I have been driving a dry van too long and looking to possibly make a change. I have thought about maybe pulling a reefer van instead. What are some pros and cons to pulling a reefer from your experiences?
Reefer or Dry Van
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by spearhead, Jun 11, 2013.
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For me the worst part of driving a reefer was waiting to load/unload since they always had some weird appointment times, especially produce... but i did get paid more for hauling a reefer over a dry van...
spearhead Thanks this. -
A while back I had someone tell me that they unload all of the dry vans first before they even touch any of the reefers. is there any truth to this?
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Pro you I think get paid extra.Con is you get late night delivery appts like midnight.Many of the loads are live/unload and appt only.You have weekends loads.You could be sitting for hrs/days waiting for your load.Lot of the unloading is done by lumpers.You deliver to alot of dumpy tight warehouses.I would say the cons outweigh the pay.
The Space Cowboy, spearhead, Lone Ranger 13 and 1 other person Thank this. -
Whos they?Maybe that receiver did'nt like that piticular someone.I never heard of that happening an ive hauled both.
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I know it happens hauling dryBut have'nt been thru that for a few yrs for the most part..My last company was dry and cust got me unloaded/lded right awayI have delivered to a few DCS that played the hurry up and wait game..Now what I haul is all drp/hook
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The pay and the loads availability may be better but wait until you meet the people you pickup from or deliver to and reefer loads are seasonal so during winter time's after the Christmas Trees get ready to twiggle your thumbs why waiting on a load until APR,MAY and damaged freight will increase when hauling reefer loads lumpers are going to have a Fiesta with your Freight if it came from stouffer's or a Beef Plant and so on and like somebody said the appointment's you get 6 am appointment only to find out that they didn't start unloading until 3 pm ON a FRI Afternoon so they can Really Stick it to Yah
spearhead Thanks this. -
I used to pull reefer, 10-11 years ago, mostly produce from west coast;
Cons;
-if you pull reefer, most likely you'll need to go to California, buy newer truck and reefer updated with emission bs;
-the old cooling units used to noisy, I couldn't sleep properly; even today I don't park in TS next to reefers.
-most of reefer loads are heavy, produce, meats, frozen foods; I blown my motor with only 400k miles, pulling on I-80 in Utah, and a couple of radiators on I-15 N, Baker CA.
- wash the reefer before loading;
-watch the reefer temp on the road , check temperature.
- clients complaining about temperature recorders out of range; I paid skids of lettuce and apples from my pocket.
- the diesel for reefer expenses, plus extra problems related with cooling units malfunction;
pros;
the produce loads used to be paid better 3-4 month/year from April to July;Last edited: Jun 12, 2013
spearhead Thanks this.
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