AAR Open Top Loading Rules

Publications

Rules ensuring the safe, uniform, and economical securement of commodities transported on open-top railcars.

Section 1 General Rules Governing Loading of Commodities on Open Top Cars.
Contains general rules and guidelines applicable to all commodities shipped on open top rail cars in interchange service. This includes procedures for open top load testing and rule changes, party responsibilities, minimum requirements, and guidance on setting up multicar and dimensional load shipments. Also included are lists of various approved tie-down and securement materials as well as specifications, performance standards, and test procedures for gaining product approval. This section is to be used in conjunction with Sections 2 through 7.

Section 2 Rules Governing Loading of Steel Products Including Pipe on Open Top Cars.
Contains approved loading figures (load patterns) with securement specifications for all steel products including unprocessed, structural, fabricated (except machinery), scrap, raw metals as well as steel and iron pipe. This section is to be used in conjunction with Section 1.

Section 3 Rules Governing Loading of Heavy Equipment, Vehicles, and Farm Machinery on Open Top Cars.
Contains approved loading figures (load patterns) with securement specifications and block patterns for farm equipment, vehicles, and machinery such as tractors, combines, heavy equipment, and other implements used in road grading/making, excavating, etc. This section is to be used in conjunction with Section 1.

Section 4 Archived Rules and Figures from Sections 1 through 7.
The intent for this new section 4 is that it be used as a reference document by AAR Open Top Loading Committee
members. Figures in this section have been withdrawn by the Committee from their original section for various reasons,
such as unsafe, no longer applicable because of car structure, etc. These figures are no longer intended for publication,
unless reinstated by the Committee.

Section 5 Rules Governing Loading of Forest Products, Including Miscellaneous Building Materials, on Open Top Cars.
Contains approved loading figures (load patterns) with securement specifications for wood commodities like lumber, logs, poles, pulpwood, certain panel products, and fabricated products such as laminated beams, veneer lumber, etc. Also included are miscellaneous building materials such as gypsum, hardboard, cellulose board, and styrene sheets. This section is to be used in conjunction with Section 1.

The Open Top Loading Rules are Maintained by the [kw term = "otlr-committee"]OTLR Committe[/kw]