How the heck do you put up with this? Reefer and sitting.

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by Tb0n3, Feb 27, 2026.

  1. Tb0n3

    Tb0n3 Road Train Member

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    Dispatch is mostly Monday-friday for our office. My outbound flatbed deliveries rely on 5+ stops, and they were all in the zone. I saw it coming, but had a line with one of the stops who seemed non-chalant, but as soon as I got the paperwork and started calling customers they said "yeah, no".

    It's funny that you mention a private fleet. I'm looking at that, primarily motivated by the winter slowdown being particularly annoying this year after years of COVID boom. Last week was great doing flatbed mileage instead of percentage I made $2500. The private fleet is responsible for that first load that took 17 hours though. My current company hauls for them sometimes.
     
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  3. '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    If your employer not compensating you for waiting time at all stops move on
    Drivers who give up their time free of charge cheapen the industry, we are not voluteers
    Don’t give me that BS “that’s truckin’”
    That’s attitude is for suckers who would drive a shiny big truck for buttons.
     
  4. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    Wakefern in NJ was all you needed to say. Some things never change I delivered there ONCE about 25 years ago.
     
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  5. Tb0n3

    Tb0n3 Road Train Member

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    I never said I'm not getting paid detention but I am saying that it is a extremely high tension environment. Paid or not I was not happy being on edge the entire time I was waiting for a dock and nervous about going to sleep in case I'm supposed to watch the light or they don't call me or knock on the door.
     
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  6. Tb0n3

    Tb0n3 Road Train Member

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    I never really got the answer to my question. That being, how do you deal with the weird limbo of waiting on other people. Do you just say "screw it" and completely ignore it expecting to be able to get the message that you need to move? Not being used to it I always feel like I'm going to miss something and waste untold hours because I wasn't paying attention. In your experience would you say this never happens? The number of people who seem to be fine doing refer work implies I'm just thinking too much.
     
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  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Yeah, I would apply to move freight for Mexican cartels before I ever hook to another reefer trailer full of freight for the reasons you describe. "Sure it's 4 stops and they each have 2 hours to unload part of 1 trailer. I don't know why the 1st stop held you 5 hours and now you can't get detention due to being late at stops 2-4."
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2026
  8. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Sounds like someone has the "I got them reefer blues, again". Maybe 30% of my trucking was reefer, ( 30% van, 30% dump, 10% other) and without question, reefer was the biggest PITA. Luckily, I was paid by the hour, or wouldn't have done it. I hit them all( in the Midwest), Certified in Chicago was the worst. Jewel, Dominicks, SuperValu, Roundys( the 2nd worst), Red Owl, A&P, all the same. There were a couple good ones, one in Appleton, Schultz in Sheboygan, but for the most part, they were as predictable as 6:00 at 5:30. I found out, once they knew I was paid by the hour, they had an entirely different attitude, I didn't care how long it took, in fact encouraged a delay. I suppose, if your favorite trucking is slow, you have to take what they are givin', reefer work is by the hour, period.
     
  9. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    I've been running reefer freight for several years now. For me, the idea is preparation. You have to master the idea of utilizing your clock to get splits in. Then you must know ahead of time if you can sleep there. If there is on-site parking, I get there and begin a rest period. If not, I get close as possible. I'll go to sleep in the dock quick, fast, and in a hurry. I've slept hours on end to the point where they either call me or come knocking. If I gotta look for a green light, the hell with that. After years of doing this, I'll wake up from a nap because I didn't feel the truck move. They've finished unloading. Then I'll go grab paperwork. Grocery warehouses means nap time for me and that means split sleeper berth on the clock. I already know its going to take time. Its the nature ofnthe beast. Don't overthink it too much, just rest while you wait and learn the art of making every minute valuable. You'll stress yourself all the way out worrying about the delays and such.
     
  10. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

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    Just have to deal with it. I just lay down and take a nap or listen to the XM.

    I sat more pulling hopper bottom than with a reefer. As was posted earlier private fleet is definitely the way to go. Detention and sitting is part of what you sign up for no matter what the trailer.
     
  11. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    I could never deal with truck load otr,
     
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