Center for Transportation Research and Education

About the research

The purpose of this research was to provide a contemporary view of lumping and lumping practices. Lumping has long been recognized as a fact of life in the motor carrier industry. However, the economic factors associated with lumping have become more important to motor carriers, which are forced by increasingly competitive conditions to provide more services to customers, including loading and unloading, without increased rates to cover their costs. Lumping issues and problems can confront not only motor carriers but also shippers and receivers and have the potential to adversely affect shipper-carrier relationships.

This research investigated (1) the nature and extent of lumping as currently practiced in the United States; (2) the benefits and problems associated with lumping for motor carriers, shippers, receivers, and drivers; and (3) the important managerial and public policy implications of current lumping practices.