Regulations Due to the constantly changing nature of government information, it is impossible to guarantee absolute accuracy of the material contained herein. The Publisher and Editors, therefore, cannot assume any responsibility for omissions, errors, misprinting, or ambiguity contained within this publication and shall not be held liable in any degree for any loss or injury caused by such omission, error, misprinting or ambiguity presented in this publication. This publication (program) is designed to provide a reasonably accurate and authoritative overview of information in regard to the subject matter covered. For the latest information on any or all regulations contact your corporate logistics department for the latest copy of:
29 CFR - OSHA 40 CFR - EPA 49 CFR - DOT	Field Manual of the AAR - Interchange Rules Office Manual of the AAR - Interchange Rules AAR Specifications for Tank Cars

Pre-Inspection

AAR Rule 1-CARE OF FREIGHT CARS

3. Disposition
e. Any leaking tank, regardless of commodity carried, shall have stenciled on each side adjacent to the car number in 3-inch high letters the words "LEAKING TANK, DO NOT LOAD UNTIL REPAIRED". Also the location of the leak must be stenciled with the
symbol "X".

AAR Rule 88-Mechanical Requirements for Acceptance.
A. At any time

4. Empty Cars
a. Not conforming to field manual Rule 88 or in an unsafe condition for movement, the receiving road to be the judge.

49 CFR Sec. 173.31 Use of tank cars. (a) General. (1) No person may offer a hazardous material for transportation in a tank car unless the tank car meets the applicable specification and packaging requirements of this sub chapter or, when this sub chapter authorizes the use of an non-DOT specification tank car, the applicable specification to which the tank was constructed.

49 CFR Sec173.31 ( b Loading & Shipping ) (1) Examination before Shipment. When Tank Cars are loaded and prior to shipping, the shipper must determine to the extent practicable , that the tank, safety appurtenances and fittings are in proper condition for the safe transportation of the lading.

49CFRSec. 173.1 Purpose and scope. (a) This part includes: (1) Definitions of hazardous materials for transportation purposes; (2) Requirements to be observed in preparing hazardous materials for shipment by air, highway, rail, or water, or any combination thereof; and (3) Inspection, testing, and retesting responsibilities for persons who retest, recondition, maintain, repair and rebuild containers used or intended for use in the transportation of hazardous materials. (b) A shipment of hazardous materials that is not prepared in accordance with this subchapter may not be offered for transportation by air, highway, rail, or water. It is the responsibility of each hazmat employer subject to the requirements of this subchapter to ensure that each hazmat employee is trained in accordance with the requirements prescribed in this subchapter. It is the duty of each person who offers hazardous materials for transportation to instruct each of his officers, agents, and employees having any responsibility for preparing hazardous materials for shipment as to applicable regulations in this subchapter. (c) When a person other than the person preparing a hazardous material for shipment performs a function required by this part, that person shall perform the function in accordance with this part.

49 CFR Sec 174.8 Inspection ( b) At any point where a train is required to be inspected ,each loaded placarded tank car and each rail car adjacent therto must be inspected . The cars may continue in transit only when the inspection indicates that the tank cars are in a safe condition for transportation.

49CFRSec. 174.24 Shipping papers. A person may not accept or transport a hazardous material by rail unless that person receives a shipping paper that properly conveys the information required by part 172 of this subchapter. Only an initial carrier within the United States must receive and retain a copy of the shipper's certification as required by Sec. 172.204 of this subchapter. This section does not apply to a material that is excepted from shipping paper requirements as specified in Sec. 172.200 of this subchapter. [Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 28677, June 5, 1996, as amended by Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 50255, Sept. 25, 1996]

49CFRSec. 174.67 Tank car unloading. (a) In unloading tank cars, the following rules must be observed (see subpart F of this part for gases): [[Page 603]] (1) Unloading operations must be performed only by reliable persons properly instructed in unloading hazardous materials and made responsible for careful compliance with this part. (4) Before a manhole cover or outlet valve cap is removed from a tank car, the car must be relieved of all interior pressure by cooling the tank with water or by venting the tank by raising the safety valve or opening the dome vent at short intervals. However, if venting to relieve pressure will cause a dangerous amount of vapor to collect outside the car, venting and unloading must be deferred until the pressure is reduced by allowing the car to stand overnight or otherwise cooling the contents. These precautions are not necessary when the car is equipped with a manhole cover which hinges inward or with an inner manhole cover which does not have to be removed to unload the car, and when pressure is relieved by piping vapor into a condenser or storage tank.

49CFR174.67(i) Tank cars may not be allowed to stand with unloading connections attached after unloading is completed. Throughout the entire period of unloading, and while car is connected to unloading device, the car must be attended by the unloader. (j) If necessary to discontinue unloading a tank car for any reason, all unloading connections must be disconnected. All valves must first be tightly closed, and the closures of all other openings securely applied. (k) As soon as a tank car is completely unloaded, all valves must be made tight by the use of a bar, wrench or other suitable tool, the unloading connections must be removed and all other closures made tight.

Place " Blue Flag " Warning Sign

49CFRSec. 174.67 Tank car unloading. (a) In unloading tank cars, the following rules must be observed (see subpart F of this part for gases): [[Page 603]] (1) Unloading operations must be performed only by reliable persons properly instructed in unloading hazardous materials and made responsible for careful compliance with this part. (3) Caution signs must be so placed on the track or cars to give necessary warning to persons approaching the cars from the open end of a siding and must be left up until after the cars are unloaded and disconnected from the discharge connection. The signs must be of metal or other comparable material, at least 30 cm (12 inches) high by 38 cm (15 inches) wide in size, and bear the words, ``STOP--Tank Car Connected'', or ``STOP--Men at Work'', the word ``STOP'' being in letters at least 10 cm (3.9 inches) high and the other words in letters at least 5 cm (2 inches) high. The letters must be white on a blue background.

Lock Out Derailers or Track Switch ( s )

Set Hand Brake

49CFRSec. 174.67 Tank car unloading. (a) In unloading tank cars, the following rules must be observed (see subpart F of this part for gases): [[Page 603]] (1) Unloading operations must be performed only by reliable persons properly instructed in unloading hazardous materials and made responsible for careful compliance with this part. (2) Brakes must be set and wheels blocked on all cars being unloaded.

Chock Wheels

49CFRSec. 174.67 Tank car unloading. (a) In unloading tank cars, the following rules must be observed (see subpart F of this part for gases): [[Page 603]] (1) Unloading operations must be performed only by reliable persons properly instructed in unloading hazardous materials and made responsible for careful compliance with this part. (2) Brakes must be set and wheels blocked on all cars being unloaded.

Attach Grounding Wire if required

Check Safety Showers for Safe Operation

Prerequisites for Loading and Unloading Tank Cars

AAR Rule 88 - Mechanical Requirements for Acceptance.

A. At any time

1. Age
a. Cars built on or after 7/1/74 are limited to 50 years of service.
b. See rule 90 for additional age restrictions on other cars.

AAR Rule 88-Mechanical Requirements for Acceptance.

A. At any time

C. Acceptable in Interchange

1. Loaded or Empty
a. Cars of any age moving to dismantlers will be interchanged provided routing cards are marked "MOVING TO BE DISMANTLED PER AAR INTERCHANGE RULE 90" and provided all other interchange requirements are met.

AAR Rule 90 - Cars and/or car parts prohibited in interchange

A. Cars

1. Cars more than 40 years old as measured from the year of original construction except as otherwise provided for in rule 88.
a. In the case of tank cars with separate built dates for tank and underframe, the underframe built date will govern for determining prohibition in interchange.
b. Section 1a above will apply for both tank and underframe for AAR specification tank cars with separate built dates for tank and underframe.

AAR Rule 88-Mechanical Requirements for Acceptance.
A. At any time

C. Acceptable in Interchange

1. Loaded or Empty
a. Cars of any age moving to dismantlers will be interchanged provided routing cards are marked "MOVING TO BE DISMANTLED PER AAR INTERCHANGE RULE 90" and provided all other interchange requirements are met.

e. Any leaking tank, regardless of commodity carried, shall have stenciled on each side adjacent to the car number in 3-inch high letters the words "LEAKING TANK, DO NOT LOAD UNTIL REPAIRED". Also the location of the leak must be stenciled with the symbol "X".

49 CFR Sec173.31(3) No person may fill a tank car overdue for periodic inspection with a hazardous material and then offer it for transportation. Any tank car marked as meeting a DOT specification and any non-specification tank car transporting a hazardous material must have a periodic inspection and test conforming to Subpart F of Part 180 of this subchapter.