Lumper Fee Origins

When I pulled loads in the 80's use to have loads that were slip-sheeted. I haven't heard that term in years.

 

ok, call me stupid. I am a rigger and drive trucks to that end only, to move machinery or scrap metal or bring my forklifts.

Anyway, absolutely everywhere I go dry van trucks are unloaded with forklifts. I also always see trucks loaded/unloaded by the shippers and receivers. Those make nuts, bolts, food packaging etc.

Is that still not the case at those big food warehouses? Why manual labor? What if you show up for a delivery and refuse to pay those lumpers and tell them to "deal with it"?

 

Deregulation in 1977?
It didn’t start until the motor carrier act of 1980 was signed by Jimmy Carter. Took several years for changes to start happening.
Teamsters always unloaded their trucks, that required more time and men, more union members,

They set the trend for grocery warehouses, they expected everyone to unload their own trucks. I know because I was there, went flatbed and never looked back.

 

What days are you referencing?

 

OK, I thought that American business is all about efficiency.

Which is more efficient: a professional driver pushing a pallet jack (which is not his main job) or a professional forklift operator unloading using appropriate machinery?

 

California so bad I had a friend there said he had a delivery there at some produce place. they told him they couldn't get to him that day but if he wanted to he could """"rent""" from them a pallet jack and unloaded himself.

 

The broker reimburses you for the lumper fee, then the shipper pays him. Why would you refuse to pay? As long as the broker agrees to the rate then you should pay it and get your truck unloaded so you can go.

If you just refuse to pay they will most likely refuse the delivery. Then what is you plan?

 

I did not say that

 

Here's my plan: Not to waste my life dealing with ######## I don't agree with. I don't agree with lumpers. I don't agree with the idea or the structure. I broker my own loads. Every day I call on loads and my 3rd question (after p/up and del hours and commodity) is "Are there lumpers?" Of course I've been lied to several times and don't work for them again. Most of the time the broker just says "I don't know but if there are we take care of it". Well, Mr. Superbroker, that isn't what I asked. If there are lumpers involved the load is not for me. I have gotten more than a few rate cons and researched the company online real quick before signing. If it's a grocery DC I ain't going. I usually just flat refuse food anyway. By all the reefers I see on the road everyday there are plenty enough other drivers to handle it.

I've never once had a decent experience with lumpers. Quite frankly they hate their lives and they make you hate yours. No thanks, I'll vote with my feet.

 

I dont' no about the origin if the term. I call B.S. on a few of the stories. (But that's for another day). What I do no is if I didn't no better, after reading this. I would think trucks got loaded and unloaded by illegal brown people. As so me ne who hires and has hired between 6-9 lumper a week. I can say from decades if experiance. The vast majority of lumper are legal black or white guys born and bred in the USA. AND yes that includes when I'm in Texas and Calif.