Wanting to try reefer

Reefer and dry van are arguably the best way for new drivers to learn. Typically they are stable loads with minimal securement requirements.

Flatbed can be a place to start as well, but you have to learn securement while you are learning the basics. It requires a higher level of physical fitness to secure flatbed loads.

 

I started on a reefer fleet at Swift. I do a lot of live loads and unloads. I still get above 2500 miles a week and average above a $900 check deposit. But the reefer experience is good. I have carried a couple dry loads to fill in the gaps. You have to scale every load, ensure your reefer fuel tank is full before dropping, monitor your box temp, get a trailer wash when needed, and your appointment times can be all over the map. I've had to swap my sleep schedule multiple times in a week. If and when you go owner operator, they pay more per mile for reefer loads. (Except Swift...they seem backwards on a lot of things.) But fuel cost is higher because of the extra weight and you spend more time on duty not driving. I would recommend going reefer if you can because it is considered to be more specialized than dry and it isn't difficult to learn at all when you're new.

 

I should probably call but according to Mast trucking's website they pay .55 and then two different bonuses of .05 each per mile, certainly they don't pay .65 do they? I like the hometime options too they have 5 on and 5 off in my area. Would be tempting not to go with them if they had a pet policy but they don't. The LTL job I'm at pays more but the micromanaging is out of hand.

 

Appreciate the details. Yeah I am looking at a Walmart dedicated reefer job. Pretty much the same except no dry loads from what I was told.

 

My experience with reefer has been great and has enabled me to advance my driving career to the point of running my own authority. Do good research on small to medium sized companies that pull reefer. The Megas will burn you out quick. My start was at a mega carrier pulling reefer and if it weren't for them I wouldnt be where I am today.

There is a little extra work pulling a reefer around fueling and maintenance but most fleets invest in newer trailers and these don't use much fuel. Mine is a 2011 and even it does pretty good on fuel use. Most reefer breakdowns are pretty simple like a battery, starter, add some coolant. I've only had one reefer that had a real breakdown when the expansion valve went out and the load was lost as a result back when I was a company driver.

Both then and now my schedule stays pretty regular and I encounter long waits infrequently. The big distribution centers whether it be grocery or food service is typically 3-4 hours to get unloaded. Meat plants have a reputation of making you wait as well but most times it is load planners telling dispatchers an appointment when the load actually picks up 10 hours later at the drop dead time. When I worked as a dispatcher they would try and that to my drivers and it got on my nerves. There is an off chance that the birds, cows, or whatever didn't make it there but that has only happened to me twice.

There is a company out your way called Gantt Trucking that has a pretty decent reputation and I believe they still pay company guys percentage. There is another one called Davis out of Florida that runs Southeast regional and they seem pretty good too.

 

I got away from reefer last year. 5 years of it with a small carrier who could not fix the truck or trailers I was assigned to was ridiculous. And no compensation for sitting in dock for 6 hours or 24 hours. Only once in a blue moon did I see any compensation for being on time and being detained. Sick and tired will not go back. Pay was as much as most dry van jobs.

 

I contacted Mast out of Millersburg, Ohio. I was quite surprised on what they offer for an OTR carrier. The pay is for the Southern Routes which is a 3 day trip out then 24 hours off. After the 3rd trip out you get 100 hours off. You take the truck to Canton, Ohio after each trip.
.55 cpm base
$75 unloading pay
.05 cpm on time bonus
.05 cpm safety bonus

How many other OTR carriers offer .65 cpm?

 

Only companies I know of that come close to/meet/exceed that is LTL or our good friends at UPS. Those feeder guys make bank, but they've paid their dues and earned it.

 

"Saturday or Sunday off and two 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. periods back to back."

This is what one of Mast's regional runs offers for time off. Thoughts about what the "1-5" part means?

Doesn't seem great from a layman's point of view.

 

Sounds to me like if you park your truck Friday night (early Saturday morning) at 12:55 am, you're done until Sunday at 5:01 am.