Tiedown Handbook For Rail Movements - SDDCTEA - U.S. Army

SIXTH EDITION SDDCTEA PAMPHLET 55-19
Section II. Wheeled Vehicles
All wheeled vehicles must have their tires fully inflated to highway pressure for rail
transport. The tires must be capable of holding that pressure for at least the length of the
trip. Tires are a part of the securement of the vehicle in that, if a tire goes flat, it will leave
the tiedowns loose. Also, flat tires have started fires on moving trains by rubbing on the
flatcar deck.
A. TRAILERS AND SEMITRAILERS
Most units prefer to transport trailers attached to their prime mover as shown in
appendix A (pp. A-8 and A-9). This minimizes the loading and unloading time and
generally simplifies the tiedown procedure by eliminating any blocking required to support
the lunette or kingpin. Semitrailer landing legs cannot bear the shock of rail movement and
must be raised at least 4 inches above the deck of the flatcar.
Semitrailers that do not have dedicated prime movers can be shipped on specialized
flatcars with retractable hitches or stanchions (p. A-10). The entire restraint is provided by
the hitch being locked on the semitrailer kingpin. This method of loading is called traileron-flatcar
(TOFC). The hitches can only accommodate 2-inch kingpins and semitrailer
gross weights up to 65,000 pounds. Trailers shipped by TOFC must meet AAR
specification M-931, “Highway Trailers, All Types, for TOFC Service.” Trailers meeting
the latest version of M-931, 1 May 1999, will have a “certification plate” adjacent to the
DOT certification label. Some semitrailers can exceed the weight limit and may have 3-1
/2-inch kingpins, and thus, cannot be shipped by TOFC.
The M969A2, M969A3, and the M967A2 are the only semitrailer tankers that are
capable of rail transport loaded with fuel. Shipment of tankers by TOFC with fuel
requires special permission from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through
MTMC Operations.
B. VEHICLES ON BI-LEVEL FLATCARS
Bi-level flatcars may be used for smaller vehicles. The tiedown procedure is the same
as for single-deck chain-tiedown flatcars. The types of chain assemblies on bi-level flatcars
vary widely. Your local railroad can provide details about the chain assemblies on and the
dimensions of bi-level flatcars. Before using bi-level flatcars, check their dimensions to
be sure sufficient clearance exists for the driver to get into or out of the vehicle after the
vehicle is loaded on the flatcar. Also, make certain your destination has ramps to unload the
cars you use. When you order bi-level flatcars make certain that the railroad knows they will
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