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TTCI Support for AAR Technical Committees

TTCI provides technical and administrative support to AAR’s committee structure. These committees of industry experts are responsible for the development and maintenance of industry standards. The committees include railroad and nonrailroad experts in the areas of quality assurance, locomotives, intermodal equipment, open top loading, freight car design, freight car truck systems, railway electronics, and freight and locomotive braking systems. With the exception of the Intermodal Car Performance Sub Committee, which falls within the AAR Network Efficiency Management Committee Structure and is not shown, TTCI managed AAR committees are shown below.

Each staff member manages at least one committee and is responsible for:

Scheduling of meetings, preparation of agendas and minutes, handling of correspondence, and implementing actions taken by the committee.
Handling, on behalf of the AAR, all inquiries related to the subject matter under the purview of the assigned AAR committee, as well as all applications for approval of facilities and components under his or her area of responsibility.
Maintaining several sections of the AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, including editing and preparation of technical content.
Interpreting technical specifications and serving as a liaison to railroad officials, railway supply representatives, other rail industry associations, and federal regulatory agencies.
Reviewing and advancing all requests for AAR approval of components under the purview of the assigned committee in accordance with AAR requirements, maintaining records of such actions.

Some specifics of each Technical Committee supported by TTCI are given below. For questions or comments concerning the following AAR committees and publications, click on the appropriate links. In addition to the email links below, click here for more contact information to reach TTCI Technical Standards Staff.

Chief, Technical Standards and Inspections For general questions about the AAR, TTCI’s Technical Standards Department and supporting role to the AAR, the AAR Manual of Standards & Recommended Practices, standards interpretations, or for technical certification of various freight car components contact the Chief, Technical Standards and Inspections by emailing your questions to techstds@aar.com.

AAR Mechanical Publications For information about the sales and distribution of AAR Circular Letters, Field Manual and Office Manual Interchange Rules, AAR Manuals of Standards and Recommended Practices, and the Scale Handbook, please email our TTCI Publications Specialist at pubs@aar.com. For publications detail and descriptions visit our publications page.

Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC) This committee developments and monitors the design and operation standards for freight cars and their components. It also serves as the oversight committee for the operations of the AAR’s Braking Systems Committee, Wheels, Axles, Bearings & Lubrication Committee, Coupling System & Truck Castings Committee, and Specially Equipped Freight Car Committee. The EEC Committee Manager can answer questions concerning design and construction of freight cars, increased gross rail load, technical certification of new car builders, freight car performance issues, extended service cars, freight car rebuilds and modifications, and draft gear/cushion units. To contact the EEC Committee Manager email eec@aar.com.

Coupling System and Truck Castings Committee (CSTCC) This committee developments and monitors the specifications and processes for casting freight car components, including problem resolution to casting problems which arise. The CSTCC committee manager can answer questions concerning design and manufacturing of coupler, side frame and bolster castings, casting design and testing approval, foundry approval, reconditioner approval, and freight car and castings fatigue. To contact the CSTCC Committee Manager email cstcc@aar.com.

AAR Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) The QAC’s mission is to improve component reliability and durability with the goal of enhancing the safety and operational integrity of interchange freight cars and to reduce the overall cost of equipment maintenance by assuring that both new and reconditioned mechanical components conform to established AAR specifications. The QAC Committee Manager can answer questions concerning AAR's Industry Quality Assurance Program including, auditor accreditation, facility certification, material rejection reporting. To contact the QAC Committee Manager email qa@aar.com.

Additional information about AAR's QA program can be found within the following links:

Braking Systems Committee (BSC) It is the responsibility of the BSC to establish, improve and maintain brake system interchange standards and rules, and to certify and monitor the performance of new brake system equipment. The Braking Systems Committee Manager can answer questions concerning freight car air brake component issues including cable based electronic pneumatic braking systems. To contact the BSC Committee Manager email brakes@aar.com

Wheels, Axles, Bearings, and Lubrication Committee (WABL) The WABL Committee's mission is to establish, improve, and maintain wheel, axle, bearing and lubrication system interchange standards and rules, and to certify and monitor the performance of new equipment. To contact the WABL Committee Manager email wabl@aar.com.

Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) Providing rules that ensure the safe, uniform, and economical securement of commodities transported on open-top railcars for the benefit of the rail industry, their shipping customers, and the general public is the responsibility of the OTLRC. To contact the OTLR Committee Manager email otlr@aar.com.

Locomotive Committee (LC) The LC’s mission is to establish, improve, and maintain locomotive standards and rules. This committee develops and maintains standards, specifications, and recommended practices in Section M, Locomotives and Locomotive Equipment, of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices. These standards, specifications, and recommended practices are for the purpose of safety and interoperability. To contact the LC Committee Manager email loco@ttci.aar.com.

Railway Electronics Task Force (RETF) Establishing, improving and maintaining the railway electronics standards and rules is the responsibility of the RETF. This Task Force supports the railroads in developing and maintaining electronics standards and specifications, used to design and build electronics and other systems, and components for railroads. To contact the RETF Committee Manager email electronics@ttci.aar.com.

Intermodal Car Performance Sub Committee (ICPSC) The ICPSC develops and monitors the specifications and processes for intermodal freight car components, hitches, containers and trailers. To contact the ICPSC Committee Manager email imodal@aar.com.

Transportation Technology Center, Inc.

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