RR-11 RR-11-10-01 — Cross-Border Interchange and Customs (Mexico/Canada gateways)
This process manages the cross-border interchange and customs clearance of freight cars between US Class I railroads and their international counterparts in Mexico and Canada. It ensures compliance with AAR Interchange Rules and relevant regulations while optimizing equipment utilization and minimizing delays.
🗺 BPMN Process Flow
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📋 Process Attributes
| Process ID | RR-11-10-01 |
|---|---|
| Domain Family | NETWORK & PLANNING |
| L1 Domain | Interline, Equipment & Car Management |
| L2 Process Group | Cross-Border Interchange and Customs (Mexico/Canada gateways) |
| Trigger | Arrival of inbound trains at the Mexico/Canada border gateways |
| Outcome | Successful customs clearance, interline settlement, and dispatch of outbound trains with accurate documentation and timely processing. |
| Systems | NetControl I-ETMS CHARM TRAIN II EHMS ISS |
| Regulatory Hooks | 49 CFR Part 232 AAR Interchange Rules |
📋 L4 Process Steps
| Step | Name | Role | System | Input | Output | KPI | Pain Point / Risk | Decision? | Exception? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Train Arrival Notification | Train Dispatcher | NetControl | Train arrival notification from the border crossing | Updated train schedule in NetControl | Notification received within 5 minutes of actual arrival | Delayed notifications affecting subsequent operations | N | Y |
| 1.2 | Customs Clearance Initiation | Car Hire / Interline Settlement Analyst | CHARM, TRAIN II | Train manifest and customs documents | Customs clearance request submitted to border authorities | Customs clearance initiated within 30 minutes of train arrival | Inaccurate documentation leading to delays | Y | N |
| 1.3 | Border Crossing Approval | Train Dispatcher | NetControl, I-ETMS | Customs clearance approval from border authorities | Updated train schedule in NetControl and I-ETMS | Crossing approved within 1 hour of customs clearance | Delays due to border crossing issues | N | Y |
| 1.4 | Equipment Inspection | Car Inspector (Carman) | EHMS, Wabtrax | Train manifest and equipment status | Inspection report with any defects noted | 100% of cars inspected within 2 hours of arrival | Undetected equipment issues causing derailments | Y | N |
| 1.5 | Defect Resolution | Equipment Registration / Umler Data Analyst | EHMS, Umler | Inspection report with defects | Repair order and updated equipment status in EHMS | 95% of defects resolved within 24 hours | Delayed repairs affecting train schedules | Y | N |
| 1.6 | Train Departure Preparation | Train Dispatcher | NetControl, I-ETMS | Updated equipment status and repair completion | Departure notification to border authorities | Train departure prepared within 4 hours of defect resolution | Inadequate preparation leading to delays | N | Y |
| 1.7 | Interline Settlement Data Exchange | Car Hire / Interline Settlement Analyst | ISS, CHDX | Train manifest and equipment status | Settlement data exchanged with international counterpart | 100% of settlement data exchanged within 24 hours | Data discrepancies causing financial disputes | Y | N |
| 1.8 | Final Train Departure | Train Dispatcher | NetControl, I-ETMS | Departure approval from border authorities | Train departed with updated schedule in NetControl and I-ETMS | Train departs within 1 hour of final preparation | Delays due to last-minute issues | N | Y |
| 1.9 | Post-Departure Monitoring | Train Dispatcher | NetControl, I-ETMS | Train status updates from the road | Updated train schedule and status in NetControl and I-ETMS | 100% of trains monitored for 24 hours post-departure | Undetected issues causing delays or derailments | Y | N |
| 1.10 | End-of-Day Report Generation | Car Hire / Interline Settlement Analyst | CHARM, TRAIN II | Day's operations data | Daily report on operations and compliance | Report generated within 1 hour of end-of-day | Delayed reporting affecting decision-making | N | Y |
| 1.11 | Regulatory Compliance Review | Equipment Registration / Umler Data Analyst | EHMS, Umler | Daily report and compliance data | Compliance review report with any non-compliances noted | 100% of regulatory compliance reviewed daily | Non-compliance issues leading to fines or penalties | Y | N |
| 1.12 | Continuous Improvement Planning | VP Network Planning & Operations | NetControl, I-ETMS | Compliance review report and operations data | Improvement plan for identified areas | 10% reduction in operational delays within 6 months | Lack of continuous improvement leading to inefficiencies | Y | N |
📊 KPIs & Risk Register
KPIs
Customs clearance initiated within 30 minutes of train arrival Crossing approved within 1 hour of customs clearance 100% of cars inspected within 2 hours of arrival 95% of defects resolved within 24 hours Train departure prepared within 4 hours of defect resolution 100% of settlement data exchanged within 24 hours Train departs within 1 hour of final preparation 100% of trains monitored for 24 hours post-departure Report generated within 1 hour of end-of-day 10% reduction in operational delays within 6 months
Key Risks
Air brake test defect released to the road Non-compliance with AAR Interchange Rules leading to fines Inaccurate documentation causing customs delays Equipment defects not detected leading to derailments Delayed repairs affecting train schedules
Swim Lanes
Train Dispatcher · 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9 Car Hire / Interline Settlement Analyst · 1.2, 1.7, 1.10 Car Inspector (Carman) · 1.4 Equipment Registration / Umler Data Analyst · 1.5, 1.11 VP Network Planning & Operations · 1.12