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Safety Guidelines and Regulations

Loading Rules & Instructions

Help us meet your transportation requirements for safe, damage-free shipping and follow our equipment loading rules.

For the latest updates and standards visit the AAR website.

Intermodal Rules

Here are some additional documents:

CN 6800 - For the acceptance and restrictions of intermodal traffic, including:

Acceptance of containers
Traffic restrictions
Coiled Metal Products:
Dangerous Goods / Hazardous Materials
Restricted commodities

CN Tariff 9100 – Optional services and associated costs

AAR Intermodal Loading Guide (PDF) – Information and load plans for intermodal containers, accepted by all class 1 railways.

Load Plan Request - General (PDF) – Submit a custom load plan request to CN's Damage Prevention team.

Open Top Loading Rules

See all open top Loading Rules

Change to Section 1 of AAR Open Top Loading Rules: Welding - Circular C-11462, Rule 14 - July, 2011 (PDF)

Open Top Loading Rules: Break Wheel Clearances - Circular C-10477 (PDF)

New Sections 1 and 7 Open Top Loading Rules Manuals (PDF)

Change to Section 1 of AAR Open Top Loading Rules: Overhang Load - Circular C-11461, Rule 29 - July, 2011 (PDF)

Seal-joint banding used when loading open top railcars - October 1, 2008

Open top winter loading rules (Applicable November 1st - March 1st)

Request for Railroad Shippers Free Electronic Download of AAR OTLR Publications (PDF)

General Safety Guidelines (PDF)

Loading Instructions

Be safe, take a look at our loading instructions

Loading Instructions - Bulkhead Flat Cars - Strap Stowage and Tie Down (PDF)

Loading Instructions - Centerbeam Cars - Securing Cables (PDF)

AAR Damage Prevention Publications

Load plan request - General (PDF)

AAR Best Practices for Loading of Roll Paper

New Policy for Riser Use with Roll Paper

Riser User Policy 01 June 2013 (PDF)

AAR Damage Prevention Publications

New AAR Loading Rules for Packaged Lumber And Centerbeam Cars

See the new AAR Loading Rules for Packaged Lumber And Centerbeam Cars – Circular C-10355.

For safety reasons, the Association of America Railroads (AAR) has revised loading rules for loading lumber products on centerbeam railcars. For more information:

AAR circular C-10355 on Figure 54 changes (PDF)

Compression Package Band – Detail A (PDF)

Compression Package Band – Detail B (PDF)

AAR General Carload Rules - Commodities in Closed Cars

See rule 5 of AAR Circular No.42-K.

Rule 5 of AAR Circular No. 42-K (PDF)

AAR Damage Prevention Publications

Load plan request - General (PDF)

Videos

Proper Operating of Boxcar Doors*

Spotting Damaged Boxcar Doors*

Boxcar Loading and Unloading Practices*

*Some of our animated videos cover the safe operation of boxcar doors. The loading practices depicted in these animations are an artist’s conception and are not suitable for safe freight loading and should not be practiced.

Flexitank Shipping Requirements and Approved Manufacturers

Flexitank approved manufacturers:

- EPT (Environmental Packaging Technologies)

- DHL Flexitanks

- SIA Flexitanks

Commodity Request Form for Flexitanks