What Is a Lumper Service?
If your company brings in large containers of goods, someone has to unload those goods and get them where they need to go in your warehouse. This can be a lot of work and very taxing on your labor costs. This labor can be used more effectively elsewhere in your business.
So what do you do when you have a large container of goods and you don't want to waste precious labor hours? Hire a lumper service!
Lumper services are third-party operations hired by the shipper, carrier, broker, or warehouse to unload freight from a trailer or container when it arrives at a warehouse facility. Lumpers understand how to properly unload trailers securely and efficiently while operating in the confines of a warehouse’s standard operating procedures.
When a company engages with a lumper service, they understand how costly unloading trucks can truly be. Lumper services typically use a team of professionals who can move products efficiently and at a fairly low cost, depending on the number of SKUs and the complexity of the work.
Why Pay Lumpers?
Some companies move a lot of freight. While you may have plenty of workers, pulling them from vital projects to unload products can take away a lot of time. This is especially apparent in food warehouses where trucks may come in and out throughout the day.
Depending on the volume of deliveries, it may be much more cost-effective to simply hire a third-party service to take care of unloading.
The Role of Lumper Services in Modern Logistics
If you own a warehouse, lumper services can offer you help with plenty of things. For one, they ensure a swift and accurate movement of goods in and out of your facilities. Their main responsibilities include:
- Loading and Unloading: Lumpers are tasked with efficiently unloading cargo from trucks upon arrival at a facility and loading it onto pallets or within the warehouse.
- Palletizing and Repacking: They often handle palletizing or repacking goods to optimize storage and distribution.
- Sorting and Organizing: Lumpers may sort and organize items based on specific criteria, such as product type, destination, or route.
- Quality Inspection: They conduct initial checks to ensure that the goods are intact and undamaged during transit.
- Documentation and Record-Keeping: Lumpers may assist in documenting and recording the inventory and its movement within the facility.
Additional Benefits of Lumper Services
1) For Truck Drivers
Truck drivers are already overworked, and lumper services can help take the strain off of them. With high volumes of stops and heavy truckloads, many drivers are unable to help unload like they used to.
Relieving drivers of the added task can give them a break and allow them to get back on the road quicker. These lumper service-assisted deliveries also allow drivers to stay well within their ELD mandates, which limit the number of hours drivers can drive.
2) Flexibility
When working with a lumper service, there are more opportunities to be flexible when adapting to varying demands. For example, if your company experiences unexpected spikes in shipping or receiving activity, you can engage with a lumper service to offload the workload so that your staff can focus on the job at hand.
3) How Much Does It Cost?
Lumper fees can be anywhere from $25 - $500 or more, depending on various factors of the shipment. Rates are typically determined by the number of labor hours but can also be impacted by the size of a shipment, weight, etc. At the end of the day, it depends on the contract that the lumper service has worked out with the warehouse or shipping company.
Costs are almost always calculated at the end of a load so that any additional fees can be accounted for. Lumper services are then paid out by either the trucking company or the warehouse.
In the complex and fast-paced world of logistics, every component plays a crucial role in maintaining the smooth flow of goods from one point to another.
Lumper services, with their efficiency, expertise, and time-saving advantages, are a fundamental part of this intricate web. By understanding the significance of lumper services, businesses can optimize their operations and contribute to a more efficient and reliable supply chain.
Appalachian Movers Transport
Need a freight unloading service? Look no further than Appalachian Movers Transport.
Our professional movers will unload your freight efficiently and cost-effectively. We can make your next freight delivery or even help you move your office with the help of our ramp and liftgate service. Contact us today for a free estimate!