From time to time, questions arise concerning the obligations of drivers for less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers when it comes to loading or unloading shipments. Does that obligation extend only as far as the receiver's dock door? Or must the driver shoulder all of the unloading responsibilities? This issue becomes particularly important when individual packages are quite heavy or unusually long.

While each LTL carrier is free to establish its own rules governing loading or unloading of shipments, most of the more than 1,200 LTL carriers that are party to the National Motor Freight Classification abide by the provisions of Item 568, a rule titled "Heavy or Bulky Freight—Loading or Unloading."

Under that rule, drivers' responsibilities for loading or unloading generally hinge on the length and weight of individual items.

The following are the four categories of packages and pieces used for determining drivers' loading and unloading responsibilities, as set out in Item 568:

(a) packages or pieces weighing 110 pounds or less

(b) packages or pieces weighing more than 110 pounds but less than 500 pounds

(c) packages or pieces weighing 500 pounds or more

(d) packages or pieces exceeding 8 feet in the greatest dimension, or 4 feet in each of the greatest and intermediate dimensions.

The driver's responsibility for categories (a), (c), and (d) are based solely on the weight and dimensions of the package. For packages weighing 110 pounds or less, the driver performs the loading and the unloading. For packages weighing 500 pounds or more, and for packages where the greatest dimension exceeds 8 feet or each of its greatest and intermediate dimensions exceed 4 feet, the consignor is responsible for loading and the consignee is responsible for unloading. In either case, the driver will assist in loading or unloading on request of the consignor or the consignee.

When it comes to category (b), however, another factor comes into play: whether or not the consignor or the consignee has a dock, platform, or ramp directly accessible to the carrier's vehicle. If the consignor or consignee has such a facility, then the driver must perform the loading or unloading. If it doesn't, the driver assists in loading or unloading only upon request.

There is also an exception for packages and pieces in category (b). If the consignor or consignee has a dock, platform, or ramp, the driver must load or unload packages or pieces that have the following dimensions:

• The greatest dimension exceeds 8 feet but does not exceed 22 feet, and the intermediate dimension does not exceed 2 feet, or
• The greatest dimension does not exceed 10 feet, the intermediate dimension does not exceed 5 feet, and the smallest dimension does not exceed 1 foot.

If you ship or receive oversized articles, be sure to check those measurements against the provisions of Item 568 before asking an LTL driver to load or unload them. The driver may in fact not be required to do so.