Paint

Check the overall condition of the paint. If the tank car needs to be painted, notify your Corporate Logistics or Sales Department for additional information and guidance.

While paint is not a reason to reject a tank car for shipment, a poorly packaged product reflects badly on the quality process of your company. Paint is an item that should be kept in mind throughout the inspection.

Coupler bodies can not be painted as per AAR Rule 18 (E)6.

A good paint system should be used to ensure long term protection for the steel surfaces. The paint system should have excellent gloss and color retention. A contrasting color of the same paint system, such as black or white, should be used for the stenciling. Stencils which remain legible for as long as the paint system save time and money.

DOT 112-S and DOT 114-S tank cars in anhydrous ammonia service must be painted or cleaned every 5 years to functionally restore their white appearance. The year painted or cleaned must be stenciled on the tank car.

Tank cars that have not been properly maintained for paint quality
	This paint damage was caused by overflowing or leaking while loading or unloading the tank car. Spilling of product is totally unacceptable for proper containment.

	Although not a defect, this tank car should be painted for packaging quality. Does your preventive maintenance program address the issue of paint?
This tank car is in a shop for preventive maintenance. The paint was neglected for an extended period of time. Over time, an aesthetic issue became a maintenance issue. The paint not only looked bad but the tank was rusting as well. As a result of the rust, the tank car needed to fully sand blasted, primed, and painted. If attention was paid to the paint issue earlier, perhaps only a touchup paint job would be needed at this time. The cost would have been reduced by as much as two-thirds. Your inspection program and preventive maintenance programs should both address the issue of paint.
	This defect was caused by an overhead pipe or flange leaking. The tank car prefix and number need to be restored in order to ship the tank car.