What is no touch freight and why does it matter?

No touch freight meaning

In trucking, “no touch freight” means the driver doesn’t have to load or unload the cargo. When a load is called “no touch,” it tells the driver that their main job is to drive the truck safely, and when you get to where you’re picking up or dropping off, the freight is loaded or unloaded by the shipper or consignee’s employees or warehouse workers. You can take a break in your truck while they do that. No touch freight can also happen when you use pre-loaded trailers or containers.

This idea is especially helpful for drivers looking to reduce the physical work involved in loading and unloading cargo. It lets drivers concentrate on driving, following rules, and making sure deliveries are on time and safe, without the extra time and effort needed for handling the cargo manually. This is not the same as touch freight, where the drivers are required to load or unload the goods.

Drop and Hook Freight

Drop and hook freight is a subset of no touch freight. After a driver delivers a load to a place, they don’t have to wait around for loading or unloading. Instead, they quickly drop off the trailer or container and hook up to another one that’s already loaded. It’s a smart move to save time and keep things moving smoothly. 

With drop and hook the driver drops off one trailer and hooks up to another trailer without touching the freight or waiting for a loading or unloading process.

Every drop and hook freight is considered no touch freight, but it’s important to note that not all no touch freight is drop and hook.

Difference between No Touch Freight and Drop and Hook

Aspect	No touch freight	Drop and Hook
Time Efficiency	Loading and unloading can take time	Less waiting at docks
Number of Trailers Needed	Only one trailer	Requires 2 or more trailers for efficient operations
Additional Costs	Usually, no extra insurance is needed	Need to pay for trailer interchange insurance
Potential Delays and Complications	Might wait for loading or deal with wrong stuff	Can still face delays, like waiting for trailers
Shift of load type	Usually stays as no touch freight	Sometimes it unexpectedly turns into no touch freight

Ryan B, a Rookie Solo Driver replied for the question “How Honest Are Trucking Companies When They Say no touch freight Jobs” in Trucking Truth, 

“With the major trucking companies, no-touch freight truly is that. These positions are most often refrigerated and dry van loads. With refrigerated it’s a high percentage of live load/unload, at least for inexperienced drivers. Dry vans are often high percentage drop and hook , but that can vary from company-to-company, based on customers for which a carrier hauls freight and the type of freight hauled. Just as an example, I don’t think Hazmat loads are drop and hook loads, but I am sure there very well could be examples where they are on occasion.

Some companies have loads that have an option for driver unloading, and it’s standard for this to pay extra on top of the mileage. How the carrier compensates for the unloading varies from company to company. Some pay an hourly rate, while others pay by the case or pallet.

Basically, I would say that it is rare for a company to advertise no-touch freight and it actually be something else. Oh, one thing to note is when a percentage is added, like 99% or 50%. With 99% no touch freight, very rarely will a load be a driver unload. If one is, you more than likely will have the option to refuse. With a company advertising 50% no touch freight, expect to be unloading a couple of times per week.”

Considerations for Drivers

The following are the things drivers should think about before taking a no touch freight job

Are There Enough Trailers and Containers?

Before saying yes to a no touch freight job, check if the trucking company has enough trailers and containers. This makes it easy for drivers to keep going from one job to the next without waiting.

How Much No Touch Freight Is There?

Different companies offer different amounts of no touch jobs. Some have lots of them, while others might not have as many. Look closely at the job info to know how much no touch stuff you’ll be doing.

Do You Really Want No Touch Freight?

Some drivers like the change of pace that comes with loading and unloading. It can also mean more pay and a bit of exercise. So, think about what you like before choosing a job.

Advantages of No Touch Freight Operations

1. Enhanced driver productivity

No touch freight helps truck drivers rest more because they don’t have to do the hard work of loading and unloading. Other people, like forklift operators, handle that part. This means drivers can take breaks and quickly move on to more deliveries after dropping off and picking up trailers.

2. Increased cargo capacity

With no touch freight, truckers can carry more things because they don’t spend time loading and unloading. This lets them do more trips and use their time and resources better.

3. Reduced liabilities

Another good thing is that drivers don’t have to worry too much about things getting damaged during loading or unloading. They are not held responsible for damages, so it’s less stressful for them.

Disadvantages of No Touch Freight Operations

1. More waiting times

Sometimes, drivers have to wait a long time for loading and unloading if the trucking company doesn’t have programs where trailers can be dropped off. This waiting can be even longer if there aren’t enough people or equipment. Shippers and receivers might have to pay extra fees.

2. Creates disputes in case of damages

Because trucking companies don’t watch over how things are handled in no touch freight, there can be arguments about whether the damage happened during travel or handling. It’s hard to prove, and that can cause disagreements between the people involved.

3. Mistakes in cargo handling

Sometimes, even with checks in place, people at the receiving end might unload the wrong things by accident. This can happen, especially when only part of the goods is assigned to them. Since many people might handle the cargo in no touch freight, there’s a chance for mistakes.