lumper fees...why???

That's why I think it's so stupid. Guys on here that pay lumper fees daily excuse it by saying "the broker paid it" Just stop with the stupidity and unload the stuff you ordered. We used to own a lumberyard and there were a few wholesalers and distributors around here that reluctantly started dealing with some of the "Big Box" stores. The stores insisted they wouldn't unload trucks without delivery appointments. The wholesalers said "no, the trucks are on a route" and instructed the drivers if the stores refused to unload them to just drive out. This went on for sometimes months before the stores gave up.

 

Simple answer: Because they can.

What kills me is the "Union" grocery warehouses that have 3rd party lumper services.

 

Go to the supermarket. Shop. Pay for your groceries. The bagboy bags them up. You say bring them to your car. He pushes out the buggy and sets your bags in the trunk. Then YOU charge HIM $5. Crazy? You bet!

 

I understand having a contracted lumper crew, but I've never understood the principle of having the CARRIER pay the lumper service when it is the consignee that ordered the product and contracts the lumper service.

Like one guy said, that's like making the UPS guy pay $5 to drop the box on your porch.

 

It looks like the tire place you delivered to does unload. Not sure what you're asking. Who do you drive for?

Often, the places I delivered to did the unloads with their own employees and their own forklifts, for example, Costco, or Best Buy stores, or auto plants. And sometimes lumpers handled the unloads at other places. And sometimes I tailgated or helped unloader-employees at construction sites.

It's about economics. Different contractual arrangements (that drivers can't see) for different commodities and different businesses. Read that link. Part of all this is liability.

Lumpers cost the grocery chains nothing--they're not employees and the shipper basically pays for the unload. That's why they use lumpers. Sweetheart Cup used lumpers to load their trailers. We paid the lumpers with comchecks. The carrier deducted it on our settlements, then added back the comcheck+fee on the same settlement. Our carrier billed Sweetheart. Don't ask me to explain! Then, depending on the consignee, lumpers took it off (and we went through the same paper chase again), or the consignee's employees took it off. Bottom line: Sweetheart paid to get it on the truck, paid us to haul it, then paid to get it off the truck.

Sometimes, the lumper service has a contract with the shipper. I agree, it does seem like extra paperwork to have the carrier get a comcheck or to have the lumper service bill the carrier (then the carrier bills the shipper). But, again, either the unload is built into the rate or it's a separate item in the contract, and it's on the shipper.

I'm not sure, but I think some of this circular payments stuff is tax based: each player gets a tax write-off for business expenses.

Wrightracing -- Interesting thread. Thanks.

 

Then again, I've always enjoyed it when I could unload and break down myself, and get paid what the lumper charges. The wife and I got $300 to unload laundry detergent at an Akbertsons DC in CA. Works for me!

 

Probably started with a idiotic trucking company trying to "one up" the competition. I know I remember my dad talking about a company who would pick up milk at dairy farms offered to not only haul the farmers milk but said the driver would also wash out his storage tank. Only takes dumb stuff like that to get the ball rolling.

 

Yeah!

 

Happens in other industries, too. Local glass man's response when I commented on the difficulty I had getting in there to get a chip repaired in my windshield because nobody was ever there..."Yeah, a few years ago someone had the bright idea to offer 'we come to you' service...and now everyone expects it." He said people RARELY come by the shop anymore...that they call, and he's supposed to take his shop to them.