 460, 461 and 462 - Section 3 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)

  • Figure 150: Stone, Large, Single Layer - Flatcars or Gondolas, With Wood or Nailable Steel Floors
  • Figure 420: Wind Turbine Tower, Weight up to 20,000 LB, up to 162 IN. O.D., up to 118 FT Long - Flatcar, with 89 FT with 5/16 IN. or Thicker Steel Floor, Saddles and Stopper
  • Figure 421: Wind Turbine Tower, Shipping Frame on Deck, Weight up to 115,000 LB, up to 162 IN. O.D. , up to 72 FT Long - Flatcar, 89 FT with 5/16 IN. or Thicker Steel Floor
  • Figure 422: Wind Turbine Tower, Shipping Frame on Deck, Weight up to 200,000 LB, up to 162 IN. O.D. , up to 118 FT Long - Flatcar, 89 FT with 5/16 IN. or Thicker Steel Floor, Saddles
  • Figure 460: Wind Turbine Blade, Dual, Weight up to 30,000 LB Each, up to 150 FT Long - Flatcar, 89 FT with 5/16 IN. or Thicker Steel Floor
  • Figure 461: Wind Turbine Blade, Single, Weight up to 30,000 LB, up to 180 FT Long - Flatcar, 89 FT with 5/16 IN. or Thicker Steel Floor
  • Figure 462: Wind Turbine Blade, Dual, Weight up to 30,000 LB Each, up to 190 FT Long - Flatcar, 89 FT with 5/16 IN. or Thicker Steel Floor, Stacked Tip Stands

The Damage Prevention Freight Claim Committee has recently approved the following closed car document for roll paper (DP&FC)

  • GIS 837: 54 IN. Diameter Roll Paper Loaded in 50 FT Boxcars
  • GIS 836: Wood Bin Containers for Shipping Liquid or Paste Products in Boxcars

Circular Letter: C-13588: Revisions to Figures 13, 113 and 116 from Section 5 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)

  • Figure 13: Ties - Gondolas
  • Figure 113: Engineered Wood Products, LVL, PSL and LSL Structural Beams and I-Joists, Packaged - Bulkhead Center A-Frame Flatcars , with Cable or Web Tie-Downs
  • Figure 116: Wood Panels 8 Ft Wide of Various Length - Bulkhead Flatcar

Circular Letter: C-13587: Revisions to Figues 54 and 54-B from Section 5 and General Rule 12 from Section 1 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules ( OTLR )

  • Figure 54: Lumber, Packaged, 8 FT Long or Over - Center A-Frame Flatcars with Cable Tie-Downs
  • Figure 54-B : Lumber 4 FT to 8 FT Long, Packaged - Center A- Frame Flatcars with Cable Tie-Downs
  • General Rule 12: Inflatable Dunnage Bags and Pack-Out Materials

Circular Letter: C-13584: Revisions to General Rules 5, 19, 21 and Glossary - Section 1 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules (OTLR)

  • General Rule 5: Load Restraint
  • General Rule 19: Nonmetallic Strapping
  • General Rule 21: Chain, Binders and Assemblies
  • Glossary: Added to new definitions: Steel Slab and Steel Plate

Circular Letter: C-13583: Editorial Revisions to Figure 88-B - Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules (OTLR)

  • Figure 88-B: Military Vehicles, Pneumatic Tires, Non-Articulated , 75,850 LB or Less, Secured with Chains - Flatcars


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)