Lumper fees: paying to unload your own freight 🚛

You just drove hundreds of miles. You made it to the dock. Delivery's about to happen ✅ Then someone hands you a bill for $200-300 💸 That's a lumper fee — third-party labor that unloads your trailer, most common at grocery and retail warehouses. You didn't order it. You usually can't skip it. No payment, no unloading — doesn't matter how far you drove to get there 🚫 Here's what a lot of new drivers don't know: you're not supposed to be stuck covering this out of pocket. Federal law (49 USC §14103) says drivers can't be coerced into paying for unloading without getting reimbursed ⚖️ So what do you actually do? 🤔 ✅ Ask your broker for a ComChek or payment code before you arrive — most issue one in 15-30 minutes ✅ Get lumper terms in writing on the rate confirmation before accepting the load ✅ Always grab a receipt if you do pay — no receipt usually means no reimbursement One question before you accept a load can save you $150-300. Ask it every time 📝

Source: Milebit