The real truth about lumper fees.

Discussion in 'Shippers & Receivers - Good or Bad' started by dasilva, Apr 25, 2007.

  1. mobyditch

    mobyditch Bobtail Member

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    Apr 19, 2009
    Des Moines, IA
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    Simply ask for a Social Security card of the lumpers doing the unload/load. Tell them you are going to send them a W-2 at the end of the year.. See what they say then.
     
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  3. stepnfetchit

    stepnfetchit Medium Load Member

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    Jun 23, 2009
    Monett MO
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    I spent 30 years in this industry and if you think lumpers are bad now, you should have been around 30 years ago. 2 trucks parked side by side, same product, same # of cases. 1 truck paid $90.00 to unload and breakdown, the other paid $120.00. I saw it happen. I agree with the guys on here about not unloading trucks. Here's a few of the reasons. 1. IF you get hurt (and you can) good luck with the W/C. 2. Don't ever think the lumper fee isn't covered. I have seen loads of 45,000# pay the driver a $1.00 a thousand ($45.00) to unload. Call dispatch. Find a lumper. Charges $150.00. Call when your empty and get a Check. No problems. 3.F.O.B. (Free on Board) Part of every BOL. Means until it sets on the dock it Aint Theirs!!!. Now if you want to unload the thing for $45.00 bucks go ahead. I'm not gonna. Didn't do it as a Co Driver. Sure didn't do it as an O/O. If any unloading charges call co or broker and let'em know how much. They'll give you the check. Get a receipt. I used to haul a load pretty regular that had between 8500 and 9000 cases on it. Weighed 44,980#. The co paid the driver $45.00 to unload it. Paid the lumper service $150.00. Here's the real problem. It took 8-9 hours to unload the thing and break it down. 22 pallets became 75- 80 pallets real quick. THINK before you unload!! Quit worrying about what it costs. The company will get their money and if you fill out the paperwork right YOU will get reimbursed. Most companies show the fee as an ADVANCE and then show a reimbursement to you. Lumpers and lumper services are a part of this industry. The shipper knows it, the trucking company knows it, the receiver knows it. QUIT WORRYING ABOUT IT!!
     
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  4. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    Nov 26, 2006
    Lehigh Valley, PA
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    All of the places I went to and had to use lumper had a lumper company that had a real EIN number to give. Worker might have an SSN number but the lumper company had a legal number.

    Mark
     
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  5. Rollover the Original

    Rollover the Original Road Train Member

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    Jul 1, 2009
    Springfield,MO
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    Isn't that sweet! It's illegal until you read THE WHOLE CODE!

    § 14103. Loading and unloading motor vehicles

    (a) Shipper responsible for assisting.--Whenever a shipper or receiver of property requires that any person who owns or operates a motor vehicle transporting property in interstate commerce (whether or not such transportation is subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135) be assisted in the loading or unloading of such vehicle, the shipper or receiver shall be responsible for providing such assistance or shall compensate the owner or operator for all costs associated with securing and compensating the person or persons providing such assistance. (b) Coercion prohibited.--It shall be unlawful to coerce or attempt to coerce any person providing transportation of property by motor vehicle for compensation in interstate commerce (whether or not such transportation is subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 135) to load or unload any part of such property onto or from such vehicle or to employ or pay one or more persons to load or unload any part of such property onto or from such vehicle; except that this subsection shall not be construed as making unlawful any activity which is not unlawful under the National Labor Relations Act or the Act of March 23, 1932 (47 Stat. 70; 29 U.S.C. 101 et seq.), commonly known as the Norris-LaGuardia Act.
    CHAPTER 149--CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES

    * * * ​
    § 14905. Penalties for violations of rules relating to loading and unloading motor vehicles
    (a) Civil penalties.--Whoever knowingly authorizes, consents to, or permits a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 14103 or who knowingly violates subsection (a) of such section is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation. (b) Criminal penalties.--Whoever knowingly violates section 14103(b) of this title shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
    GENERAL INFORMATION ON LOADING AND UNLOADING SHIPMENTS TRANSPORTED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE

    The general rule is that motor common and contract carriers provide loading and unloading as part of their service without separately stating the charges. These are considered part of the composite line-haul rate. The carrier, in conjunction with the shipper or receiver, determines the loading and unloading services to be performed and whether the driver is responsible.
    A driver engaged in interstate commerce, whether an employee of the carrier or an owner operator leased to the carrier, is subject to the carrier’s directions regarding the operation of its vehicles and the services to be provided to customers, including loading and unloading.
    Illegal lumping describes loading and unloading required by operators at warehouses, terminals, ports and other facilities when drivers are coerced into paying for loading and unloading. If a shipper or receiver requires a driver to use lumpers, the shipper or receiver must provide the lumpers or pay for their services.



    In other words there are 2 sides to every rule! KNOW what your company OR your BROKER (for you newer O/O's and L/P's) require of you!
    As it shows above SOMEONE has to pay the unloading charges and it's NOT you unless you are the carrier! ie: O/O's who contract for a brokered load. If you are NEW to trucking learn this real fast and ASK the broker how much is added to the rate for unloading! If you are only given a per mile of say $2.50 or above then you know that it's been added to the rate as rates are down right now and $2.50+ is very good for reefer and dry! You know this and know that FSC and all the extras have been added but you can ask for the breakdown if you just have to have it that way! Me I know whats what and just go with the flow as I don't need to be told BS I already know!

    For the rest of you company drivers, If they pay you to unload it's up to you! I wouldn't for any piddling $40 ,$50 or chump change hourly change when they (carriers) get $100's, BUT don't go stampeeding onto the dock with the attitude that YOU don't unload trucks and bust your mouth to that fact unless your company tells you differently! I've seen company drivers and new O/O's with an attitude do just that and the next thing you see if Mr. Dock Foreman handing him the bills back and telling him not to let the door hit him where God split him! Before you hire on with anyone when you do your phone interview that should be one of the FIRST questions you ask, Who or how much is unloading pay! Me, I wouldn't turn the key on a truck if they think I'm going to unload their freight for peanuts!

    Yes that 49u.s.c. is sweet but only for those who don't know the whole story. Now, there is another code and I kept it in my brief case for years but I thought it was in my filing cabinet and I looked for it for an hour after reading this whole thread (yeah, I don't have a freaking life right now! LOL) before posting here, but finally gave up the search, but if I find it rest assured that I will post the whole code number so you will have the rest of the story! There are 2 parts to this law and you need both to know the full deal!
     
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  6. local driver

    local driver Light Load Member

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    Nov 8, 2010
    SE Michigan
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    you must have never been to us gypsum in lafarge ky...they do the tarping there:biggrin_25525:
     
  7. fallinangel

    fallinangel Medium Load Member

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    Dec 30, 2010
    Branford Florida
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    The way I see it is Im a driver not a lumper I drive 11 that dont give me enough time to unload without being over on my 11 all Ill do is open the doors and close the doors.
     
  8. gearjamin

    gearjamin Light Load Member

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    Oct 23, 2010
    SE Michigan
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    For some of the runs I regularly do the company puts an electric pallet jack in the wagon for me. This way I can offload the product and be out of the dock a lot faster than if I have a lumper or dock worker do it. If I have to use one of the hand jacks at a customer I will, for one or two pallets, more than that the lumper gets to do it. We package the loads to the customer's ti-hi specs so breakdowns are kept to a minimum. The lumpers know this and usaully charge less and get me outta there quicker. I get $20 per stop and if I were paid half of what a lumper service gets I'd be doing it all myself! Oh yeah - our pallets average out at 1100 lbs each.
     
  9. No5id3Fried

    No5id3Fried Bobtail Member

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    Sep 13, 2010
    Sacramento Ca
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    I drive now but lumped for 20 years,the loads now are alot easier than i did when i first started out,back in 91 i would unload a 3500 case procter and gamble load at flemming foods,80 different item load on the floor,2 different size pallets, for a 100 dollars,now i sometimes unload meat loads for 120 and only 120 cases,most of the loads are very easy and i do not see why the drivers would hire a lumper for most of them,all you are doing is putting a box on a pallet,the pay is better than driving,make a fake reciept and say you hired a lumper unless you have a account with the lumping service.
     
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  10. NYROADIE

    NYROADIE Heavy Load Member

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    Jun 24, 2010
    Rochester NY
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    Unloading would be on line 4 not on line3, so it dosn't have any effect on the 11hr rule.Did you mean to say it would burn up your 70hrs?
     
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  11. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2009
    Airlie Beach QLd
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    I point blank refuse to use lumpers in certain situations specially when its like 1 pallet i remember they hid all the pallet jacks i had to go to the office and plead with them to unlock the jack which was tied up with a huge chain and padlock around it . it took me about 5 minutes to fix it up and would of only taken 3 seconds for a fork lift to come in and lift it out .
    :biggrin_25521:
     
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