Some folks wait forever to get reefers loaded and unloaded... then there's o'dark early appointments, and the noise the reefer makes. Prime has a really aggressive detention policy which cuts down on that... But really ya know what it is? Flatbed guys just ain't tough enough to be a reefer guy!
Why not tanker? Make more starting and still get a work out lugging hoses around, etc. ... I just finished training at Prime and it isn't bad as long as you have your ducks in a row.
I have never had anyone get mad because I parked next to them. However if the are two empty spots between two trucks and one of the other trucks is a reefer I will park next to it and leave the one spot between me and the non reefer truck.
A year or so ago I backed into a slot next to a Landstar flatbed... hopped out and headed into the Flippin' J. I needed to send a trip report since I was EMPTY (remember this part) and wanted a cup of coffee to accompany me in my deadhead miles that evening... another point to remember. When I got back, I noticed the flatbed had left... well kinda. Walking the dog before I departed I noticed he'd moved to another spot. Before I left (been there a grand total of maybe 20 minutes,) I couldn't resist informing him 1) the reefer was off since I was empty and 2) I was leaving. The jerk gave me a really sour look...
That's funny stuff, right there. I constantly hear reefer drivers who say there's no way they could handle the rigors of pulling open-deck freight. How tough do you have to be to pull away from the dock and close the doors, really?
It's not so much about being tough getting into n outta of the dock...... It's the fact that Most flatbedders would never make into the dock in the first place...... The next flatbedder I see hit a spot within the 15 tries will be the first....
Yeah that detention, you get paid when Prime gets paid. Sometimes you never get paid for it. Most of the meat loads, you're going to get there a day before the dropdead time. That is a whole day just hanging around with the flies. You better carry a big wad of cash with you, because every time you write a COM data check, it is a dollar out of your pocket, plus a buck every week out of your check, for the privilege of carrying a fuel card. I always thought prime should eat those charges, like most companies do. Prime is a greedy company, but you can make some money with them, if you know how to run.
