Lumper

A third-party worker paid to load or unload freight from a trailer, often required at grocery warehouses and food distribution centers.

A 'lumper' or lumper service refers to independent, third-party labor hired to unload (or sometimes load) a truck's cargo. This practice is most common in the food and grocery sector, particularly at large distribution centers. The receiver (consignee) often mandates the use of their preferred lumper service for efficiency and liability reasons, preventing the driver from unloading the freight themselves. Federal regulation 49 CFR § 392.7 prohibits anyone from coercing a driver to load or unload freight or to hire a lumper. The cost for the lumper service is typically paid by the driver at the time of service, and the driver is given a receipt. The carrier then submits this receipt to the shipper or broker for full reimbursement. It is critical for drivers to get a detailed receipt and for dispatchers to ensure the lumper fee reimbursement is clearly stated on the rate confirmation before accepting the load.

Example

A driver arrives at a grocery DC with a trailer full of produce. The facility requires a lumper service. The lumper charges the driver $350 to unload the 40,000 lbs of cargo. The driver pays, receives a receipt clearly marked 'Lumper Receipt', and submits it with the POD for a full $350 reimbursement from the broker.