lumper fees...why???

I don't mind unloading, but there ain't no way I'm taking 20 pallets of stuff and turning it into 50 pallets. To me, 'driver unload' is just that, not break it down separate it, shrink wrap it etc.

These guys shoved the top layer of boxes of batteries off the top of 2 pallets, each lumper got 2 big boxes of AA batteries and 10 of the boxes were 'refused' and reloaded on my empty trailer. Now this just ruins my plans for my next load because I have to contact someone to figure out what to do with all this stuff. Finally they say just stick it inside your truck and bring it to the next terminal. No they are going to have to pony up some cash for me to go out of my way like that.

 

It was times like that where I invested $20 (quietly) to the forklift guy & then got a return of $150. Not that bad of an investment I think. Even if it took an hour, I made $150 an hour !! And most of the time the heaviest thing is the pallets.

 

Thing I hated was if I unloaded the company would get smart and I'd only get $40 for the unload regardless of how heavy or how long it took. And the Consignees would never allow acess to such luxuries as a forklift or power-pallet jack.

But they'd turn around and cut a $300 comcheck for a guy with a forklift to do 10 minutes of unloading.

Da heck?

Heck Driver, you just sell that stuff as you go. Have you never heard of stuff falling off the turnip truck?

2 Christmas's ago everyone in my family got a case of paper plates. NO DISHWASHING FOR A MONTH! MERRY CHISRTMAS!

 

I guess it depends on the warehouse. The places I've been to would never let the driver use the forkift, or any other specialised device, not even if you are fork lift certified. So then it's palletjack only, and elbow grease.
My company would pay me $40 to unload a trailer, but they approve a lumper fee of $250; go figure. If I tried to bypass that system by cutting the comcheck to myself, I'd really risk disciplinary action. I don't think they would look at that kindly, if they found out. Be very carefull before you do something like that.

 

Allow Me, you are among many here with the proper info. on subjects like this one. I can remember lumpers back in the mid 70`s. Lots of times they were by the gates of the companies, and the companies had contacts with them, and they were ready to work. Lumpers have been a part of trucking for many years.

 

Also you got to know the lumpers and you knew they did a good job for decent $.

Then it seemed to be a free for all at some places anybody could be a lumper.

 

Times are changing. Osha has entered the fray and now requires "certified training" for operators of power equipment. Example; warehouses in Pa will ask the driver; "are you certified to operate an electric pallet jack, fork lift, clamp truck, etc." If you say yes, they will ask you to produce the proof, which is a card that states you were trained on a specific date by a specific person. Without this "certification" you will be forced to either use a hand jack to unload the product or hire the lumper service. Of course in the case of a floor load no equipment is required other than your own back. Don't even get me started about sorting or switching product from large wood to small wood.

On a side note; carriers are not stupid when it comes to lumper fees either. They will make it very clear to new recruits that falsifying a lumper receipt and collecting the higher fee for yourself can result in termination for theft. Prime example of a company that frowns on this? JB Hunt. Recipts will require a name, a tax id # or SS # and address. Paying cash out of pocket is frowned upon as well as making the check payable to the driver. Companies want the check made out to the lumper service so there is a traceable paper trail back to the lumper.

This "practice" has been going on way too long. Lumping should be outlawed. The warehouses should be forced to hire the necessary personnel to load, unload, sort, and segregate the prouct as needed. Drivers should not even be permitted on the dock to count the freight on either end. It should be the shippers responsibility to load the correct amount and the receivers responsibility to unload the product in a timely manner. Any discrepancies should be handled through the offices and documenting the seal was affixed to the trailer before the load left the shipper and was intact upon arrival at the receiver.

Let the warehouses hire some folks and pay workers comp. That alone would help our country turn things around in regard to the +10% unemployment rate.

 

I have only been to one place that let the driver use the forklift. Actually it was required, & it was the only way to get unloaded. Been to lots of places that let you the power jacks that you stand on.

If the company okays you to use lumpers, for instance; you pay the lumper service from your pocket then all your doing is getting reimbursed with your comcheck. Make out a receipt to "Seymor Green" SIN# 12345679. This always worked for me no matter who I was working for. Companies don't care as long as they can write it off.

 

I RUN NEW ENGLAND WITH MEAT LOADS AND I UNLOAD ALL MY STOPS, TRUE I DONT GET PAID AS MUCH AS LUMPER SERVICES DO, BUT ITS NOT BAD, THERE I GOOD AND BAD, HERE IS THE GOOD I GET PAID 5$ PER PALLET, SO LETS SAY I HAVE 24 PALLETS I WILL MAKE 120$ TO TAKE PRODUCT OFF OR BREAK IT DOWN, THE BAD SOMETIMES AND MOST OF TIMES MOST PLACES DO NOT LET THE DRIVERS UE FORKLIFTS OR ELECTRIC JACKS(DONT MATTER IF YOU CERTIFIED OR NOT) SOO YOU HAVE TO USE A MANUAL JACK, NOW THAT SUCKS SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN A PALLET WEIGHTS CLOSE TO 2,000 POUNDS, AND YOU GOT 20 TO PULL OFF, MAKES MY LEGS FEEL LIKE JELLY AFTER USUALLY 15 PALLETS lol lol. HERE ARE THE PLUSE SOME PLACE YOU CAN USE ELECTRIC RIDING JACKS, TAKES 20 MINUTES TO PULL OF 20 PALLETS AND I MAKE 100$, I HAVE THE SAME STOPS SO THE RECEIVERS KNOW ME AND CHECK ME OUT AS SOON AS IM DONE, 90% OF RECEIVERS WILL CHECK AND TAKE CARE OF THE DRIVER THATS ON THE DOCK WAY BEFORE A ONE THAT HIRES A LUMPER, AK THE DRIVERS THAT HIRE LUMPERS, USUALLY 4 HOUR STOP TO GET CHECKED OUT, BUT I DONT BLAME THE RECEIVER THEY GET PAID BY THE HOUR NOT HOW MANY TRUCKS THEY GET IN AND OUT DURING THEUR SHIFT, I USUALLY DO BETWEEN 300$ TO 450$ A WEEK FROM BREAKDOWNS AND PULL OFF ALONE, I RUN NEW ENGLAND FROM PA 3-4 NIGHTS A WEEK HOME EVERY DAY AND ALWAYS HOME ON WEEKENDS ( lol paper logs you go to love them) I GROSS BETWEEN 1,200$ TO 1,500$ A WEEK WORKING 3 TO 4 NIGHTS, IT PAYS TO DO A LITTLE MORE, NOW I DONT BLAME THE GUYS THAT DONT DO IT BECAUSE THEY JUST DROVE 1,000 STRAIGHT MILES TO GET TO THEIR STOP, I WOULDNT TOUCH THAT FREIGHT EITHER, OR THE OLDER DRIVERS, OR DRIVERS THAT THEIR COMPANY WOULD PAY THEM 40$ TO UNLOAD THE WHOLE TRAILER, I WOULDNT DO IT EITHER, I DO IT BECAUSE I MAKE EXTRA MONEY DOESNT TAKE LONG IM IN AND OUT OF PLACES, AND MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I WAS OVER THE ROAD WITH MY COMPANY 5 DAYS ON 2 DAYS OFF, I MAKE THE SAME AND MORE SOMETIMES THEN BEFORE, JUST WITH 3 TO 4 HOURS OF WORK ON THE DOCK> SO WHAT AM I GONA DO BE GONE ALL WEEK OR LUMP FOR 4 HOURS?????
DONT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO ANSWEAR THAT ONE

 

and this is why drivers get screwed at the receivers dock. If all of us just refused to be taken advantage of. It's their #### freight, they can take it off the truck and sort it out till the cows come home. And I'M NOT PAYING THEM TO DO IT EITHER!!!