Tailgating...Question for Dry Van Drivers.. ???

I'd have no problem doing manual labor, what I have a problem with is doing it for free. 32cpm, 45cpm, etc is mileage pay. What that means is you get paid for driving, not sitting, loading unloading, tarping, chaining, tailgating etc. Do dock workers load you off the clock for free, does anybody else work for free off the clock.... No that is against labor laws and is illegal. But we're truck drivers so that doesn't apply to us, so let's just say suck it up buttercup.

 

My experience is the opposite, unless it is a company doing specialized freight like furniture.
For most small companies you will rarely be doing driver assist unloading. Does it happen? Sure, but it's the exception and not the rule.
If you are more worried about pay, simply find out what the accessory pay is at that company and see if it's worth it.

 

For free?

 

I did a few loads of insulation, I would let them know if it was a ground (no dock at all) delivery. Then they would put a bunch of fibreglass/plastic beads on the floor. Boy did that ever make it easy to push those bundles around, like gliding on ball bearings. I just pushed them right off the back and their front end loader would scoop them up.
Sometimes doing peat moss I would deliver direct to a farm. One time the fellow had a pallet jack, I brought them to the back for him. Afterwards he gave me a $10 tip, a sandwich and filled my coffee cup.

 

Of course it depends on where you work.

Tailgating is half-### unloading. Now the trucking company that tailgates does not want to call it unloading because they would be more obligated to pay you.

The consignee always hears tailgating as unloading, so they not only expect you to move it to the tailgate but drag it in their home, office, shop, or warehouse. You can sit their and argue the fact with the customers and your trucking company but they all know it is going to cost you more money and time to get an understanding between parties then it is to drag the crap where the customer wants. They are wagering on the fact you will do the the free work. So, if you got to tailgate make sure your paid by the hour.

 

I've tailgated twice in nearly 7 years, and both times it was very light objects like fiberglass bathtubs.
In the empty call there is a box to check for driver unload, and that will be checked. Simply tailgating or not, I'll get paid the same.

If it is heavy stuff I won't do it. I'm getting too old for that and I'm not paid enough ($25 for a driver unload).
If the load says driver unload in the pplan I will refuse it, unless it is something light.
After 3 hernia operations I'm not about to push my luck on a fourth.

 

Carpets in rolls would be it. Tile would be another. No dock needed, just stick the product and pallet on the edge of the doors, man on ground with forklift come fetch it.

In LTL work we did transload into back of a pickup truck onto the gate. They go away with it, come back in a few moments and so far so good.

 

Your work ethic is way too high for this industry and you're giving away trade secrets. You're Fired! Lol

 

Except man on ground did NOT have forklift. Rope, chain and his pickup truck did the unloading onto a half-*** dolly. I told him any damage to the roll was on him. No damage after all.