Class 1's = Bigger railroads that span across the continent. (UP, BNSF, CPKC, NS, CPRS, CN & CSXT). These railroads have an annual carrier operating revenue of $250 Million.
Watco is considered a "Short Line."
ICR (Inbound) = Inbound cars from the Class 1 tracks to our tracks. Other: Receive, bring online
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
ICH (Outbound) = Deliver cars from our tracks to the Class 1 tracks. Other: hand off, outbound
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
Most generally cars are received and delivered to the Class 1; however, we do interchange railcars between the SKOL, SLWC and KO as well.
RWC (Repetitive Waybill Code): RWC are used for inbounds, outbounds, haulage and online locals. These are "codes" that are shorthand for what customer will be receiving the railcar. This information affects both our billing team and our crews.
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
BLOCKING = Address to where the car is going. The blocking hits when the RWC is partial seed and saved to the waybill.
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MOVES
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
PCO (Constructive Placement) The clock that charges the customer ($$) starts once this car is received and placed in PCO. This move is applied when the customer DOES need the car but doesn't have room or storage space for it. This allows us to get paid while "holding" the car until it is ordered in.
RCP (Remove from Constructive Placement (PCO)) This stops the clock ($$), so the customer doesn't get charged any longer.
PAC (Placed at Customer) The clock ($$) stops, and new charges begin. Cars are SPOTTED or PLACED at the customer track. They now have possession and can keep this car for as long as they need to get it loaded or emptied.
RMT (Released Empty) Customer has unloaded this car, and the system auto populates a reverse route billing/outbound billing. Cars should block up to the Class 1.
RLO (Released Loaded) Customer has loaded this car and submitted outbound billing. Cars should block up to the Class 1.
STA (Storage) Most of these moves are auto triggered, but we do NOT place cars in storage, only the storage team does this.
HRE (Release from storage) This car is either going to the customer or going back outbound per storage billing. This move is also done by our storage team.
RYD = Wheel move within the SAME station different track.
ARI = Wheel move from DIFFERENT station and track.
BLG (Bad Order) Car needs to be repaired. (Example: Hole in the floor of a car, please bad order)
This move will be different than the rest. Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
BFR (Remove from Bad Order) This is a release from bad order. Follow the BLG process as it shows you how to release.
ITS (Inter-plant Switch) Based on customer request to move cars from one track to another track within the switching limits of that station or industrial switching district on the same railroad (could be different stations).
IPS (Intra-plant Switch) Based on customer request to move cars from one spot to another spot on the same track or to a different siding within the plant.
ZIH/ZIR (Soft Interchange) = Crews can soft interchange Deliver (ZIH) certain railcars on their lines TO the SHOP for repairs. Some cars will need to be Soft Interchange Receive (ZIR) FROM the SHOP so we can deliver them off to the Class 1.
Link to process:Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
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Types of Billing
How to read a waybill process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
417 (Good Quality Billing) Full waybill. Shows green in the system.
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
418 (Not so great) This billing is just a "copy" of the good 417 that was auto send in the 418 consist by the Class 1 so the crews have a general list of cars they are receiving. This billing tend to be missing important components like consignee info, destination, BL #, etc. This happens when the 417 doesn't transmit. Empty 418 is okay to use, loaded 418 NOT OKAY for our ISS roads. You will need to call the Class 1 and ask for a 417.
ISS ROADS: The Interline Settlement System® (ISS) is the only centralized process to negotiate and agree upon the sharing of revenue generated for a movement when two or more railroads are involved in a shipment’s route. Everyone gets paid, so receiving and sending EDI's and having good 417 billing is EXTREMELY important.
Here are those roads:
AA
BHRR
DREI
GDLK
GOGR
LBWR
RWRR
SKOL
VESO
WSOR
419 = Used on Outbound billing, when triggered it sends the Class 1 blocking instructions based on the billing. Some railroads (EIRR & FOXY) require we send the 419 EDI to the UP and CN so the interchange junction can be updated. This will update your blocking on your waybill. Picture a tree. The 420 received back when a 419 is sent tells the crew which branch on the tree this car is going out on. This helps with how they build the train and line up the cars.
420 = This is what is received back after triggering a 419 to the Class 1. This will only apply to outbound cars. The 419 sent about updated the blocking to CNKIRK which is a specific junction. This allows our crews to cut cars out and pair them with similar cars as they build their outbound trains.
404 = Good outbound billing received from the customer after the car has been released to go to the Class 1.
EDI/Advance = Advance is the "electronic" billing version of this list. When you call/email a Class 1 you will request an Advance for the cars needed, this will trigger a consist to hit our system as an inbound consist/list. OFFLINE.
Switch List = You can build a switch list with cars that are ONLINE, then you can email the crews that list of cars. It contains all the hazmat information and weight information.
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
Consist = A list of outbound cars can also be called a consist.
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Types of Cars
Fleet = WATCO owned & leased cars. These tend to be the grain trains. The Fleet team will submit ZOR moves on cars which is a Car Order.
Manifest = Inbound/Outbound Train with multiple cars that include multiple customers.
Unit Train = Inbound/Outbound Train and all cars are going to the exact same place. (Grain, Coal, Etc.)
Storage Battery Cars = Seasonal Storage (Class 1 has us store cars with Batteries in it until they need it)
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Billing
EDI (Electronic data interchange) = Electronic billing that we can send to the Class 1. Instead of delivering the car offline, you can just transmit billing, so they have it before they arrive for interchange, so they know what cars they are picking up. This is call called sending a 418.
Sending an Offer (OFR) = This is asking the Class 1 if they can take cars from us. This is also called a Rule 15.
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Car status' in the Waybill
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
Status indicators help our billing team with charges associated to that railcar. When we apply certain RWC, a status indicator will auto apply.
SB = Setback (Car was received in error, did not make its destination, etc.)
CM = Company Material (Car is transporting materials that will be used on that specific railroad, not for our customers.
SC = Scrap (Car is transporting scrap material, sometimes company scrap material)
RJ = Reject (Car was received damaged or the wrong type of car)
NU = Order Not Used (customer ordered the car but didn't have space for it or decided not to use it, wrong cut, etc.) This is applied when rejected by the customer.
RWC Types
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
RWC Status = You can select a specific RWC to update the blocking on a car.
You do not have to apply an RWC to update the Waybill Status indicator. These are two separate entities that work hand in hand but do not have to always be applied together. It's how our billing indicates the purpose of each car.
Haulage Car = Also known as Bridge Move. RWC Type that indicates that we are a handling carrier from one Class 1 to another. Not all of our Railroads offer Haulage routes.
RWC Type:
1 = Inbound (From Class 1 to WATCO)
2 = Outbound (From WATCO to Class 1)
3 = Online/Local (From WATCO to WATCO) Example: SLWC to SKOL
4 = Bridge/Haulage (From Class 1 to WATCO to Class 1)
L/E = Load or Empty
From Road = Inbound/Class 1 or Outbound/WATCO RR
To Road = Inbound/Watco RR or Outbound/Class 1
Destination can be found on the primary page of the Waybill.
Origin can be found on the primary page of the Waybill.
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PAC BACK and BLUE FLAGS
Link to process: Helpdesk : Watco | Customer Service
PAC Back = This is when the crews cannot pull cars from the customer, so we delete the released move and place this car back on the customer.
Blue Flags = Are literal BLUE FLAGS out on tracks when cars are in the customers possession when men or equipment are working in or around the cars in the track. If these flags do not get removed, crew members CANNOT pull these cars even if they are released and ready to go. Customer MUST pull these flags before crews will pull. This will result in a PAC Back or Charges to the customer.