Broker Not Paying Lumper Reimbursement? How Carriers Get It Back

Not legal advice. This is a document-preparation tool, not a law firm. Results aren't guaranteed. Verify all info with FMCSA and consult an attorney for legal questions.

Not legal advice. UnpaidLoad is a document-preparation tool, not a law firm. Verify facts with FMCSA and talk to an attorney about your contract and state law.

You paid a few hundred dollars to get unloaded, sent the receipt, and the broker paid the linehaul but not the lumper. On a thin-margin load, that unpaid reimbursement can wipe out the profit. Here's how to get it back.

Check the broker first. It's free.

See authority status, authority age, BMC-84/85 on file, and the surety name from FMCSA records.

Broker owes you? Build a demand letter + bond-claim packet for

9. What federal law says about lumping

Federal law addresses lumping directly. Under 49 U.S.C. 14103 (loading and unloading), when a shipper or receiver requires that a driver be assisted with loading or unloading, the shipper or receiver is responsible for providing that assistance or compensating the owner or operator for all costs of securing and paying the person who provides it. The same section makes it unlawful to coerce or attempt to coerce a driver to load or unload, or to hire someone to do it.

On a brokered load, though, reimbursement usually runs through the broker, and the details come from your rate confirmation. That's where most disputes are won or lost.

Step 1: Check the rate con terms

Look for the lumper or accessorial section. Typical terms include:

Reimbursable with receipt: the broker pays back the amount on a valid receipt.
Approval required: you must call for a lumper approval or a payment code before paying.
Broker-paid: the broker pays the lumper directly with a payment service check or code, so you shouldn't pay out of pocket.
Submission deadline: receipts due within a set number of days.
Caps: reimbursement up to a stated amount.

If the rate con is silent, email the broker before you pay and get approval in writing. See rate confirmations.

Step 2: Get a receipt that holds up

A weak receipt is the top reason lumper reimbursements are denied. A good one shows:

Facility name and address.
Date and time.
Amount paid and the payment method.
Load, PO, or appointment number.
The lumper service's name, and a signature or receipt number.

Take a clear photo before you leave the dock. If the facility won't give a receipt, write down who refused, when, and tell the broker in writing right away.

Step 3: Invoice it with the load

Put the lumper as its own line item on the invoice, with the receipt and any approval number attached. Send it with the POD. Sending everything together starts the payment clock on all of it and avoids "we never got the receipt."

Step 4: Find out why it wasn't paid

If the payment arrives short, ask for a written explanation and a remittance breakdown. Common reasons and responses:

"No approval." Send the approval message or call log. If you called the after-hours line, include the time and who answered.
"Receipt missing or illegible." Resend a clear copy and ask them to confirm receipt.
"Over the cap." Check the rate con. If you were told on the phone the full amount was approved, you'll need it in writing.
"The receiver disputes it." Your agreement is with the broker. Point to the rate con and the receipt.

A missing lumper is a short-pay like any other deduction. See how to dispute a short pay.

Step 5: Ask for the transaction record

Brokers must keep a record of each brokered shipment for three years, including freight charges collected, non-brokerage charges, and the date of payment to the carrier, and each party to the transaction has the right to review it (49 CFR 371.3). If you suspect the broker billed the shipper for the lumper and kept it, a written records request can help. See our guide to the 49 CFR 371.3 transparency request.

Step 6: Check the broker, then escalate

Run the broker through our free Broker Check to see authority and bond status from FMCSA. Then:

Send a final demand for the lumper amount, with the receipt, rate con term, and a firm pay-by date. Name the surety. See how to write a demand letter.
File a bond claim if the deadline passes. The broker's $75,000 BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust exists to pay carriers when the broker fails to carry out its transportation contracts (49 CFR 387.307). Whether a surety pays a lumper claim depends on its review and your proof. See how to file a bond claim.
Report it. A complaint in FMCSA's FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database doesn't collect money, but it creates a record.

If you factor

If your factoring company bought the invoice, tell them before you contact the broker about the shortage. They may chase it for you, or they may charge it back to you. See factoring chargebacks.

Prevent it next time

Ask before booking: "Is lumper reimbursed? Do I need approval? Is there a cap?"
Call for approval before you pay, and email a summary of the call.
Ask the broker to pay the lumper directly with a payment code when possible.
Photograph every receipt at the dock.
Invoice the lumper with the POD the same day.

Broker sitting on your lumper money?

Our $19 packet creates a demand letter and BMC-84 bond-claim letter with the receipt listed as an exhibit. Or check the broker free first.

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Sources

FAQ

Who is supposed to pay for lumpers?
Under 49 U.S.C. 14103(a), when a shipper or receiver requires that a driver be assisted with loading or unloading, the shipper or receiver is responsible for providing the help or compensating the owner or operator for the costs. Who reimburses you on a brokered load usually depends on your rate confirmation.

What do I need to get reimbursed?
Usually the original lumper receipt showing the facility, date, amount, and load or PO number, plus any approval number the broker issued. Check your rate con for the exact requirements and deadline.

Can the broker refuse because I sent the receipt late?
Some rate cons set a deadline to submit receipts. Whether a late receipt can be refused depends on your contract. Submit receipts with your invoice the same day to avoid the issue.

Check the broker first. It's free.

See authority status, authority age, BMC-84/85 on file, and the surety name from FMCSA records.

Broker owes you? Build a demand letter + bond-claim packet for $19.

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Not legal advice. This is a document-preparation tool, not a law firm. Results aren't guaranteed. Verify all info with FMCSA and consult an attorney for legal questions.