a fair number of companies will charge you for the use of their equipment - if they even let you use it. And you do NOT carry a pallet jack in the back of that trailer.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

Like others have stated the company pays or reimburses for lumper's just don't loss the receipt send it in with your TripPak or what ever system your company uses for pay.

At some places your company might have a lumper account with that shipper/receiver ask the lumper manager if this is the case.

Once you find out how much a lumper will charge you (normally they have set prices) go back to your truck, send whatever MAC to request an enter the amount of pieces, weight, name of your pick-up/drop-off, product and the amount needed for lumper fees. Send this information to receive an Authorization Number and code. Write all information down on the ComCheck or T-Check this too depends on the what the company uses.
Receivers / Shippers normally do NOT have extra checks on hand so make sure you have some on the truck.
Unfortunately sitting in a dock is a real part of being a truck driver. Most places will load/unload you within 2 hrs of bumping the dock. It doesn't pay to get impatience with the lumper's.

This really worth repeating:
Like others have said the only time it comes out of your pocket is if you loss your receipt. So make sure you treat that little piece of paper like gold.

We all know that if the truck don't roll then ya! don't make no dough, but if your trailer is full you can't get it loaded again. Sit and wait is one evil that is real life in the trucking business.

One more thought on Lumper's ... They know how to unload and break down the products for count. Since they work on this every single day they (lumper's) will be a heck of a lot faster if you let them do the job.
You are going to have learn to relax when you are in this business. Go to the sleeper, laid down and relax so you be so what refreshed to go to your next location. You will be surprised what a couple of hours relaxing does for a tired driver.

then i guess they pound on my door once i am done? can that go down as 'sleeper time' or that go as 'on duty' since you have a load. My guess is 'on duty'. i dunno

i believe it can be listed as sleeper time if you arent required to be 'on duty' during unloading.

I never log on-duty if someone else is unloading my trailer.

while you are with the trainer, the lumper fee is taken care of by the trainer and his arrangements. the reimbursement is paid to him/her and you'll have nothing in it....


unless! it is a driver unload and your trainer will take that fine opporunity to show you how to break down loads, pocket the fee, and buy you a soda.

Guess it depends on how big a 'tool' the trainer wants to be. If he is pushing "mileage-mileage-mileage" and is just using me as part of his "team", then by all means i am going to say, "look, if we are a team we split the unload fee"...to which i am sure he will just laugh at me. Cant really burn my bridge, but I will be sure to let the DM know or whoever saying 'he is just pocketing the unload fee, and all i get is a $1.50 fountian soda.....not going to fly with me.

I advise against that course of action.

You want to be labeled the troublemaker before you even get out of training? Think wisely and choose your battles. Is it worth the 50 bucks?

well seeing how i will be with a trainer for 6 weeks, and say we do 5 loads a week. each get $100 per load. that is $3,000 for those 6 weeks. Think i am just going to let him rob me of $1500 without a fight? i'm gonna get screwed, and he didnt even buy me a drink??!!??