Loading Cargo

[hoover]

Are cargo pilots expected to load and unload their own freight? Do they get paid extra to do so?

 

[cougar6903]

Are cargo pilots expected to load and unload their own freight? Do they get paid extra to do so?

Usually yes. No.

 

[gt2]

sometimes and sometimes. Depends on who you work for and where you are.

 

[pilotyip]

Loading cargo is part of the job in the on-demand business. At our company if the load is over a certain amount the crew can get paid. Crew must always supervise the loading, tie down the cargo and put the cargo net in place

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

That's what we have Loadmasters for ........... worth their weight in gold!

 

[pilotyip]

we carry loadmasters also, they best seats in the house on the left and right side of the cockpit and get to fly the airplanes between loading and unloading spots.

 

[wmudriver]

in my former cargo days, I did have to load(75% of the time) and tie down. 50% of the time we got paid extra for it. An extra 75 bucks. Its not that big of a deal, except when its 400 pirelli tires.

 

[CaptainMark]

Got paid nothing extra to load the bank checks...lucky to get paid at all back then ...but pilotyip.. the best seat in the house is my couch when i get bumped for trainging nowadays

 

[wmudriver]

Don't forget keep that j-bar away from the twig and berries

 

[leardawg]

Definitely part of the job with 135 freight. Anyone not able or willing to do heavy lifting should look elsewhere for a liveliehood.

I remember freight delivery/pickup guys talking about one or two Lear or Falcon jockeys refusing to lift a finger loading or unloading while the guy was busting a hump (one guy was told by a pilot that "it was beneath someone in his line of work" or something like that!). Now THAT'S a tool!

 

[FearlessFreep]

Doing Fedex Feeders you are not required to load the aircraft. When I was flying Feeders is was expressly forbidden to do any loading. The rationale was that you might put your back out or otherwise become hurt or disabled and the flight would not be able to depart on time.

Now I have done a lot of loading otherwise. The 900# truck transmissions come to mind. That's where I learned about Skates and J-Bars. Just remember not to get your hand pinched between the handle of the J-Bar and the roof of the fuselage. There is not a lot of room in the Metro!

 

[pilotyip]

Worst loose load I ever had was 120 mini vans tailpipes, 10' long, multiple hangers and brackets that locked they together after them were stacked in the back of the DA-20. Took almost 1/2 hour to untangle them, however I did get paid for that one.

 

[Wankel7]

Are cargo pilots expected to load and unload their own freight? Do they get paid extra to do so?

In mexico they jump in there and get that thing loaded faster than you can go bueno

 

[Bringupthebird]

I shoulda asked the owner of my old DC-3 outfit that question. He always loved a good laugh.

Worst load? 3 crates of oven glass for Magic Chef ovens. The crates were to flimsy to be moved with the winch and the j-bar wouldn't budge 'em. The full nose down end of the trim cable got excercised, though.

Some companies won't allow you to unload freight because they pay their disability and workers comp premiums based on the classification of pilot, not freight handler, and the insurer may not pay the claim.

 

[CargoMatatu]

That's what we have Loadmasters for ........... worth their weight in gold!

Thank you, B747FR8DAWG. Nice to know someone appreciates us!

Matatu Man

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Thank you, B747FR8DAWG. Nice to know someone appreciates us!

Matatu Man

:beer:

 

[Windsor]

It depends on the company you work for if you get paid or not. At my last employer I didnt, my current one I do.

 

[FR8dognit]

From my days as an on demand part 135 fr8dog....if you don't do what it takes to get the job done...you didn't last that long. The job is what it is. It is no place to stay for your whole career (in my opinion...and I am speaking of on-demand part 135 fr8) but it does allow a lot of guys/gals the opportunity to gain experience they would otherwise not have gotten.
Loading cargo is part of the job. I don't know how other places are but at Cherry Air I was told up front about the specific things....good and bad....that were expected of me. Do your homework before you accept a job and you will know if you are going to have to do something you don't want to do.

 

[falcondriver]

Used to load my own cargo at Cherry. Except in lovely Mexico...
FD

 

[leardawg]

"You load sixteen tons, whatta you get, another day older and further in debt..."

 

[FN FAL]

We don't load or unload our planes or rig the nets, but we're paid to ensure that it all gets done correctly.

I did have to jump in the back today to re-secure the straps because the kid that did so did an unsatisfactory job of it.

 

[hoover]

So much for working for a freight company then. It seems to me that if you are out there working whether it be flying the plane or loading it, you are entitled to compensation. After all the company is deriving value from your labor, so why shouldn't you. IMHO

 

[Freightdog99]

So much for working for a freight company then. It seems to me that if you are out there working whether it be flying the plane or loading it, you are entitled to compensation. After all the company is deriving value from your labor, so why shouldn't you. IMHO

I agree if you are flying or loading freight you should be paid for it. So if loading the aircraft in addition to flying, it is in your job description and you are being paid either by the day, flight or mile then you are being compensated for your work.

You should look at it as every load is the worst possible load it could be, then when you get an easy load say one box that weighs 5lbs you can look at it like you are getting paid extra for an easy load. We do pay our pilots extra if they have to drive the forklift though.