(a)
(1) It shall be the duty of every railroad company in this state to exchange loaded and empty cars in the transportation of freight, for the purpose of facilitating freight movement, with every other railroad with which the railroad connects forming any part of the route for the shipment of the freight or with which it has or participates in joint rates for such shipments.
(2) It shall be the duty of each of the railroad companies forming the route or having or participating in the joint rates, upon demand by the connecting line, to furnish to the connecting line within reasonable time after the loaded cars are delivered as many empty cars suitable for carrying the freight as may be delivered to it loaded by the connecting carrier for the purpose of transportation over its line or for delivery to any point on its line.
(b) Upon demand of the owner thereof, it shall be the duty of every railroad company receiving the cars of another railroad company to return the cars within a reasonable time after demand therefor and within the time and according to the rules prescribed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.