Reefer / Produce hauling tips

I just finished my 10th trip out with trainer, produce, learned a lot so far. I noticed pretty quick that the name of the company I'm hauling for isn't generally the name on the door I pick up at. Getting there is half the battle now with multiple picks.
I learned to ask,
Is this pick good for today?
Is it first come first serve?
Name and actual address of the place I'm calling to pick up?
Any tips on phone work with the shipper/cooler/growers would be great.
I'm trying to develop a system that doesn't require much more than a small notepad at check in.
Is there a database anywhere with a list of growers, coolers and such?
Once again great thread and thanks for the help and advice I've gleaned here.

 

when I drove for that Mondovi ,wis based outfit, my alternator on the truck died, and rather then get me to a shopt to get it fixed, they told me to run battery cables off the reefer to the jump posts on the tractor, so I could charge my batteries, as I drove .

 

Make your own data base....I have several notebooks with directions, phone numbers, etc...
When calling make sure you have the right pick up number, find out what temp, ask if the load is ready or when it will be ready
realize that if you can't load you last drop first then you will have to either pay someone to rearrange your truck or do it yourself

welcome to to LTL fun.......( LTL= likely to be late)

 

Nice Ta c ya back nick--but no such thing as late--lol--but seriously in thus biz do not let ANYONE TELL U when a load delivers or starts droppin--get all ur pics on--weather 1 drop or 10--stay in touch w/ur customers DIRECTLY Let them NO when u can b there ONCE U R COMPLETLY LOADED--Until ur dun nothin' matters--don't buy into a broker/buyer BS about when how blah blah--be up front w/the folks u r goin to--it will pay off in the long run-)Trust me--most produce places are so used to being lied to about deliveries they will bend over backwards to work with u when they no u r vein straight --I could go on and on--but I've dun this a very long time and it is still (or can b)very lucrative work ---but U must b proactive this is not the type of load that u just listen to some dispatcher etc and take things 4 granted--u must talk directly to every shipper&every receiver--get names--be personal and keep them informed--believe me they already know the drill
and take a minute and read some if the other posts in this section especially about how load in produce works what's/whos prioritized etc....
O yeah and if it hasn't mentioned b4 Get Hard Copies of orders FAXED---have paperwork in ur hand when u call/check in so both u and shipper r on same page--and not just pu#--it needs to b exact whole order
Product type--size/&amount ordered
Along with all contact names etc---so u can verify everything w/everyone

 

You guys have a lot of great tricks and hints that even an old fart like me can learn lol!

 

I carry a pulp Thermo in my front pocket. When in doubt, I check my load. Never had a load turned down due to temp. Make sure! in doubt, call Dispatch! Cover your back door. Takes two minutes to walk your truck.

 

As a grower, the bible is the blue book.