[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]


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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).

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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)
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    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