Lumper fee

What the law says

Under 49 U.S.C. 14103, when a shipper or receiver requires that a truck owner or operator be assisted with loading or unloading, the shipper or receiver must provide that help or reimburse the owner or operator for the cost. It's also unlawful to coerce a carrier into loading or unloading the freight or paying someone else to do it.

Source: 49 U.S.C. 14103, Cornell Legal Information Institute · checked 2026-10

In practice

At many grocery and retail distribution centers, the receiver uses a lumper service. The driver is asked to pay, then gets the money back through the broker. That's where things go wrong: no receipt, no reimbursement terms, or a fee higher than expected.

Lumper fee charged

$275

Paid by

Broker's payment code

Receipt

Required, with load number

On the rate con

Lumper: reimbursed with receipt

Out of pocket

$0

EXAMPLE values. Methods and amounts vary by facility and broker.

Getting reimbursed

• Ask before you book: is it a lumper load, and how is the lumper paid? Broker payment codes, a fuel card advance, or you pay and get reimbursed.
• Get it on the rate con: the reimbursement terms in writing.
• Get a receipt every time, with the load number, and send it with your paperwork.
• Add it to the invoice as its own line.

More on reading these terms in our rate confirmation guide and dry van loads.

Is a lumper fee the same as detention?

No. The lumper fee pays for unloading labor. Detention pays you for waiting past free time. A long lumper unload can lead to both.

What's a driver unload or driver assist?

You do the unloading, or help, instead of a lumper. That's extra work and should pay extra; get the amount on the rate con before you agree to it. A live load or unload means you wait while it happens, whoever does the work.