the reefer biz

They looked shnazzy to me. One of my fave parts was just watcing a reefer guy try and wrestle that pole and almost falling on his butt...then trying to wrestle that fold up those bulkheads and get them out of the way. The new ones were easy...they seemed to be attached to a winch system in the truck...the driver just pulled a cord and the bulk head went up out of the way .

 

Went to work for a company hauling dry freight to the west coast and organic produce back. Biggest thing they stress is to pulp the load twice a day. If the shipper seals the load we have no way to pulp, so if it is out of temp range it is not our fault. Strawberry's are the most critical. The only downfall to the job, and it really is not that bad, we have to pick up at several different coolers.Might start in LA, go to Sacramento and back to Bakersfield.

 

I just wanted to add a small note. The reefer noise will make you loose part if not all your hearing.I pulled one for 8 years all the hassles that are mentioned are true and then some. I pulled the old ones that had belts to run the motor's and I had to repair some. not fun.
I did like the newer ones that were computer set and run. they were quieter also. I am retired now but the damage is done on my hearing.

 

Man Wildbird, that sucks. The new reefers are pretty darn quiet, although they do take getting used to.

Case in point, I was sleeping (at the T/A, Mt vernon IL) in an idle aire spot (truck off, windows open) when a KW pulling a reefer pulled in next to me. Well, it wasn't a problem except that his reefer was set to stop/start (instead of continuous) and after the first cycle, I was wide awake! When I was pulling a reefer, ours were always on continuous, and after a breif period, I got used to it.