considering pulling a reefer, need advice.

I did OK with the old Packerland Transport even got spoiled I guess. But after my last job working the spot market, reefer was hit and miss. I guess you have to find the right company with reefer. If not then dry van would be the way to go.

 

I see what you mean. In that case, I recommend a 53' trailer. Getting 30 pallets into a trailer is something that comes up often.

If you lease or rent one try and get one with the smooth liner inside. Older trailers will have one that has raised bumps on it. That type of liner is leagues behind what is available now. Versitex or Bullitex liners are smooth to the touch, much lighter weight, better puncture resistance, and better at maintaining the insulation and temperature.

 

You should also consider loading and unloading times. Seems like 2-3 hours have been average for me. Sometimes it takes over 4 hours to unload and then another 4 to get loaded, all in one day. Not worth it if you're doing short hauls.

 

I've pulled reefer with my own authority back in 2008. Not a bad deal if you own both tractor and trailer. I did really well when I had both paid off. One thing to watch: your compressor oil and age. One time in Los Angeles my compressor went and needless to say the load went with it. I called and called and there was no cold storage that could house my load in time. It was a bad day to say the least.

Since I owned the trailer I was able to book a dry load back to the house and managed to eek out a tiny profit, less the cost or replacing my compressor so my business savings account saw a little withdraw. Managed to get a decent used compressor, had it pressure checked, tested and installed for $1,500.00
Get a reefer trailer mechanic or outfit you trust. I used an independent guy who used to work for Thermo king.

 

Totally agree with MISESIAN --- Bullitex smooth reefer trailer liners will serve you well, totally worth the $$ in the long run.
Another thing you need to watch is when you get a wash out, tell them not to spray down your walls. Small nicks and tears in your liner will allow water to enter the insulation. It's not uncommon for an older reefer trailer to weigh 2K more than a new one since It's more than likely water logged. Weight costs you money in decreased fuel economy and less hauling capacity. 2,000 pounds is one less pallet.
One of my friends used to get 150.00 a loaded pallet up to 2,000 pounds, they used to weigh each one as it was being loaded while he watched.... I think he only charged them something like 220.00 for the extra weight and then only on those pallets that were over 2k, made for good customer relations.

Another friend of mine, Gary, who used to run the same inbound lane as me, except he ran the fresh side. I took the frozen and fresh on the tail (used a bulk head) Anyway Gary got himself a fresh meat contract on the outbound that paid him 4500.00, out of Greeley CO, at a set rate for up to 45K. We both made 5k on the inbound except I only had my own authority a short time by then and so I was stuck hauling Coors beer out of Golden CO
Gary had been hauling in and out of Colorado for 20 years when I came on the scene in 2008 so he already had developed relationships with companies himself. The run was weekly from Colorado to Los Angeles, CA and back. Home Thursday morning after making LTL drops around Denver and the rest of the week/end at home. My beer outbound load could be loaded Saturday if I wasn't turning wrenches on my ol 379.
Several weeks I loaded my truck and took it back to a dock I rented space, locked everything up and went back home until Sunday morning. I unloaded the CO Kool Aid in Flagstaff, AZ Monday morning at 8am.
We both did very well on that deal because we could legally scale 45k. Gary grossed about 9k a week while I did about 6,500.....I miss that run still.
2008 was the beginning of a recession and I had an available truck so I managed to fill a capacity void as everyone else was going out of business. I ran that fat deal until I sold my rig in 2011 and went to the oil field, best decision I ever made. I hauled oil in ND and make over 150k a year home every night. Another fat deal. My company oil hauling gig allowed me to buy a house in Williston, ND so I wouldn't have to pay huge rent. I now own a big house KW and I was able to pay cash for this truck.
Now I run FB (no longer with my own authority--too much paperwork and headache anymore) Having no tractor or trailer payment allows me to sit at home when I want, no one bothers me.
I'll be in Louisville KY for the truck show, another good place to check out new materials used in reefer trailers. I'm going for the flatbed stuff myself.

Trucking can be done successfully, even if you started with a few thousand dollars to your name, after a few years you can make a nice little nest for yourself.

 

Hmmm where do I start...ok honestly....dont...let me say it louder.....dont.....it ain't what it once was(been at it 40+years....would take a minor miracle w/one trk&own authority and ZERO experience to make any money at it.....megas f'n most of it up for those that don't have strong long term customer....produce brokers will load ANYBODY nowadays playin the spot mkt....not tryin to bust your bubble...but alone and inexperienced it will be a very expensive mistake....stick to what you know....not to mention mandatory e-logs in less than 2 years really gonna throw things in a tizzy....sorry but I just gotta be honest w/ya

 

olhand I doubt a major miracle would serve anyone well with ZERO experience and own authority to make any money. Funny thing about trucking...it's not the different aspects of operating that take time to learn, it's having various experiences that reinforce learning I find.
The industry is changing but then again all businesses change at some point. Trucking controls so much of our economy, it was never designed to remain stagnant. I'm glad all the change is coming because a lot of the changes make trucking more safe and efficient.

I run just as hard on elogs as paper because my truck isn't hooked to a carrier, all my data stays in the truck. There was no "hiding" when I ran on paper logs either, the DOT knows exactly where you are, or they can find you especially if someone is involved in a serious accident.
I don't have a dispatcher, I load myself. Since I own my equipment I don't need someone with ZERO trucking experience to call me 5 times a day and ask where the load is located, that would get on my nerves REAL fast.

I've managed to remain happy and profitable out here because I adapt to change and mold my business practices to find good profit margins. I also spend a lot of time at home with family and friends, keeps me grounded and I always look forward to get back on the road and home again.