Fingerprinting Loads (that Is - DRIVER UNLOADS)

Aside from the obvious - Dollar Store type dedicated accounts, where every load is a "driver unload".

How often is, say a Prime Reefer Driver (for example) going to run into a situation where they have to unload a trailer themselves?

Reason I'm asking...

As some of y'all know - just went through a hernia surgery that escalated from a "minor 2 hour outpatient procedure" (for 3 hernias) to a 5 hour (6 hernias) 4-day hospital stay.

I'm healing well, but there's still a question as to how much I'm going to be able to handle weight-wise - and I'm certainly not going to consider a position where I've gotta drag 30 pallets of goods off a trailer. I've still got another month before the surgeon will write me a "full duty release", and probably another month after that before I'm fully healed.

So - how often have our members here, actually had to fingerprint a load?

Not talking about a "live load" - where you have to wait for someone to load/unload the box.

Rick

I run dry van about 99% of the time and have never had to unload. I trained exclusively on reefer and out of the twenty or so loads I did during that time I never had to unload, either. The closest I've ever come is having a few cases of refused freight that need to be taken off the trailer. With that said, I would explain your situation to your DM when you get out on the road and ask that you be excluded from any loads where they know driver unload is required. That is reasonable accommodation and any company should be fine with it.

I'm a Swift reefer driver, 4 months solo (6 months out if you include time with trainers) and never had to touch a load. Never heard other drivers in my division mention having to do it either. One time I got to a grocery store and there were not enough people working to help me unload. At the time, I didn't know I could offer to unload myself, so the store called someone to come to work and unload me. Typically, we are not even allowed to unload for insurance reasons unless specifically asked to by Swift or the receiver. If I see the receiver is understaffed, I can offer to unload. At least, that's what I was told over Qualcomm.

But, to answer your question, being required to unload your own trailer as an otr driver (with Swift, unsure of other companies) is practically unheard of.

Rick asks:

So - how often have our members here, actually had to fingerprint a load?

I have never "had" to. However on occasion I have helped to restack a really bad leaning pallet or a spilled pallet or give the unloader a push if using a manual pallet jack. I believe it helps establish some mutual respect, common ground with the unloaders.

I am not required to do any of it, in fact I am fairly sure Swift would prefer if I left any lifting up to the store personnel.

W Stevens (2005) I assisted in unloading plants one time. Other than that it was lumpers or dock workers.

We always use lumpers. We send in for a po number then write an EFS check.

But then again we only run DC to DC. Delivering to individual stores you might not have lumpers you can hire.

If I were you, I would talk to your DM and explain the situation. Since driver unloads are so rare they should be able to keep you away from anywhere that you would have to unload.

I have only had 1 time where I had to unload I was delivering chocolate to a place that makes those fancy chocolate covered Apple's and I had to pull 2 pallets off the truck. I used their pallet jack and took them off. The only other time I've ever had to move anything was when a customer refused some product and put it back on the trailer on a pallet. I think the pallet weighed more than the product lol

I've never touched freight. I have had to watch them load and count the pallets. But prime pays for lumpers to unload. I think this is supposed to be a choice and you can unload and get paid if you want.... but I haven't met a driver yet who choses.

I've only been doing dry van for a couple months now, I'm with a small company and I've only once had to restack a pallet that the product slid off pallet. I went over Mt Hood crazy curves, guess I took one to fast, lol.

Solo? Never. Maybe to toss a rejected pallet into a dumpster (if Prime says to dispose of course).

If you run team the only loads that you would unload yourself is flowers at Prime. As far as I know no one runs flowers solo.