The AAR-affiliated technology company that provides information technology services and data standards for the North American rail industry, including the UMLER equipment registry, the Centralized Station Master location database, Jettison EDI translation, and the car location network. Railinc is the central data utility connecting railroads, shippers, and service providers. It maintains the authoritative registry of rail equipment and industry codes.
The principal trade and standard-setting organization for the major freight and passenger railroads in North America. The AAR develops and publishes interchange rules, equipment standards, safety standards, and technical specifications that govern how railroads interact with each other. Membership includes Class I railroads, Amtrak, and many regional and short line railroads.
The industry-wide AAR/Railinc database that contains the specifications, ownership, and operational characteristics of every freight car and locomotive registered in North America. UMLER records are used to validate equipment in EDI transactions, calculate car hire, and support equipment management. Accurate UMLER data is required for a car to move legally over another railroad.
The computer-to-computer exchange of standardized business documents between railroads, shippers, and logistics providers using ANSI X12 transaction sets. Common rail EDI transactions include the 404 (rail shipment), 410 (freight invoice), 417 (rate inquiry), and 418 (rate reply). EDI is the foundational data exchange standard for the North American rail industry.
A system of passive RFID tags mounted on every railcar and locomotive and read by wayside readers at strategic locations throughout the network, automatically recording the car number, direction, and time of passage. AEI data is the backbone of real-time car location and train tracking for both operational and customer visibility purposes. The system was mandated by the FRA and deployed network-wide in the 1990s.
The process of locating a specific railcar by querying the railroad's information system or the industry-wide Railinc car location network. Car traces provide current location, status, and estimated arrival information. Shippers use car traces to plan unloading schedules and manage inventory.