Rollover the Original shares his experience pulling reefers:

I love a reefer! Never a problem waiting for a load as dry freight fits just as well!

I do not sweep out a reefer! I have a small battery operated leaf blower! But Blue Beacon does a great job also when water is needed! Not ALL meat loads bleed on the floor.

Yes, jumper cables are great, just get the LONGEST ones you can find such as 20′+. and the smallest gauge you can 3 gauge or smaller. I also have a long 3 gauge wire with heavy duty alligator clips for using when needing to run with a cable between the unit and the tractor. I got mine from a commercial construction site and works great for an emergency. You only need one as the ground between the truck and trailer is all that is needed. You use this setup when your alternator in either the truck or trailer is bad. It will work in a “jump” situation but it takes a lot longer for it to juice up a set or batteries but when it’s all you have go with it!

Ask your mechanic how to “pump” up a unit that has run out of fuel! Some are different than others. Get a tennis ball and an air chuck or air valve from a tire to make a device that will help to blow fuel up to the injectors if you run out of fuel. Someone will show you how to make it. But you’ll run out of fuel one time and then you’ll learn to keep better watch on that fuel gauge on the reefer tank! It’s a PITA pumping up or “jacking off” that fuel pump!

A milk crate is the best think to hold your jumper cables,siphoning hose, oil, fuel additive,rags, polish and other things. The 9/16″ combo wrench you should keep in your tool bag!

ScooterDawg warns about weight issues to consider when hauling dry freight in a refrigerated trailer:

Sometimes you will have a reefer hooked to your truck and you get dispatched to pick up a dry load. Typically, shippers sending out a dry load plan on a heavier load that what you would be used to with a reefer load.

Obviously a reefer trailer weighs more than a dry van. And if you are picking up a dry load that weighs 43,000 lbs or more, you could have a problem with exceeding the 80,000 lb gross weight restriction.

I have run both and I couldnt count on both hands and feet the number of times that a dry load, put in my reefer, forced me to run light on my fuel and re-fuel with 50 gallons of fuel every 325 miles. I have lovingly coined it as “the 50 gallon giggle”. The advantage is that I can bank a bunch of showers in a short period of time, but the disadvantage is that I have to stop a lot.

Reefers usually have longer unload times (and lumpers…. argh!), and there are maintenance issues as well. But on the flipside, they are somewhat more versatile when it comes to hauling either cold loads or dry loads.

Pros:

• If you’re having trouble finding cold freight, reefer trailers can just as easily accommodate dry freight
• Steady freight market as a result of consistent demand for fresh produce from supermarkets
• Less waiting around trying to find a load, more time driving means higher pay

Cons:

• Constant noise produced by the motor in the reefer trailer
• Cleaning out trailers after every load
• Refrigerated trailer breakdowns are an emergency maintenance issue to prevent spoilage
• Long waits to get loaded at the shipper docks

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Your have received your CDL license, and now you are ready to find a job behind the wheel.  But where do you go?  Thankfully, there are plenty of options available to you to help you find the position you are looking for.

Your truck driving school

One of the first places that you can go to find a job is back to your truck driving school.  Some truck driving schools will offer job placement services, helping to introduce you to companies looking for drivers.  Others may have a current list of trucking companies that are hiring which you could consider applying for.  It never hurts to check back with your truck driving school as you start your job search, particularly if you did well while you were there.

The classifieds

Like other jobs, you can find truck driving jobs in your local classifieds.  This can be a good way to find trucking jobs for local routes, though some cross-country companies may also advertise in the larger newspapers.  Keep in mind that hundreds or even thousands of truck drivers may see these ads, so be prepared to respond to ads that interest you right away.

Another place to look is in the classifieds in any publication intended for truckers.  Whether it is an auto trading magazine or a catalog of truck accessories, you could find trucker jobs advertised by some of the bigger companies.

The internet

The internet remains one of the most valuable resources for a job search.  Not only will the internet help you to find local truck driving jobs, but you can find trucking jobs in locations throughout the country.  Want to relocate to California?  The internet can help you find a company hiring in that area.  Keep in mind that certain companies or routes may be in higher demand than others, so you’ll want to keep that resume polished for any potential employers.

Other drivers

Another source to help you find opportunities is talking to other drivers.  Some companies will be so outgoing about job openings that they will post advertisements on the back of the 18-wheelers driven by their employees.  These often include a number that you can call to find out more information.

Also, as a truck driver, you are going to spend a lot of time in truck stops fueling up, taking breaks, and eating meals.  This can provide you with a great opportunity to talk with other truckers.  Find out what they like about the company they work for and what they don’t.  If you think that a company might interest you, see if they are willing to give you the contact information of the human resources department or their supervisor.  From there you can inquire if the company is hiring and what you will need to do to apply.

As long as you are diligent, there are plenty of resources available to you that make finding trucking jobs easy for those who are qualified.

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Congratulations! You want to become a truck driver.  When you make this determination, you need to be aware that there are certain training and qualifications needed for this line of work.  Not only does this help you to be a safer driver on the road, but it helps weed out those applicants who aren’t really suited for the rigorous and demanding nature of the job.  Drivers who choose a career in trucking must be independent and self-reliant and able to deal with things without relying on someone else.

Your age

Before you can even consider training for trucking jobs, you will have to make sure that you are old enough.  For trucking within your own state, you must be at least 18 years of age.  For trucking across the country, you must be at least 21.  However, it is also important to note that many companies will not hire persons younger than 23.  In many cases, this has to deal with the high costs of insuring a younger driver.

CDL training and beyond

The training needed to get a trucking job starts with CDL training, which will give you your Commercial Driving License or CDL.  This license is required for anyone who wants to drive an 18-wheeled vehicle.  For this test, you will be required to take a written exam that goes over the major parts of driving the truck.  You may also decide to take other endorsement tests to drive tanker trucks, trucks with double or triple trailers, or trucks carrying hazardous materials.

Provided that you pass the written exam, you will be issued a driving permit.  This permit will allow you to drive a truck only if there is a CDL-licensed driver with you.  In most cases the permit will be good for 6 months, which will give you enough time to go to truck driving school to learn how to actually handle the larger vehicles.

Going to driving school

The next set of skills and training for jobs in the trucking industry comes from a truck driving school.  The school’s objective is to teach you how to safely and successfully manage driving the larger trucks so that you can pass the driving skills exam needed to obtain a CDL license.  It is very important to choose a school that gives you plenty of training, since truck driving will become your career.  There are numerous certified truck driving schools that are widely recognized and accepted by trucking companies, making it easier for you to find a job once your training is complete.

The driving test

The last part of training involves taking the driving skills exam.  This is done once you have graduated from driving school.  The point of the exam is for you to prove that you know how to inspect the truck before driving, perform an air brake test, and maneuver the truck safely on the road.  It will also include basic skills like backing up and parking.  Most test givers will start the test in a private driving area and then have you complete the exam on the open road with other drivers.  Once completed, you will be given a full CDL license and will be allowed to drive a truck on your own.


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