Association of American Railroads

Association of American Railroads

Association of American Railroads

AAR Tank Car Committee

Key Facts

  • The TCC sets high safety standards for tank car design, often exceeding federal rules.
  • Over 99.99% of hazmat rail shipments reach their destination without incident.
  • Railroads follow a unified interchange system.

The Annual TCC Meeting: October 20-22, 2026

The next TCC meeting will take place between October 20-22, 2026 at The Westin Galleria in Dallas, Texas. You can make an online reservation for a rate of $289 per night. The cutoff date for making reservations at the group rate is Monday, September 28, 2026. Download the full schedule. Please fill out this exhibitor form and then return it back to Stephanie Kilfeather at skilfeather@aar.org.

Women in Rail: Tank Car Edition: October 20, 2026

Join the League of Railway Women and Women on Track: Tank Car Edition for an opportunity to explore careers, build connections, and learn more about the tank car and hazmat side of the rail industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Hear perspectives from women across multiple rail disciplines
  • Learn about the tank car and hazmat side of the industry
  • Gain career insights from rail professionals and leaders
  • Explore hands-on displays featuring tank car equipment and components
  • Network with industry peers, students, and emerging professionals
  • Enjoy complimentary light appetizers and refreshments

A panel featuring women leaders from operations, engineering, sales, hazmat, consulting, and industry leadership across the rail sector will run from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Immediately following from 5:30pm to 6:30pm will be a happy hour.

Location: Westin Galleria Dallas

Register by October 1, 2026. Contact tcc@aar.org for sponsorship interest or for more information.

About TCC

Railroads typically do not own the tank cars they move; those cars are usually owned and maintained by shippers or leasing companies. As common carriers, railroads are required to transport hazardous materials under reasonable terms and conditions.

Tank car safety is governed by a layered system of federal regulation and industry oversight. While the Department of Transportation sets safety requirements, the Tank Car Committee (TCC) provides technical review, oversees quality assurance programs, and establishes North American interchange standards that often exceed federal requirements.

Beyond regulatory requirements, the TCC establishes industry-wide interchange standards for tank car design and operation in North America. This is done under a voluntary agreement. While these standards can exceed DOT regulations, they never compromise minimum requirements or oversight. Because of this system, tanks cars have improved thermal protection, higher-grade steel, and enhanced valves and fittings. These factors significantly enhance tank car safety.

Interchange System & The MSRP

Because no one railroad covers the entire country, railroads are often required to interchange equipment, including tank cars, during their operations to transport goods to their destinations. To facilitate these interchanges, the rail industry, including rolling stock owners and repair facilities, voluntarily agreed to accept and transport shipments. These shipments must meet a consistent set of standards contained in the Manual of Standards & Recommended Practices (MSRP).

TCC Stakeholders & Functions

The TCC comprises railroad representatives, shippers, and tank car builders and owners. Additionally, representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration, PHMSA, the National Transportation Safety Board, Transport Canada, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada regularly attend. They participate in many of the TCC’s quarterly meetings.

Ongoing Efforts to Eliminate or Alter TCC Oversight

In 2016, a group of shippers and tank car owners filed a petition for rulemaking with PHMSA. This challenged the current system of oversight for rail tank cars. They requested PHMSA to adopt regulations prohibiting any entity from requiring compliance with tank car specifications more rigorous than the minimum DOT safety standards. The filing of this petition was in direct response to efforts by the TCC to adopt improved standards. These standards were for tanks used to transport toxic inhalation hazards.