Operational Resources

  • AAR Circulars: Issued several times monthly, AAR Circulars provide subscribers with important administrative and technical information, including industry letter ballots and results, arbitration decisions, notification of rules and standards revisions, industry early warning and maintenance advisories, and other information related to mechanical rules and standards. Circulars are a fee-based service provided by MxV Rail, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the AAR. Contact [email protected] for more information.
  • AAR Industry Standards: MxV Rail manages and distributes AAR publications covering technical standards and quality assurance, mechanical inspection, AAR Interchange Rules, intermodal loading capabilities and the results of MxV Rail research.
  • AAR Embargo and Open & Prepay Station List (OPSL): AAR Embargoes and OPSL Notes serve as a temporary method for controlling traffic when the serving railroad perceives congestion or any other operational or physical impairment that warrants restrictions. 
  • AAR Radio Frequency Coordination: Recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports and orders regarding mandatory narrowband radio frequency migrations have resulted in mandatory licensing restrictions for railroads. MxV Rail helps railroads meet these FCC requirements while protecting the technical and regulatory integrity of railroad radio frequencies with state-of-the-art propagation and application-management software.
  • Intermodal Freight Form Js: A required report (per AAR Intermodal Interchange Rule 121) filled out during the interchange process, Form J-1 details container/trailer information, shipping information, drayage contractor, time of interchange and any damage to the unit. Form J-2 may accompany form J-1 to document any damage or loss for which the handling carrier is responsible.
  • Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): CFR is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Title 49 of CFR covers transportation.
  • U.S. Code: The U.S. Code is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It is divided by broad subjects into 50 titles and published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Title 45 of the U.S. Code covers railroads, and Title 49 covers transportation.
  • Worklife Expectancies of Railroad Workers: This monograph describes years of activity in railroad work by utilizing data from the Railroad Retirement Board’s Twenty-fifth Actuarial Valuation (2012). It can be utilized to address questions related to the average number of expected additional years in labor market activities of railroad employees.