AskRail vs DOT Chart 17
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AskRail
This app provides hazardous materials safety information for first responders dealing with rail incidents. It allows authorized personnel to query railcar contents and offers critical data for emergency response. Access to advanced features requires verification and railroad sponsorship.
- Hazardous materials safety information
- Rail incident support
- Query railcar contents
- Emergency response data
- First responder tool
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The AskRail app is a hazardous materials safety tool for first responders who are first on scene or directly support the first on scene in the event of a rail incident. Access to certain features, including the ability to query railcar contents based on an equipment number, is restricted to authorized personnel. To obtain authorization to use the restricted features, you must assert that you are a first responder, provide information about your emergency response agency, and identify a supervisor who can attest to your first responder duties. You also must obtain sponsorship from a Class I railroad. This process may take up to several weeks. AskRail is a collaborative effort among all North American Class I railroads, the Association of American Railroads, Railinc Corp., and the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. For more information about AskRail please visit: www.askrail.us.
DOT Chart 17
Access a full-color display of hazardous materials markings, labels, and placards. This app provides quick visual information and regulatory citations for shippers and carriers. It serves as a general guidance tool for hazardous materials regulations.
- Full-color display of markings, labels, and placards
- Access to Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) citations
- Quick visual information for shippers and carriers
- Mobile access to DOT Chart-17
- Guidance on 49 CFR Parts 171-180
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The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) DOT Chart-17 provides a full-color display of the markings, labels, and placards specified in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). This mobile application allows shippers, carriers, and other stakeholders to quickly access visual information and HMR citations from DOT Chart-17. Note that this application is intended for general guidance only and should not be used to determine compliance with 49 CFR, Parts 100-185.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: AskRail at 58% against DOT Chart 17's 0%. AskRail also leads on rating (4.1 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (37 vs 3). DOT Chart 17's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
AskRail holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AskRail has 37 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of AskRail's written reviews are positive against 0% of DOT Chart 17's.
AskRail ships an update every 4 months, DOT Chart 17 every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on July 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AskRail | DOT Chart 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (37 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 58.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 37 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Association of American Railroads | Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration |
Customer experience
AskRail
DOT Chart 17
In-app purchases
AskRail
No in-app purchases
DOT Chart 17
No in-app purchases
