The Association of American Railroads, AAR, is an organization representing the major freight railroads of North America and some other regional commuter railroads. When required, the AAR represents its members' interests to the public at large and to Congress and government regulators in particular. American freight railroads make sizable investments across the country that enable an efficient freight rail network in moving the goods that make modern life possible, and connecting American businesses to markets from coast to coast and beyond.
Some of their functions are:
The AAR ensures that standards are maintained throughout the railroad network. They constantly update these standards in alliance with elected officials and leaders. These are a comprehensive set of guidelines that are followed in order to maintain an efficiently running system throughout the country. The AAR also plays a significant role in contributing to the economy by lowering transportation costs that might, if freight trains did not exist, be a costly affair.