The formal notification given by a shipper or consignee to a railroad that a car has been loaded or unloaded and is ready to be pulled. Release marks the end of the customer's responsibility for the car and triggers the railroad's obligation to retrieve it. The release time is used to compute dwell and demurrage.
The act of retrieving a loaded or empty car from a customer's facility after loading or unloading is complete. The shipper or consignee typically notifies the railroad when a car is ready to be pulled. Delays in pulling can result in congestion at customer facilities.
The act of placing a railcar at a specific loading or unloading position at a customer's facility. A car is considered spotted when it is in position and available for the shipper's use. The date and time of spotting often marks the beginning of free time for demurrage purposes.
A charge assessed by a railroad against a shipper or consignee for detaining a railcar beyond the allowed free time at a loading or unloading facility. Demurrage incentivizes rapid car turnover and compensates the railroad for lost car utility. It is distinct from detention, which applies to equipment held at non-railroad locations.
The process of repositioning an empty railcar after it has been unloaded, either back to the car owner, to a new loading point, or to a storage location. Empty movements generate no revenue and are a significant cost component for railroads. Optimization of empty returns is a key factor in fleet management.