No Touch vs Driver Work

It's really hard to say whether you will be glad or mad for taking a job where unloading could expected. My experience with grocery warehouses is that many of them really want you to pay for unloading. Now my time served going to grocery warehouses was over 10 years ago. So maybe things have changed. However, I've been delayed; had pallet jacks disappear when I am not looking; had "damages" when there really wasn't any damage (like a tear in a box, and the whole pallet is rejected), which can end up being a headache to deal with; and more. It's nice to have leverage that comes from your willingness to unload trailers. But I would be leary of any job that expects or requires you to unload. BTW-to answer your questions-I never felt the need to carry a roll of shrink wrap. It was always provided. And pallet jacks were always provided, and almost never were they battery powered. As far as breaking down pallets: you will get a list of every different SKU, and how many to a layer, and how many layers on a pallet. You probably want to avoid unloading yourself a trailer of 20-22 pallets that breaks down into say....60 pallets-unless you have a lot of time and your compesated well. Lumpers can get it done a lot faster.

 

I’ve done reefer ltl over 45 years...always did my own unloading
Until the Scamdemeic....most Still aren’t letting us in.,..so please get some more info etc before deciding
As to how to unload.,,,and this can get complicated depending on the facility.
If they leave you alone and don’t put other loads behind your door,,,,especially if using a pump jack
Break down on wagon.,,stack a couple and pull them out... Way exist on your back than pulling 2.5k pallets
If no breakdown required...then you’re gonna have to just muscle them
But pay attention..,watch how things go.,,you’ll find there’s only 2-3 ways grocery whse operates...and they’re all similar.
Don’t say much first few times...get to know the actual receivers...not the pumpers who’ll be acting like they run the place
You’ll be surprised how many receivers...the people that actually ck in your load will be happy to work with you when they realize you understand their procedures and can be helpful to them
Also know before you ever start.,.how much you’ll be compensated for.,,you’ll be surprised how far a 20 in the right hands can go
Good Luck

 

You’ll soon be hating life using a warehouse pallet jack. You can get by with a cheap one for a while, but if you’re doing it every day,then spend the money on a crown or Raymond jack.
Pay attention to how the pallets are staged on the floor. Some places are sideways, others are straight and some are no double stacks.
Some places wrap the top layers, and some the whole pallet.

 

A few things worth mentioning: it used to cost $50 at any Walmart to just pull a load of spuds with maybe 1 layer of breakdown-don't remember clearly. Seems like not even a question as whether to pay. Potatoes are heavy. I figured out once 'cause I was in a hurry to get unloaded that if you decide to pull it yourself, one if the staff will pull it for you. I tried it other times at other Walmarts and pretty much the same. Still had to breakdown though. Another: like said, get a feel for the place. HEB in San Antonio would charge $75 to straight pull a load of spuds (I live in potatoes country). When I started doing it sometimes, they brought the price down to $45. They knew me as I went in regularly. Like said, it's complicated to get a good picture of what it will be like. Above all, just be curious and polite, no matter how long your waiting. Run your grievances up the proper channels.

 

electric pallet jacks are the way to go,

 

I know one of their facilities in San Antonio (the snack plant, IIRC) has one of those tipper things that lifts the whole truck and trailer up in the air and dumps all the potatoes out the back.

 

I unloaded my trailer 1 time. After the customer complained on how I unloaded it, they wanted me to restack #### so i did. IT was a pain in the ### so thats when I said Bzzt never again.