# Lumper fee

> A lumper fee is the charge for third-party labor ("lumpers") that loads or unloads a truck at a warehouse or distribution center, usually paid at the dock and billed back to the customer.

Many grocery, retail and food distribution centers do not let drivers unload. Instead, a lumper crew, often a contractor working at that facility, unloads the trailer, and the carrier is asked to pay before the paperwork is signed. The fee depends on the facility and the freight: a floor-loaded trailer takes far longer than one with neat pallets.

Federal law limits who can be made to carry that cost. Under 49 U.S.C. 14103, when a shipper or receiver requires loading or unloading assistance, it must either provide that assistance or compensate the owner or operator of the vehicle for all costs of it. The same section makes it unlawful to coerce a driver or carrier to load or unload, or to hire someone to do it. In practice carriers usually pay at the dock with a company check, card or electronic payment code and get reimbursed through the broker or shipper.

That reimbursement depends on paperwork. The lumper fee and reimbursement terms should be on the [rate confirmation](https://transportial.com/en-us/glossary/rate-confirmation), and the driver needs the lumper receipt with the facility name, amount and date. A photo of the receipt taken in the [driver app](https://transportial.com/en-us/product/driver-app) and attached to the order means the charge can go straight onto the invoice as an [accessorial charge](https://transportial.com/en-us/glossary/accessorial-charges).

## Frequently asked questions

### Who pays the lumper fee, the carrier or the shipper?

The shipper or receiver that requires the unloading assistance is responsible under federal law: it must provide the help or compensate the carrier for its cost. Commercially, the carrier often pays at the dock and is reimbursed by the broker or shipper, so get the reimbursement agreed in writing first.

### Can a receiver force a driver to pay a lumper?

Federal law makes it unlawful to coerce a carrier or driver to load or unload freight or to hire someone to do it. A carrier that is told to pay should document the demand, pay only against a receipt when the rate con covers reimbursement, and escalate to the broker right away.

### Why was my lumper reimbursement rejected?

Usually because the receipt is missing, illegible or does not match the load, or because the charge was not approved on the rate confirmation. Send the receipt with the invoice and the signed proof of delivery, and reference the load number on all three.


---
Canonical page: https://transportial.com/en-us/glossary/lumper-fee