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The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has changed its four-year-old Associates Program to give rail industry suppliers more of a voice in the association.

The AAR established a new Associates Advisory Board comprising nine gold level associate members who’ll serve three-year terms, and ex officio members AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger and Senior Vice President of Safety and Operations Robert VanderClute. Initially, the AAR will appoint three members who will serve one-, two- or three-year terms and elect a chairman. Their successors will be elected by associate members.

The AAR also will expand associate members’ participation in selected safety and operations committees to 30 voting seats.

“Railway suppliers are critical to the success of the railroad industry,” said Hamberger in a prepared statement. “Creation of the Associates Advisory Board will give our supplier associates more opportunity to provide input to the AAR and the industry.”