The one place I went that had a lumper service the people who unloaded were paid by the truck or weight. I have no problem using them because my truck was unloaded in 10 minutes.
you could end up with something more like this.... remember, if it's on the internet........it has to be true...
Also, not sure what the norm is but with my company we just send an amount in through our driver app and they send us a cash advance. We write a check and once the receipt is scanned in they reimburse us the amount. Also, I noticed all the other drivers whom I talked to all got charged different amounts
And to add on to your point, the third party gets the pennies leftover after the receiver has taken a lion share of the money paid to unload these trucks. The receiver buys all the equipment, pallet jacks and such. The way the lady at a Sysco explained it to me, the receiver takes a portion of top, then another portion for equipment use. Capstone or whoever isleft with the crumbs and the unloaders get paid the pennies and the man at the top gets his. I think at some places, Kroger I believe, that even if you lump your own freight you still have to pay.
I saw a sign at a Walmart in which they force Carriers and brokers to take care of the fee beforehand. I think that was the DC in New Albany, MS. I can count the times on hand I've ever had to pay at Walmart