The movement of goods relies on numerous logistics roles, with trucking being a prominent career path. Within the transportation sector, job descriptions dictate the specific duties a driver performs upon reaching a destination. A significant differentiator is “touch freight,” which defines a specific labor expectation for the driver. Understanding this term is foundational to evaluating different trucking opportunities.
What Does Touch Freight Actually Mean?
Touch freight refers to a shipping arrangement where the truck driver is directly responsible for the physical loading or unloading of the cargo. This role mandates the driver to interact with the product itself at the point of origin or destination. This labor model means the driver’s duties extend beyond operating the vehicle to include direct manipulation of the goods being delivered.
The Physical Duties of Handling Freight
The labor involved in touch freight often begins with manually breaking down a palletized load or stacking loose boxes inside the trailer. Drivers are required to hand-unload individual boxes from the truck and move them into the receiver’s designated storage area. This work requires considerable muscular exertion and stamina, especially when dealing with heavy or bulky items.
Moving product often necessitates the use of material handling equipment, such as a manual or electric pallet jack, to transport goods from the trailer to the receiving dock. Drivers may also use a two-wheeled dolly to move stacks of cases down a ramp or into a facility. The driver is frequently tasked with organizing or stacking the product within the delivery location, sometimes placing items directly onto shelves or into coolers.
The exact degree of physical labor can vary widely. One company might require only moving a few pallets to the rear of the trailer, while another demands a full breakdown and internal placement of a 48,000-pound load. Assessing the job’s physical demands is a necessary step for any driver considering a touch freight route.
Comparing Touch Freight to No-Touch Operations
The operational model of touch freight stands in contrast to “no-touch” operations, where the driver’s role is strictly transport. In no-touch environments, such as drop-and-hook scenarios, the driver simply exchanges a full trailer for an empty one. Warehouse staff or the consignee’s personnel handle all movement of goods on and off the trailer.
No-touch operations mean the driver’s time is dependent on the efficiency of the warehouse crew, leading to potential delays outside of the driver’s control. Waiting for a slow dock team can consume valuable hours of a driver’s legally permitted driving time.
Touch freight, conversely, places the responsibility for the timeline directly with the driver, giving them control over the entire unloading process. The physical labor is intense, yet the driver manages the pace and can often complete the delivery faster than waiting for an external lumper crew. This trade-off involves physical exertion in exchange for greater autonomy over the delivery schedule and potential reduction in detention time.
Compensation and Pay Structures
Because of the added physical exertion and time required, jobs involving touch freight generally offer a higher earning potential than standard hauling routes. The pay structure is tailored to compensate for the labor performed outside of driving. One common model is a flat rate payment for each delivery stop that requires unloading, offering a predictable bonus on top of the standard mileage pay.
Other carriers utilize an hourly pay structure specifically for the time spent performing physical unloading duties at the destination. This hourly rate applies after the driver has arrived and begun the touch work, ensuring compensation matches the actual labor duration. This structure incentivizes the driver to work efficiently, as the extra pay stops once the trailer is empty.
The industry concept of a “lumper fee” relates to the physical work. A lumper is an independent, third-party worker hired by the receiver to unload the truck. When a driver performs the touch freight themselves, they replace the lumper service, and the carrier compensates the driver directly for that labor instead of paying the external fee.
Common Industries That Use Touch Freight
The majority of touch freight operations occur within time-sensitive sectors, primarily food and beverage distribution.
Food and Beverage Distribution
Food service drivers routinely deliver mixed loads to restaurants and grocery stores, often requiring them to move cases into coolers and dry storage areas using a hand truck. Beverage delivery is another frequent example, where drivers stack and rotate heavy kegs or cases of drinks onto store shelves or into backrooms.
Retail Distribution
Certain retail distribution models also utilize this system, expecting drivers to not only unload the truck but also to assist with immediate product placement on the store floor. These roles demand a driver who is physically capable of repetitive lifting and maneuvering heavy loads throughout an entire shift.