Reefers good or bad?

All depends on whom you speak with.It can get tough, with long waits to unload, always dealing with lumpers,washouts, etc.
I have pulled a reefer, and would do it again, provided it was for a company that had lots of reefer freight, so I wouldn't have to go looking for any when I deliver to BFE.

 

I pulled them for over 4 yrs. The older units (up to year 2001) can be noisy at low or high speed. Newer Thermo King and Carriers (with the "Stealth" option) are a lot quieter with Thermo King the quietest of the two. In fact I have found myself going outside to check if reefer is still running (Thermo King) cause it was so quiet in slow speed.

The newer units have decent electronic controls that are usually foolproof (meaning operator can't make a mistake except set temperature wrong).

As a performance issue, I find that Thermo King is good for loads 20 degrees or higher (Keeps set temperature steady). Lower than 20 degrees and it has a hard time keeping set temperature. Carrier on the other hand keeps the set temperature much better in any set temperature range.

And lastly, NEVER, EVER washout a reefer trailer in HOT and DRY conditions if you need to pre-cool the trailer below 32 degrees. I found out the hard way. Always have a broom to sweep out the trailer in hot and dry areas of the country. Plus any other time that a washout would be overkill.

 

Good point ledbetter, the newer reefers are quiet. I prefer the TK status light to the carrier one, only because the carrier has 6 lights (if I remember correctly) whereas the TK will show/flash one of three colors (can you say idiot-proof?). THis makes it easier to tell what your reefer is doing in inclement weather

 

Carrier also has an LED (about 50 LED's) display to Thermo King's as you mentioned. They are a definate option to have on a trailer. I have seen a few trailers (and pulled a few) that didn't have that display. In inclement weather they are nice but only if mounted correctly so the driver can see it from their driver-side outside mirror.

 

When it comes to reefers its really up to you.. Can YOU sleep with it kicking on and off? can you get used to it? besides that there is nothing really different. although dock times seemed to a problem when I pulled reefer.... But that was my experience...

 

running a reefer is really no different than van except you go to alot of grocery warehouses and the wait is alot longer and messing with lumpers is a pain. but the upside is most of the time these shippers/recievers are easier to find. it kinda resembled a dedicated account to me. i would definitly pull another reefer trailer again......

 

My experience with reefers was hauling frozen seafood out of New Hampshire. Sleeping with a reefer going on and off can be trying, but I eventually learned to put the control to a constant run mode, eliminating the constant start-up shock. I also slept with ear plugs.....big help.
As far as the waiting and the lumpers, hey...it's part of the life. Make sure you have a no touch freight agreement with your employer and plenty of checks to pay the lumpers.
Lastly, if you deliver a load to a stinky seafood warehouse in Atlanta and they give you 22 smelly pallets as an exchange, make sure your back-haul isn't "odor sensitive" and you're 80 miles from a truck wash on a Friday afternoon! (Trust me...I know)
Good luck

 

One more thing you''ll be moving little more than others due to the fact people need to eat.