§ 375.8 - Reasonable dispatch.

(a) Unless accepted for transportation on the basis of guaranteed pickup and delivery dates:

(1) Reasonable dispatch required. Each motor common carrier accepting shipments of household goods as defined in § 375.1(b)(1) for transportation for the account of individual shippers shall cause such shipments to be transported with reasonable dispatch as defined in § 375.1(b)(2).

(2) Notification of delay in providing service with reasonable dispatch. Whenever a carrier is unable to perform either or both the pickup and delivery of a shipment on the dates or during the periods of time specified in the order for service, the carrier shall notify the shipper by telephone, telegram or in person, at the carrier's expense, of the delay. Such notification shall be given as soon as it becomes apparent to the carrier that it will be unable to provide the service in compliance with the terms of the order for service.

(3) Carrier notification of delay. At the time of notification of delay the carrier shall advise the shipper of the dates or periods of time that pickup and/or delivery can be made, which considers the needs of the shipper. If the notification of delay occurs prior to the pickup of the shipment, the amendment shall be in writing as required by § 375.5(b). If the notification of delay occurs subsequent to the pickup of the shipment, the carrier representative notifying the shipper of the delay shall prepare a written record of the date, time and manner of notification and the amended date or period of time for delivery by the carrier which record shall be retained by the carrier as part of its file on the shipment and a true copy thereof shall be furnished, by first class mail or in person, to the shipper.

(b) Tendering for delivery. Except upon the request or concurrence of the shipper, a shipment being transported for an individual shipper shall not be tendered for delivery prior to the agreed delivery date or period of time specified on the bill of lading: Provided, That whenever a carrier is able to tender such a shipment for final delivery more than 24 hours prior to such specified date or the first day of such specified period of time, and the shipper has not requested or concurred in such early delivery, the carrier may, at its option, place the shipment in storage for its own account and at its own expense in a warehouse located in proximity to the destination of the shipment. Whenever a carrier shall exercise such option it shall immediately notify the shipper of the name and address of the warehouse in which the shipment has been placed, and shall make and keep a record of such notification as a part of its record of shipment. The carrier's responsibility for the shipment under the terms and conditions of the bill of lading and its responsibility for the charges for redelivery, handling and storage thereof shall continue until final delivery: Provided, that the carrier's responsibility under the bill of lading shall not extend beyond the agreed delivery date or the first day of the period within which delivery was to have been accomplished as specified in the bill of lading.