Maintenance
Car Repair History
RipTrack 2 is an internet based system that is a repository of all Car Repair Billing information from both railroad (AAR) and contract shop repairs. The system allows for the import of Car Repair Billing in the 500 byte format both from Railinc Data Exchange and billing files from contract shops.
Audits
The RipTrack 2 system performs audits of the Car Repair Billing based on the criteria that the user defines. The audit will look for duplicate repairs, adherence to the AAR Pricemaster, check that contract shops issue billing using the correct labor rate, and assure that jacking charges are applied correctly and other audits.
Counter Billing/ Data Exchange
Once the audit identifies exceptions, the RipTrack 2 system has the tools that will allow the user to file for Counter Billing Authority to the billing road, re-bill 3rd parties if desired, and file for payment for DV railcars and JIC or Defect Card rebuttal billing. All the information required can be sent through the Data Exchange process as defined in AAR Rule 112.
Mileage
The mileage generated on railcars and miles by state that are reported on the Data Exchange Car Hire files can be imported into RipTrack 2. This will allow the user to “marry” up the repairs to the mileage for measurement of component life and performance. The miles by state are collected and the reports can be used in the preparation of Ad Valorum tax returns yearly.
Reports
The user has access to standard maintenance reports in RipTrack 2. The reports will provide maintenance information, including summary and detail of costs by car and component, AAR vs. Contract Shop billing, frequency and location of repair work by railroad location, identification of customer cars generating the highest maintenance expenses among other reports. The user also has the ability to create ad –hoc reports using the reporting query capability and powerful searching tools supplied as part of RipTrack 2.
EHMS
As part of the RipTrack 2 system the alerts from Railinc’s EHMS (Equipment Health Management System) are available. All these alerts are visible to the user and information from car repair history is matched up and displayed so that the user can see when the last renewal of a wheel set has occurred. The EHMS module also has an exposure report so that the user can see the dollars that should be allocated to maintain their fleet under the EHMS alerts.
DetectorTrack
DetectorTrack is a module within RipTrack 2 that allows the user, if they desire, to obtain all the wayside detector readings from InteRRIS (TTCI) and have that data forwarded to DTETS for import. DetectorTrack will allow the user to manage and view all the detector data from InteRRIS based on train set, range of readings, groups of railcars and other categories to make the use and management of that data easier in making decisions that will affect the maintenance planning for the fleet. Other reporting capabilities include the ability to access information on detector readings based on train consists as indicated by TTCI train identifiers and charts that include daily detector reports by individual railcar and axle including a twelve month rolling history.
Railcar Maintenance Management Services
DTETS offers a full range of proactive services
Develop Maintenance Standard and Scope
DTETS will work with customer to develop a Maintenance Standard and Scope of Work for their fleet.
Outline Distribution Pattern
DTETS will review customer distribution patterns, plant locations and major routes for the purpose of evaluating the optimal locations for Contract Shops.
Set up and Manage Shop Network
DTETS will evaluate Contract Shops on customer’s major routes to support Bad Orders enroute and to conduct periodic inspections and Scheduled Maintenance of customer cars, as required. DTETS will recommend shops based on the best combination of location, price, terms, transportation and quality experience with customer car type. If requested by customer, DTETS will periodically make audit inspection visits to Contract Shops to verify that their standards continue to meet customer requirements.
Scheduled Maintenance Plan
DTETS will develop and implement a Scheduled Maintenance Plan (“SM Plan”) designed to minimize the cost of repairs on customer cars. This will consist of coordinating the maintenance work required with the Maintenance Standard, Scope of Work and the Maintenance Schedule. DTETS will communicate with the Contract Shops and will discuss any necessary changes in the SM Plan with the customer.
Shop Routing
DTETS will route customer cars to the designated Contract Shop per the SM Plan. DTETS will trace and expedite the cars enroute to and from Contract Shops and while in Contract Shops.
Maintenance Cost Analysis
DTETS will monitor the maintenance history for each of the customer cars and will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to identify specific maintenance problems including problem cars, locations and components. As appropriate, DTETS will supply customer with periodic analyses on maintenance problems with recommendation for potential revisions to the SM Plan or other actions to correct the problem.
Manage Warranties
DTETS will manage all warranty work on customer cars, file warranty claims and will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to obtain warranties on work in progress and report this activity to customer.
Maintenance Budgets
DTETS will work with customer to prepare maintenance budgets each year based on usage information supplied by customer.
Emergency Repairs, Derailments and Wrecks
Upon notification of an emergency situation, DTETS will provide to customer detailed information about the incident. DTETS will arrange for an assessment of damage to affected customer cars, including a listing of damaged railcars by car number, damage description, estimate of repair expenses and duration of repairs, and a comparison of the depreciated value versus estimated repair expenses. DTETS will prepare and file an AAR Rule 107 DV report and a Joint Inspection Certificate, where appropriate, and will monitor the progress of the damage claim.