Association of American Railroads

Logo of the Association of American Railroads.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America (Canada, Mexico and the United States). Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members. Smaller freight railroads are represented by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), although some smaller railroads and railroad holding companies are also members of the Association of American Railroads.

Creation

AAR was created October 12, 1934 by the merger of five industry-related groups:

• the American Railway Association,
• the Association of Railway Executives,
• the Bureau of Railroad Economics,
• the Railway Accounting Officers Association, and
• the Railway Treasury Officers Association.

Facilities

The AAR is headquartered in Washington, DC. Its information technology subsidiary, Railinc, is based in Cary, North Carolina. Another subsidiary, the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), operates and maintains the Transportation Technology Center, a 52-square-mile (130 km²) facility 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Pueblo, Colorado, that is owned by the United States Department of Transportation. The facility is under a care, custody and control contract with the Federal Railroad Administration. TTCI has an array of specialized testing facilities and tracks. The site enables testing of freight and passenger rolling stock, vehicle and track components, and safety devices.^[1]

Functions

Where appropriate, the AAR represents its members' interests to the public at large and to Congress and government regulators in particular. The AAR works to improve the efficiency, safety and service of the railroad industry, such as through its responsibility for the industry's interchange rules and equipment specifications, e.g. for locomotive multiple unit control ^[2].

One of the AAR's duties is to oversee the assignment of reporting marks – two to four letter codes that uniquely identify the owner of any piece of railroad rolling stock or intermodal freight transport equipment (trailers, semi-trailers, containers, etc.) that can be carried on a railroad.

Personnel

The current president of AAR is Edward R. Hamberger.^[3]

References

External links

• Association of American Railroads website
• Railinc
• Transportation Technology Center
• Association of American Railroads (AAR) Reporting Marks

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