(a) When freight in carloads or less is tendered to a railroad company and correct shipping instructions are given, the railroad agent must immediately receive the freight for shipment and issue bills of lading for it.
(b)
(1) Whenever shipments have been received as provided in subsection (a) of this section by any railroad company, they must be carried forward at the rate of not less than fifty (50) miles per day of twenty-four (24) hours, computing from 7:00 a.m. of the day following receipt of shipment.
(2) In computing the time of freight in transit, there shall be allowed twenty-four (24) hours at each point where transferring from one (1) railroad to another or rehandling of freight is involved. In all computation of time between shippers and carriers, Sundays and legal holidays are to be excluded.
(3) In the transportation of cattle, sheep, swine, and other animals, the carrier shall be governed by the provisions of the federal statutes in watering, feeding, and rest of the animals, and the delay shall be counted as free time.
(4) The period during which the movement of freight is suspended on account of accident or any cause not within the power of the railroad company to prevent shall be added to the free time allowed in this section and counted as additional free time.
(c) For failure to receive and transport shipments within the time prescribed, the railroad company so offending shall forfeit and pay to the shipper the sum of five dollars ($5.00) per car per day or fraction of a day on all carload freight, and one cent (1¢) per one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) per day or fraction of a day on freight in less than carloads, with a minimum charge of five cents (5¢) for any one (1) package, upon demand in writing by the shipper or another party whose interest is affected by the delay.