49 CFR § 1333.1 - Demurrage defined.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s1333.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 1333.1 - Demurrage defined."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "1333.1"
section_name: "Demurrage defined."
chapter_name: "SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "CARRIER RATES AND SERVICE TERMS"
part_number: "1333"
part_name: "DEMURRAGE LIABILITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 1321, 10702, and\n\n10746."
regulatory_source: "79 FR 21412, Apr. 16, 2014, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1333"
---


# 1333.1 Demurrage defined.

*Demurrage* is a charge that both compensates rail carriers for the expenses incurred when rail cars are detained beyond a specified period of time (i.e., free time) for loading or unloading, and serves as a penalty for undue car detention to encourage the efficient use of rail cars in the rail network.