The real truth about lumper fees.

It's not a scam. The trucking company pays the lumpers and bills the shipper. The shipper pays the trucking company and bills the customer. The customer pays the shipper and bills the lumper. The lumper pays the customer and bills the trucking company. All it does is let the customer book it as cost of goods sold rather than labor. Well, the lumper gets screwed as an independent contractor that's really an employee.

 

I've been driving 37 years I've NEVER physically unloaded a trailer at a dock. I've been threatened with being banned, to which I said please do and they did, thank you. I HAVE had them sign for a load of loose cabbage that was loaded straight out of the field, then say they wouldn't take it for 2 days. My response was I used the grade in the famers market and my brakes to unload it for them, yes I was banned, thank you. It's stupid to pay them to unload product that THEY ordered.

 

In other words, it's a scam. The customer is scamming everyone else involved.

 

It seems the customer is the one actually scammed since they seem to actually think this is a good business practice. I doubt anyone else involved does but each take their cut of what the consumer ultimately pays.

 

As long as you report the profit, as income you are legal. I like 2* the going rate for unloading. If they complain, tell them your company ABC Lumpers, charges that much to pay for your 4 visits to Las Vegas each year. If they have a problem with that, have them sign they refused the freight & take off or use their own unloading service. Yea, you might be asked to never return, but tell them thanks. I will take the 100 dollar bet every time they want their freight & will unload it. Be a very rare time they tell you to take off with the freight they ordered. I think of it this way, they ordered the freight because they want it, not to refuse it when it arrives. von.

 

OMG the pure unadulterated nerve! The union steward was probably called.

 

You're lucky they didn't impound your jack until the shop steward could inspect it for "compliance".

"Yeah see, your castors here are 3.752" in diameter, and the sheet says that it must be exactly 3.75, I'm afraid we're going to have to keep this here until the correct castors can be installed. But you'll be back this way in 8 weeks right?"

 

Just don’t haul groceries......period

 

I have said it in the past & will again. Refuse to unload 1 box. They will take it or refuse it. When you get back to the yard, tell you boss he can't afford you lumping prices. And ask him for your next dispatch, You either clean out your truck or get your paper work for the next run. This way everybody understands, you drive, not load or unload. Less hassle down the road. Now if you want to load & unload right before or after your 11 hour run, go for it. But for me, wake me up when empty or loaded. Ya might have to look for a new employer, but maybe not, with to many tractors sitting in the yard & no driver, company's will rethink the lumper problem. Your employer makes money when the wheels turn, not throwing freight. von.