[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 238 (Friday, December 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68436-68437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32948]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Proposed Revision to MTMC Freight Traffic Rules Publication No.
10, Item 350, ``Mileage Allowances''
AGENCY: Military Traffic management Command, DOD.
ACTION: Notice (Request for comments).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) as the
Department of Defense (DOD) Traffic Manager for surface and surface
intermodal traffic management services (DTR vol. 1, pg. 101-113),
intends to replace the entire text of the existing
[[Page 68437]]
rule entitled ``Mileage Allowances'' in MFTRP No. 10, Item 350, with
the proposed text herein. The purpose of the change is to ensure
appropriate reimbursement to DOD for the use of its freight cars by
commercial rail carriers.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 9, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Headquarters, Military Traffic
Management Command, ATTN: MTOP-TS, Room 608, 5611 Columbia Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-5050.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For additional information contact Mr. George Gounley at (201) 823-6283
or Mr. Jerome Colton at (703) 681-1417.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed effective date for the change
will be March 1, 1999 and will affect the reimbursement paid by
commercial rail carriers for the use of DOD's freight cars (except tank
cars). The purpose of the change is to ensure that DOD's maintenance
costs for its freight cars are adequately reimbursed by their users.
The current regulation reads: Mileage Allowances: The mileage
allowances set forth in Railroad Publication Services, Agent Tariff ICC
RPS 6007-series (PHJ Series) will be the minimum allowances accepted by
the Government from the railroads for use of Government owned rail
cars, except that mileage allowances for other than tank cars published
in Tariff ICC CR 9337 will apply for account Consolidated Rail
Corporation.
The proposed regulation will replace the current regulation in its
entirety with the following:
Item 350--Mileage Allowances
1. This item applies to all freight cars bearing the reporting
marks of the Department of Defense or of any of its services, including
but not limited to DODX, USAX, USA, USNX, USN, DAFX, USAF, hereinafter
``DOD freight cars.''
2. Whenever DOD freight cars are used by a carrier for a revenue
movement, such movement shall be considered a loaded movement (except
empty tank cars subject to excess empty tank car mileage computations
in accordance with the provisions of Agent's Freight Tariff, RPS 6007,
Item 187) and a mileage allowance shall be payable by the carrier to
DOD.
3. The mileage allowances specified in this item are based on
actual mileage. If specified in advance of the movement, the carrier
may choose to pay the mileage allowances based on short-line rail
mileage. In such cases, the minimum amount payable to DOD shall be the
relevant allowance shown in the table in paragraph 6 plus 30 percent.
4. The allowances specified in this item apply only to movements
for which the freight transportation rate specifies the use of DOD
freight cars. In all other cases, such as when the freight
transportation rate:
a. Specifies use of railroad-supplied cars, or
b. Specifies use of either railroad-supplied cars or DOD freight
cars, or
c. Fails to specify the ownership of the car to be used; and DOD
freight cars are actually used for the movement, the minimum allowances
payable shall be the time and mileage payments that would have applied
had non-deprescribed cars of the same type bearing railroad reporting
marks been used.
5. The mileage allowances specified in this item are to be
calculated on the basis of US dollars per mile, regardless of where the
mileage accumulated. Allowances not paid in US dollars will be paid
based on the exchange rate in effect at the close of the service month.
For example, the minimum allowance for a movement of DODX freight car
36000 traveling 200 miles in Canada shall be 200 US dollars, or 300
Canadian dollars assuming an exchange rate of US $1.00=$1.50 Canadian
dollars.
6. The minimum mileage allowances for DOD freight cars shall be as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum mileage allowance (US
For DOD freight cars dollars per actual mile) For
short-line miles, add 30%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DODX 900-905 (Caboose)................. $0.50
DODX 29500-29508 (Refrigerator Cars)... $1.00
DODX 36000-36006 (Two-platform $1.00
container flat car).
DODX 40000-40573 (Six-axle flat car)... $0.376
Tanks Cars (as defined in Agent's As listed in Agent's Freight
Freight Tariff, RPS 6007, Item 187). Tariff, RPS 6007, Item 187
All other DOD freight cars............. $0.065 per axle, Examples:
____________
(4-axle $0.26) (6-axle $0.39)
(8-axle $0.52) (12-axle $0.78)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Detailed car hire reports, as defined in the Railway Equipment
Register, Rule 3.B.1, in the format specified by the Code of Car Hire
Rules, Appendices G and I, shall be sent to: Military Traffic
Management Command, Deployment Support Command, ATTN: MTDC-RF, Fort
Eustis, VA 23604-5000.
8. Mileage allowances shall be paid by check payable to ``DFAS-OM/
ACT'' and sent to: DFAS-OM/ACT, ATTN: DBOF-T, PO Box 7050, Bellevue, NE
68005-1950.
(If a carrier's preferred practice is to mail the check and the car
hire report in the same envelope, the MTMC address in paragraph 7
should be used for the combined mailing.)
Francis A. Galluzzo,
ADCOPS, Transportation Services.
[FR Doc. 98-32948 Filed 12-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M