How to hire a lumper

How to hire a lumper, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lumper hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lumper job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lumper
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The lumper hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A lumper's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, lumpers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of lumpers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Lumper	Description	Hourly rate
   Lumper	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$11-16
   Stage Hand	Stagehands are skilled employees who work in the television, film, or theatre to assist other crew members set up the sound, lighting, and other equipment as well as helping performers change into their costumes. These employees are required to hang banners, update marquees, and handle other signage within the venue as it is important for any production... Show more	$12-23
   Package Handler UPS	The primary job of package handlers is to assemble, seal, and load packages. They are responsible for tracking package information using scanners and sorting parcels according to destination... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Safety Standards
   • Unload Trucks
   • Safety Rules
   • Unload Trailers
   • Unload Product
   • RF Scanner
   • Truck Loads
   • Semi Trailers
   • Semi Trucks
   • Tractor Trailer
   • Production Sheets
   • Customer Orders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • help loading/unloading trailers with pallet jacks and dollies
   • Separate shipments of food/utensils onto pallets to be transport elsewhere.
   • Distribute production materials to designate locations on assembly lines observing the first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory control practice.
   • Work in shipping/receiving department operating motorize pallet jack used to load and unload semi-trailers.
   • Maintain warehouse records in accordance with inventory accuracy and ISO certification.

   More lumper duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lumper job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A lumper salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, lumpers' average salary in michigan is 34% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lumpers earn 31% less than senior-level lumpers.
   • Certifications. A lumper with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a lumper's salary.

   Average lumper salary

   $14.26hourly

   $29,651 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level lumper salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average lumper salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$33,941	$16
   2	New York	$32,586	$16
   3	California	$32,210	$15
   4	Utah	$32,094	$15
   5	Washington	$29,960	$14
   6	Arizona	$29,095	$14
   7	Missouri	$28,948	$14
   8	Texas	$28,014	$13
   9	South Carolina	$27,902	$13
   10	Illinois	$27,867	$13
   11	Tennessee	$26,314	$13
   12	Indiana	$26,304	$13
   13	Florida	$25,854	$12
   14	Georgia	$25,781	$12
   15	North Carolina	$24,135	$12
   16	Michigan	$23,051	$11

   Average lumper salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PepsiCo	$37,850	$18.20	5
   2	Ashley HomeStore	$32,677	$15.71
   3	KeHE	$30,740	$14.78
   4	A&R Logistics,Inc.	$30,698	$14.76
   5	Burris Logistics	$29,852	$14.35
   6	On Time Staffing	$29,295	$14.08
   7	Performance Food Group	$29,239	$14.06	133
   8	G&C Food Distributors	$28,922	$13.90	2
   9	Colorado Boxed Beef Company	$28,872	$13.88
   10	Kelly Services	$28,869	$13.88	99
   11	All Florida Paper	$28,838	$13.86
   12	Caliper Family of Companies	$28,626	$13.76
   13	BJ's Wholesale Club	$28,497	$13.70	30
   14	Elwood Staffing	$28,432	$13.67
   15	Aerotek	$28,419	$13.66	209
   16	PeopleReady	$28,285	$13.60	104
   17	Randstad North America, Inc.	$28,273	$13.59	7
   18	Staffmark	$28,242	$13.58	3
   19	Full Steam Staffing	$28,193	$13.55	3
   20	AtWork	$27,986	$13.45	24

4. Writing a lumper job description

   A good lumper job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a lumper job description:

   Lumper job description example

   Prepares pallets of out-going freight for shipping, transports pallets from the inventory staging areas with a fork truck, pallet jack or by hand into trailers, in the correct stop sequence, according to a predetermined loading plan, damage-free, observing all safety regulations and ensuring all quality standards are met while maintaining the efficient flow of product through the production process. Assists Order Selectors and performs other similar duties as requested or assigned by supervisor. Functions as a team member within the department and organization, as required, and perform any duties assigned to best serve the company.
   
   Follow all preferred work methods, safety policies and procedures per company guidelines. Ensure work area is safe and report any unsafe conditions and/or acts immediately. Review work schedule, perform safety check on equipment, obtain supplies required to perform the work and prepare for operations. Put on all required Personal Protective Equipment and Safety Gear.
   
   Inspect empty trailers at the loading dock to insure they are clean and clear before loading and take appropriate action as needed. Meet required productivity and accuracy standards per location and company guidelines.
   
   Move out going products from staging area to the loading dock with forklift. Wrap pallets with cellophane, secure load/pallets and make sure shipping labels are in place as needed.
   
   Transport items to be shipped into the trailer with a forklift, pallet jack or by hand in the correct stop sequence, according to a predetermined loading plan. Locate the proper slot on the trailer for the order, set it in place and secure the load when complete.
   
   Remove empty pallets, cardboard packing, and strapping to the proper area or receptacles. Inspect empty pallets for damage, stack and move pallets with pallet jack or forklift to the proper storage area.
   
   Perform general housekeeping duties and keep warehouse area, loading dock and trailers clear and clean as required. Remove batteries requiring recharging, replace with charged batteries and complete vehicle inspection checklist.
   
   Assist Order Selectors and perform other similar duties as requested or assigned by supervisor. At the end of the shift secure all equipment and complete all necessary paperwork.
   Performs other related duties as assigned.
   
   Schedule:
   
   Monday - Friday
   
   1AM - Finish

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right lumper for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lumper job on Zippia to find and recruit lumper candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit lumpers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lumper

   Once you've selected the best lumper candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new lumper first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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