Is a reefer trailer the way to go when purchasing a trialer?

Now I've never seen this or done it myself but an older o/o told me once that they'll ship strawberries on a dry van if it's vented well. He said they'd put them on and I think they'd blow ice inside then you'd truck through the night to a receiver and get them off in the morning.

 

Sorry. Blowing ice in on strawberries is a LARGE no no. Reciever will refuse and it will cost u. Strawberries are a high dollar freight. be safe out there drivers.

 

I talked to an old timer who spent about an hour detailing the dos and don'ts of keeping produce cool in a dry van. My eyes glazed over after about 15 minutes, but the main point that I took away from it was that some produce needed ice BETWEEN pallets, and some needed ice on top of the produce.

 

LOL. I think that old timer spent too much time with the high-speed chicken feed. Broccoli and certain onions have been the only times I have ever had ice blown in my reefer. Berries lose shelf life with ice if it doesnt rot it (making them soft). Turns them into cheap freight. Now we did used to haul watermelons with our covered waggon flats tho.

 

You know something, he might not have said ice the strawberries.. He was going on and on about what could be hauled in a dry van. Telling me never get loose potatoes only haul bagged ones.. All sorts of crap... Sounded like waaaay too much fun for the most part I think I'll leave produce hauling to the professionals...