I sense a steep learning curve ahead - new job

Yeah there's still some places that demand a clean trailer. Even with vans, although not as often. With a van I'll often leave a little debris unless it gets unsightly or they specifically demand it be clean, but with a reefer the clogged channels can impede airflow and drainage, so it's always good form to keep them clear whether it's requested or not.

 

If you have to route on secondary road use manual mode on transmission or you’ll never get foot off brake depending on terrain. Otherwise the autos are slick. Had one for 10 years but back in a stick truck

 

Auto takes five minutes to learn
Reefer it helps to know a few things but I am guessing your new boss wont let you get into too much trouble
ELDs are a bummer if you have never used one.
Watch some youtube vids

 

My guess is that you may not be home every night as promised by the new employer. One thing you learn quickly pulling reefer is that the places you deliver more often than not will have night time deliveries, and I'm talking 4:AM, and also often it can take hours to get unloaded at some of them. Big distribution centers like Costco, Fred Meyer and Safeway/Albertsons can really turn an easy day into a long one.

If you're only hauling in Washington and Oregon, and if you'll be driving to the eastern parts of those states, get really good and learning how to chain up your rig, because you'll be doing it a lot in the winter time. If you'll only be driving on the I-5 like I do every week, you'll never have to chain up.

You'll get to enjoy the auto transmission. Put it into manual mode for climbing and coming down most hills, and learn to use the gears and the jake brakes to keep that rig at the right speed coming down hills. Don't rely on automatic mode to do it for you. I've learned to love the auto transmission.

 

Can try to get the company name and check the reviews on Google and GlassDoor.

 

Best advice I can give to any reefer driver is to buy a battery operated leaf blower. Sweeping a reefer sucks, and washouts are expensive and can kill your clock if there is a long line. I spent more than I had to and got a 60volt dewalt, but the less expensive ones work too (just a little slower). I can blow out a 53 foot trailer in about 5 minutes. It's a huge time saver.

 

I never had a leaf blower. Never had a problem with sweeping trailers. The worst problems involved spilled liquids that a blower won’t solve.

Worst spill ever was some kind of liquid cake batter that had dried solid on the empty I picked up. It resisted 2 washouts. Eventually I had to take a large flathead screwdriver and scrape it off the floor and then get a third washout.