What's wrong with dock work?

I use to be a lumper. Did it for 5yrs. Also ill tell u this all drivers see that $2-300 charge n think that's what the lumper makes not true at all.. Where I worked we made 40% of the cash loads sysco made 30% n my company made 30% and the prepaid load aka where u dont have to pay. Paid crap 30-50avg n usually have the most break down. Avg 40-45kyr but i was one of fastest guys we had. use to have drivers request me but didnt work like that. Now I work for sysco as n order selector I pull the products to be ship out on the truck make ALOT better $$ and got full benefits

 

I wouldn't touch anything for what many companies pay their drivers to unload. I unload a floor stacked 53' drop frame everyday but I get paid very well to do it.

 

I use to so multiple floor loads a day just depends on how good they pay n cases really. Could throw 2,000 bags of 50lb charcoal in 2 1/2hrs that's on pallets pulled n wrapped paid me $150 to do it n was only one who would do it cause u where covering in charcoal when done.

 

Because most truck drivers are fat, lazy, and get out of breath from walking from the front of their truck to the back of it doing their pre-trip inspection. No surprise because if you have a job where you are sitting down 24 hours a day it is VERY bad for your health.

 

What do most carriers pay their drivers for dockwork? They pay us $16/hour in 15 minute increments. We use the honor system for our paysheets to document this. Usually dock work is not part of our daily tasks though.

 

I've seen plenty of OTR companies that wouldn't pay even that much. Many have a very low flat rate regardless of what the load is. Like someone said, not so bad if you just have to pull it, but if you have one of those loads that break down into 120 pallets, $50 or even less at some places won't cut it.

To me $16/hr is very low though too. I get paid by the case so how much I make per hour comes down to my motivation for the day. I average $30/hr on the low side and many days can pull in $60/hr in the trailer. Some days I just don't have it in me and I take it slow.

 

LTL lines do pay pretty good for dock. OD is $16.50 top out is around $21/22hr. Work 5/10 hr days ,home everyday off 2 days a week and insurance thats very low cost. Mostly forklift work. Most big OTR co. drivers dont make $1000+ a week after 12 months and def not home everyday