Lumper
A third-party laborer or crew hired to load or unload freight at a warehouse, distribution center, or dock facility. Lumpers are independent of both the carrier and shipper, and are most common at grocery and retail DCs. While lumper services add cost, they speed up loading and unloading and protect drivers from having to handle freight they are not equipped or insured to move.
Detailed Explanation
A third-party laborer or crew hired to load or unload freight at a warehouse, distribution center, or dock facility. Lumpers are independent of both the carrier and shipper, and are most common at grocery and retail DCs. While lumper services add cost, they speed up loading and unloading and protect drivers from having to handle freight they are not equipped or insured to move.
Example
At a major grocery chain's DC, all inbound trucks are unloaded by a lumper crew. The driver pays $275 for the service, gets a receipt, and submits it to the broker for reimbursement.
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