49 C.F.R. PART 1220—PRESERVATION OF RECORDS


Title 49 - Transportation


Title 49: Transportation

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PART 1220—PRESERVATION OF RECORDS

Section Contents
§ 1220.0   Applicability.
§ 1220.1   Records required to be retained.
§ 1220.2   Protection and storage of records.
§ 1220.3   Preservation of records.
§ 1220.4   Companies going out of business.
§ 1220.5   Waiver of requirements of these regulations.
§ 1220.6   Schedule of records and periods of retention.


Authority:  49 U.S.C. 721, 11144, 11145.

Source:  50 FR 10775, Mar. 18, 1985; 51 FR 22083, June 18, 1986, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1220.0   Applicability.
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The preservation of record rules contained in this part shall apply to the following:

Railroad companies

Electric railway companies

Express companies

Persons furnishing cars to railroads

Ratemaking organizations

This part applies also to the preservation of accounts, records and memoranda of traffic associations, demurrage and car service bureaus, weighing and inspection bureaus, and other joint activities maintained by or on behalf of companies listed in the above paragraph of this subpart.

[50 FR 1075, Mar. 18, 1985 and 51 FR 22083, June 18, 1986, as amended at 51 FR 44297, Dec. 9, 1986; 62 FR 50525, Sept. 26, 1997]

§ 1220.1   Records required to be retained.
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Companies subject to this part shall retain records for the minimum retention periods required by §1220.6, Schedule of records and periods of retention. After the required retention periods, the records may be destroyed at the discretion of each company's management. It shall be the obligation of the subject company to maintain records that adequately support financial and operational data required by the Board. The company may request a ruling from the Board on the retention of any record. The provisions of this part shall not be construed as excusing compliance with the lawful requirements of any other governmental body prescribing longer retention periods for any category of records.

§ 1220.2   Protection and storage of records.
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(a) The company shall protect records subject to this part from fires, floods, and other hazards, and safeguard the records from unnecessary exposure to deterioration from excessive humidity, dryness, or lack of ventilation.

(b) The company shall notify the Board if prescribed records are substantially destroyed or damaged before the term of the prescribed retention periods.

§ 1220.3   Preservation of records.
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(a) All records may be preserved by any technology that is immune to alteration, modification, or erasure of the underlying data and will enable production of an accurate and unaltered paper copy.

(b) Records not originally preserved on hard copy shall be accompanied by a statement executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts indicating the type of data included within the records. One comprehensive statement may be executed in lieu of individual statements for multiple records if the type of data included in the multiple records is common to all such records. The records shall be indexed and retained in such a manner as will render them readily accessible. The company shall have facilities available to locate, identify and produce legible paper copies of the records.

(c) Any significant characteristic, feature or other attribute that a particular medium will not preserve shall be clearly indicated at the beginning of the applicable records as appropriate.

(d) The printed side of forms, such as instructions, need not be preserved for each record as long as the printed matter is common to all such forms and an identified specimen of the form is maintained on the medium for reference.

[50 FR 10775, Mar. 18, 1985, as amended at 56 FR 30874, July 8, 1991]

§ 1220.4   Companies going out of business.
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The records referred to in these regulations may be destroyed after business is discontinued and the company is completely liquidated. The records may not be destroyed until dissolution is final and all pending transactions and claims are completed. When a company is merged with another company under jurisdiction of the Board, the successor company shall preserve records of the merged company in accordance with these regulations.

§ 1220.5   Waiver of requirements of these regulations.
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A waiver from any provision of these regulations may be made by the Board upon its own initiative or upon submission of a written request by the company. Each request for waiver shall demonstrate that unusual circumstances warrant a departure from prescribed retention periods, procedures, or techniques, or that compliance with such prescribed requirements would impose an unreasonable burden on the company.

§ 1220.6   Schedule of records and periods of retention.
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The following schedule shows periods that designated records shall be preserved. The descriptions specified under the various general headings are for convenient reference and identification, and are intended to apply to the items named regardless of what the records are called in individual companies and regardless of the record media. The retention periods represent the prescribed number of years from the date of the document and not calendar years. Records not listed below shall be retained as determined by the management of each company.

              Schedule of Records and Periods of Retention------------------------------------------------------------------------          Item and category of records               Retention period------------------------------------------------------------------------                        A. Corporate and General1. Incorporation and reorganization:    (a) Charter or certificate of incorporation   Note A.     and amendments.    (b) Legal documents related to mergers,        Do.     consolidations, reorganization,     receiverships and similar actions which     affect the identity or organization of the     company.2. Minutes of Directors, Executive Committees,     Do. Stockholders and other corporate meetings.3. Titles, franchises and authorities:    (a) Certificates of public convenience and    Until expiration or     necessity issued by regulating bodies.        cancellation.    (b) Operating authorizations and exemptions    Do.     to operate.    (c) Copies of formal orders of regulatory     Note A.     bodies served upon the company.    (d) Deeds, charters, and other title papers.  Until disposition of                                                   property.    (e) Patents and patent records..............  Note A.4. Annual reports or statements to stockholders.  3 years.5. Contracts and agreements:    (a) Service contracts, such as for            Until expiration or     operational management, accounting,           termination plus 3     financial or legal services, and agreements   years.     with agents.    (b) Contracts and other agreements relating    Do.     to the construction, acquisition or sale of     real property and equipment except as     otherwise provided in (a) above.    (c) Contracts for the purchase or sale of     Until expiration.     material and supplies except as provided in     (a) above.    (d) Shipping contracts for transportation or   Do.     caretakers of freight.    (e) Contracts with employees and employee     Until expiration.     bargaining groups.    (f) Contracts, leases and agreements, not     Until expiration or     specifically provided for in this section.    termination plus 1                                                   year.6. Accountant's auditor's, and inspector's reports:    (a) Certifications and reports of             3 years     examinations and audits conducted by public     accountants.    (b) Reports of examinations and audits         Do.     conducted by internal auditors, time     inspectors, and others.7. Other: (See Note A)                               B. Treasury1. Capital stock records:    (a) Capital stock ledger....................  Note A.    (b) Capital stock certificates, records of     Do.     or stubs of.    (c) Stock transfer register.................   Do.2. Long-term debt records:    (a) Bond indentures, underwritings,           Until redemption plus     mortgages, and other long-term credit         3 years.     agreements.    (b) Registered bonds and debenture ledgers..   Do.    (c) Stubs or similar records of bonds or      Note A.     other long-term debt issued.3. Authorizations from regulatory bodies for       Do. issuance of securities including applications, reports, and supporting papers.4. Records of securities owned, in treasury, or   Until the securities held by custodians, detailed ledgers and          are sold, redeemed or journals, or their equivalent.                    otherwise disposed                                                   of.5. Other: (See Note A)                       C. Financial and Accounting1. Ledgers:    (a) General and subsidiary ledgers with       Until discontinuance     indexes.                                      of use plus 3 years.    (b) Balance sheets and trial balance sheets   3 years.     of general and subsidiary ledgers.2. Journals:    (a) General journals........................  Until discontinuance                                                   of use plus 3 years.    (b) Subsidiary journals and any supporting    3 years.     data, except as otherwise provided for,     necessary to explain journal entries.3. Cash books:    (a) General cash books......................  Until discontinuance                                                   of use plus 3 years.    (b) Subsidiary cash books...................  3 years.4. Vouchers:    (a) Voucher registers, indexes, or             Do.     equivalent.    (b) Paid and canceled vouchers, expenditure    Do.     authorizations, detailed distribution     sheets and other supporting data including     original bills and invoices, if not     provided for elsewhere.    (c) Paid drafts, paid checks, and receipts    3 years.     for cash paid out.5. Accounts receivable:    (a) Record or register of accounts            3 years after     receivable, indexes thereto, and summaries    settlement.     of distribution.    (b) Bills issued for collection and            Do.     supporting data.    (c) Authorization for writing off             1 year.     receivables.    (d) Reports and statements showing age and     Do.     status of receivables.6. Records of accounting codes and instructions.  3 years after                                                   discontinuance.7. Other: (Note A)                        D. Property and EquipmentNote._All accounts, records, and memoranda necessary for making a complete analysis of the cost or value of property shall be retained for the periods shown. If any of the records elsewhere provided for in this schedule are of this character, they shall be retained for the periods shown below, regardless of any lesser retention period assigned1. Property records:    (a) Records which maintain complete           3 years after     information on cost or other value of all     disposition of     real and personal property or equipment.      property.    (b) Records of additions and betterments       Do.     made to property and equipment.    (c) Records pertaining to retirements and      Do.     replacements of property and equipment.    (d) Records pertaining to depreciation......   Do.    (e) Records of equipment number changes.....   Do.    (f) Records of motor and engine changes.....   Do.    (g) Records of equipment lightweighed and     Only current or latest     stenciled.                                    records.2. Engineering records of property changes        3 years after actually made.                                    disposition of                                                   property.3. Other: (Note A)                        E. Personnel and Payroll1. Personnel and payroll records................  1 year (Note A).                         F. Insurance and Claims1. Insurance records:    (a) Schedules of insurance against fire,      Until expiration plus     storms, and other hazards and records of      1 year.     premium payments.    (b) Records of losses and recoveries from     1 year after     insurance companies and supporting papers.    settlement.    (c) Insurance policies......................  Until expiration of                                                   coverage plus 1 year.2. Claims records:    (a) Claim registers, card or book indexes,    1 year after     and other records which record personal       settlement.     injury, fire and other claims against the     company, together with all supporting data.    (b) Claims registers, card or book indexes,    Do.     and other records which record overcharges,     damages, and other claims filed by the     company against others, together with all     supporting data.    (c) Records giving the details of             3 years.     authorities issued to agents, carriers, and     others for participation in freight claims.    (d) Reports, statements and other data         Do.     pertaining to personal injuries or damage     to property when not necessary to support     claims or vouchers.    (e) Reports, statements, tracers, and other   1 year.     data pertaining to unclaimed, over, short,     damaged, and refused freight, when not     necessary to support claims or vouchers.    (f) Authorities for disposal of unclaimed,    3 years.     damaged, and refused freight.3. Other: (See Note A)                                G. Taxes1. Taxes. (Note A)                         H. Purchases and Stores1. Purchases and stores. (Note A)                    I. Shipping and Agency Documents1. Bills of lading and releases:    (a) Consignors' shipping orders, consignors'  1 year.     shipping tickets, and copies of bills of     lading freight bills from other carriers     and other similar documents furnished the     carrier for movement of freight.    (b) Shippers' order-to-notify bills of         Do.     lading taken up and cancelled.2. Freight waybills:    (a) Local waybills..........................   Do.    (b) Interline waybills received from and       Do.     made to other carriers.    (c) Company freight waybills................   Do.    (d) Express waybills........................   Do.3. Freight bills and settlements:  (a) Paid copy of freight bill retained to   support receipt of freight charges:    (1) Bus express freight bills provided no      Do.     claim has been filed.    (2) All other freight bills.................   Do.  (b) Paid copy of freight bill retained to   support payment of freight charges to other   carriers:    (1) Bus express freight bills provided no      Do.     claim has been filed.    (2) All other freight bills.................   Do.  (c) Records of unsettled freight bills and      1 year after   supporting papers.                              disposition.  (d) Records and reports of correction notices.  1 year.4. Other freight records:    (a) Records of freight received, forwarded,    Do.     and delivered.    (b) Notice to consignees of arrival of         Do.     freight; tender of delivery.5. Agency records (to include conductors, pursers, stewards, and others):    (a) Cash books..............................   Do.    (b) Remittance records, bank deposit slips     Do.     and supporting papers.    (c) Balance sheets and supporting papers....   Do.    (d) Statements of corrections in agents'       Do.     accounts.    (e) Other records and reports pertaining to    Do.     ticket sales, baggage handled,     miscellaneous collections, refunds,     adjustments, etc.                            J. Transportation1. Records pertaining to transportation of household goods:    (a) Estimate of charges.....................  1 year.    (b) Order for service.......................   Do.    (c) Vehicle-load manifest...................   Do.    (d) Descriptive inventory...................   Do.2. Records and reports pertaining to operation of marine and floating equipment:    (a) Ship log................................  3 years.    (b) Ship articles...........................   Do.    (c) Passenger and room list.................   Do.    (d) Floatmen's barge, lighter, and escrow     2 years.     captain's reports, demurrage records,     towing reports and checks sheets.3. Car distribution and movement-railroads only:    (a) Records of car allotment and               Do.     distribution.    (b) Records of cars ordered, furnished and     Do.     loaded.    (c) Records showing dates and numbers of       Do.     trains, initials and number of cars,     movement of cars, and mileage of cars and     trains.    (d) Report of cars interchanged with           Do.     connecting lines.    (e) Reports of unfilled car orders..........  1 year.    (f) Per diem and mileage reports made and     2 years.     received, including reclaims and     discrepancy and adjustment reports.    (g) Demurrage and storage records...........   Do.4. Dispatchers' sheets, registers, and other      3 years records pertaining to movement of transportation equipment.5. Import and export records including bonded     2 years. freight and steamship engagements.6. Records, reports, orders and tickets           3 years. pertaining to weighting of freight.7. Records of loading and unloading of            2 years. transportation equipment.8. Records pertaining to the diversion or          Do. reconsignment of freight, including requests, tracers, and correspondence.9. Other: (See Note A)                          K. Tariffs and Rates1. Official file copies of tariffs,               3 years after classifications, division sheets, and circulars   expiration or relative to the transportation of persons or      cancellation. property.2. Authorities and supporting papers for          3 years. transportation of property or passengers free or at reduced rates.3. Records and documents required by provisions   2 years. of § 1253.20 to be maintained.              L. Supporting Data for Reports and Statistics1. Supporting data for reports filed with the Surface Transportation Board and regulatory bodies:    (a) Supporting data for annual financial,     3 years.     operating and statistical reports.    (b) Supporting data for periodical reports     Do.     of operating revenues, expenses, and income.    (c) Supporting data for reports detailing      Do.     use of proceeds from issuance or sale of     company securities.    (d) Supporting data for valuation inventory   3 years after     reports and records. This includes related    disposition of the     notes, maps and sketches, underlying          property.     engineering, land, and accounting reports,     pricing schedules, summary or collection     sheets, yearly reports of changes and other     miscellaneous data, all relating to the     valuation of the company's property by the     Surface Transportation Board or other     regulatory body.2. Supporting data for periodical reports of      3 years. accidents, inspections, tests, hours of service, repairs, freight car locations, etc.3. Supporting data for periodical statistical of   Do. operating results or performance by tonnage, mileage, passengers carried, piggyback traffic, commodities, costs, analyses of increases and decreases, or otherwise.                            M. Miscellaneous1. Index of records.............................  Until revised as                                                   record structure                                                   changes.2. Statement listing records prematurely          For the remainder of destroyed or lost.                                the period as                                                   prescribed for                                                   records destroyed.------------------------------------------------------------------------Note A: Records referenced to this note shall be maintained as  determined by the designated records supervisory official. Companies  should be mindful of the record retention requirements of the Internal  Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, state and local  jurisdictions and other regulatory agencies. Companies shall exercise  reasonable care in choosing retention periods, and the choice of  retention periods shall reflect past experiences, company needs,  pending litigation, and regulatory requirements.

[50 FR 10775, Mar. 18, 1985, as amended at 51 FR 22083, June 18, 1986]

Parts 1240–1259—Reports

Note: The report forms prescribed by parts 1241–1259 are available upon request from the Office of the Secretary, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423.

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