Reefer load wait times

Might take 3 days to get loaded with 6 pickups

 

If you are referring to rookies out of CDL school,.. the options for which direction to get into is as simple as what ever you want. No one is limited to strictly reefer or van. There are a great number of bottom feeder flatbed companies that will train the rookie driver.

Most choose reefer or van because its easier and less work. That is a personal choice a driver made,.. not a trucking prerequisite.

My advice is to not get into any deep conversations with other CDL rookies or at truck stops with mega drivers. It usually ends up as a case of the blind leading the blind with piles and piles of misinformation mixed in.

I cant tell you where to go with out you first knowing what you want. Where to you see yourself in 5 yrs?

Personally,.. I choose open deck. If I was a new young CDL holder,.. I would look into doing a yr with a someone like TMC or Roehl,.. and then signing up with ATS and work towards getting into the OS/OW RGN world. Do that for 4 - 5 yrs and then looking into some of the specialized companies. Not sure if ATS does training for new CDL holders,.. but it is a path I would consider if I planned to be just a company driver.

Hurst

 

I do drive for BURRIS Logistics. And we pool loads to The Fresh Market, after my deliveries to 2 or 3 stores, BURRIS Drivers ALWAYS have to pick up backhaul for The Fresh Market, and bring back to New Castle, DE. So some times we awaiting for 1 hour, or 5-7 hours. I drive teem so The Fresh Market do not care when we pick load, BUT we have to take that. I want buy my truck and trailer, BUT after 3 years of delivery reefer I am thinking, may be dry van.

 

I delivered the other day to a local grocery chain warehouse. It's BIG. My appointment was 0900. I pull in the driveway, and there is parking/staging for about 40 or 50 trucks, next to a gaurdshack with about 40 drivers standing in line.
Everyone's appointment was 0900.
1000 I hit the gaurdshack. I have a dry load BTW.
1020 I'm docked.
I then go to window 1 to check in.
You then go about a football field to the lumper desk and get a price.
You then go to another window and pay.
1300 I checked out at the gaurdshack.

I had spent 8 hours or more at HEB in San Antonio before, and just did a local distributing bit for a local grocer, the guys on the line side, many would be there 4 to 6 hours, with some 8+ hours.

Wal Mart DC? Fugaboutit.

 

HA-ha-ha. HEB San Antonio just got me for 9 freeking hours for onions. Screwed up my next pick so had to wait overnight to load which screwed my delivery so had to wait till Monday to unload. Total down time....2 1/2 days. Thanks, H.E. Butts!

TA

 

I couldn't see doing reefers being owner/operator because it seems like everything is stacked against you like damaged product on you, long waits, got to get cleaned out because it smells like last load, then the loads be heavy as hell. The must pay great cuz I see a lot of decked out Petes and Kens with them matching reefers

 

From what I see working spot freight reefer doesn't pay any better than van freight. In fact a lot of it pays just as poorly as van freight and even worse. It's more consistent and I think easier to score a solid rate if you're patient. The only exceptions to it mostly being cheap are when someone has a true need for a unit and can't find a truck - seasonal demand - or a niche.