8 
BULLETIN 191, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CARS FOR LOADING. 
Rule 6 defines " constructive placement" of cars for loading, 
specifying that free time shall begin to run when cars are held on orders 
of the consignor and written notice served of all cars that can not 
actually be placed because of conditions attributable to the con- 
signor. On all cars placed and not used demurrage will be assessed 
from the first 7 a. m. after placement, with no free time allowance. 
DEMURRAGE CHARGE. 
Rule 7 provides a charge of $1 per day or fraction thereof after the 
expiration of free time till cars are released. 
CLAIMS. 
Rule 8 makes provision for an extension of time when it is impos- 
sible to load or unload on account of weather conditions or when, 
from the nature of the freight, serious injury would result to it from 
loading or unloading under adverse weather conditions. Allowance is 
made also for the bunching of cars, that is delivering the consignor 
cars in accumulated numbers in excess of his daily orders or delivering 
the consignee loads in accumulated numbers in excess of daily ship- 
ments. Demurrage may not be collected when unloading is delayed 
due to consignee declining to pay freight charges in* excess of the 
correct amount. In addition, delayed or improper notice by the 
carrier, railroad errors preventing proper tender or delivery, and delay 
due to United States customs authorities, operate to extend the period 
of free time. 
AVERAGE AGREEMENT. 
Rule 9 covers the " average agreement" and provides that the 
demurrage charge shall be computed on the basis of the average time 
of detention of cars during each month. The average time is deter- 
mined by allowing one day's credit for each car released within the 
first 24 hours of free time (except in the case of completion of load or 
partial unloading in transit) and entering a debit of one day against 
each car detained 24 hours or fraction thereof beyond the free time. 
No single car can take advantage of more than five days' credit in 
cancellation of its debits and after a car has accrued five debits the 
charge of $1 will be made for each subsequent day of detention^ 
including Sundays and holidays. At the end of the month a balance 
will be struck between the debits and the credits and $1 collected 
from the consignee for each debit in excess of the credits. Should 
credits exceed the debits no payment is made to the car user. The 
account of debits and credits is closed for each month and no excess of 
credits for any one month may be carried forward to the next month. 
Shippers taking advantage of the average agreement may not at the 
same time take advantage of the provisions of rule 8 making allowance 
for weather interference and for bunching. 
