Something from an experienced reefer driver.

So that brings up a question. I'm going into Refer right out of school. The company that is hiring me uses ALL sealed loads. So then how would I constantly temp the load during stops and/or pre-trips?

 

They are just talking about looking at the temperature readout on the unit itself which shows the temp inside the trailer. Pulping is only done during the loading process and typically only on produce loads.

 

Looking at the unit read out is partially right. If the trailer has a vent door you can also stick a thermometer in the door to check the actual air temp hitting the back of the trailer.

 

That is correct as well. I was just simply answering his question in a very general way as it was obvious he was a bit confused. Anothe consideration is that many of the pre-liaded and sealed trailers, which he said he will be running, will also have seals on the vent doors. I dont know why some large shippers go to that extreme, but they do. I guess they think we are going to hire a skinny ethopian to squirm through the vent door and steal their product.

 

Right, if the reefer breaks down, check if you have a recorder on board. If you don't, fix the unit and deliver. I once had my reefer fail Memorial Day Weekend while between stops delivering frozen Walmart bagels in the midwest. I managed to make a drop at one DC with the load only 5F below their reject limit of 20F (was supposed to be 0F), then at a nearby Thermoking I paid the emergency labor rate to replace the frozen compressor. The load no doubt warmed up a lot during the 4 or 5 hour repair, but I managed to cool it down again and deliver on-time to the next DC. Maybe the bagels were a little soggy, I don't know...

 

Is there such a thing as a "fat" etheopian?

 

Yeah I laugh the places that want to seal my vent door as well. As they seal the rear vent door I always ask them about sealing my front vent door, the 4 floor drains and the reefers fresh air intake. Normally they give me a strange look and tear the seal off the vent door. I feel that sealing the vent door is a stupid idea considering I prefer to temp the load the old fashioned way...manually.

 

I cut the seal off the vent door after I go weigh the load. None of the receivers every check the seal on the vent door. I once picked up a trailer that had 5 seals on the vent door all from different companies.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. We do hire some skinny Ethiopians for just the purpose. ROFL!

 

Just got me a set. Yeehaa! Have my bunk heater running, lights on, computer, stereo, and fridgerator; life is good. Heard of a fellow company man with a dead reefer battery, he sat for a day waiting for "repair". Glad I don't have to worry about that now. Too bad the connection won't run my AC this summer...