How common is it for a shipper / broker with a dry van load to refuse to load a reefer?

I ran reefer for a couple of years. The only times it was ever an issue for me was on really humid days. The moisture would condense inside the cool trailer. If given enough time between unload and load, there was never an issue.

On really hot days, I would run the reefer while they were loading it (company fuel). The loaders loved it.

 

The load posts have always listed equipment requirement; Van or Reefer, Van or Flatbed, Van (No Reefer), Van (only) .You don't want to go with reefer for a van load without any indication of reefer.

 

I got into that one time, the height of the reefer inside is a little less and they had wrapped and stacked the load for a van so it would not fit. They want the drain plugs filled sometimes.I always ask to make sure a reefer can hold it now because some load boards have a Van/reefer combination search mode.

 

Op, it won't be an issue.

What is a problem is what you put in the box. A lot of freight that isn't good for reefers will cause problems with reefer customers. Another issue is what type of floor you have, we had issues with a slotted metal floor being screwed up by one non-reefer shipper and stopped picking up that type of freight with reefers.

 

If you're around a lot of automotive suppliers you can forget loading most any of that freight in a reefer. Everyone is different but for me not having a van trailer would cost me plenty of freight. Sometimes there is no legit reason for the freight requiring 53V only but that will be the requirement. Sometimes it can be waived but you can't count on it.

 

It's the moisture that limits the reefer on certain loads. Auto parts, electronics two of the big ones they don't want in a reefer. Other items they don't want in there is due to the aluminum floor.
Dog food and bottled water will ship in a reefer all day.

 

Moisture and smells are the only issues I can see some shippers being worried about. If you just hauled a load of frozen chicken or fresh onions, didn't do a wash out and head over to Amazon for a load of electronics with a cold damp trailer, they would probably have an issue with it. But who the heck wants to haul a cheap load for Amazon anyway?

 

I went with a reefer for 6 years because of the high rates ..... but if you factor in most places you go to take hours to unload or load so a lot more wasted time not paid for. .. most delivers have a pickup window which waste time ... reefer trailers cost about double to buy and the units are very expensive to fix .... yes the rates are higher (not if you haul dry frieght ) then the reefer fuel. .. I am back with a dry box and a lot less fooling around and higher net profits .. but to answer your question a lot of shippers don't like the slotted floors .... you cant haul 46k some hazmat loads can't be on a metal floor . some loads need to be nailed down and some need straps where load locks don't work .

 

There is a weight difference between reefer and dry van that could probably come into play at some shippers. I dont remember how much difference there is as its been a long time since I pulled reefer or vans. But since shippers often want to get as much as they can in the trailer, Im sure it could be an issue at least from time to time.