Do you turn off reefer right as you dock ?

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by Greggg, Mar 20, 2019.

  1. RustyBolt

    RustyBolt Road Train Member

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    You folks got me to thinking about my days pulling a reefer. One of the routes I'd do on occasion always had a backhaul out of the same warehouse. I swear, in the summer, that place would get above 120°F. I would set that thermostat down to 0° when I emptied out and roll in. The fellas working in there would darn near get in fights trying to be the one to load my truck. It was hilarious for me. The down side was that it seemed to take longer to get loaded there than most places due to all the extra time spent inside the trailer making sure those pallets were placed just right.
     
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  3. rickyraider

    rickyraider Bobtail Member

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    when in doubt turn it off after your mt. and the doors are shut.
     
  4. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    I always switch it off the moment the doors are opened some like to keep the motor running if loading however i find that's just a total waste of fuel and all it does is annoy those loading the reefer. The exception would be is if the trailer is backed onto a proper insulated dock at a refrigerated warehouse but even then you shouldn't need the fridge on as the cold air from the warehouse will be flowing into the reefer.
     
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  5. Ffx95

    Ffx95 Road Train Member

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    I leave it on unless they order me to turn it off. Then it’s shut off when I’m empty.
     
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  6. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    Right before you are ready to open your doors to dock it, turn it off. Otherwise the unit will push the cold air right out the opening. With the unit turned off while docking, yes there will be an exchange of air but it will take a long time. Longer than it will take you to dock. After you turn off unit and open doors, turn unit back and and begin docking. It takes a couple minutes for the unit to turn back on and usually as soon as you are a docked in the sealed dock, it fires up and the overall temp is only a couple degrees up from your set temp. Many times when going into a 34 degree facility I will arrive with minus 10--(empty trailer) easier to go up than down.
     
  7. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

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    I ask them on the dock which they prefer...
     
  8. Everett

    Everett Crusty Shorts, What???

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    I do as shipper says ,then on bol i have them sign as load was warm or cold as they load ,then check far as can with my infrared gun , then close the doors,most times it up to shipper or recs which way to go,but if im fueling and below half i shut it off ,not to get air bubbles in the line .
     
  9. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Reefer trailers are generally made to MAINTAIN the temperature of whatever it is at loaded in. IF you have say Icecream at -20, a precooled unit will happily hold it at -20 more or less all the day is long. But try to load the ice cream at say 5 above and rising, it's not going to hold temperature in that trailer. Thats where you and your thermometer comes in, you say to shipper that stuff is too warm, been out waiting on me too long as I have as well.

    They put it back and dig out the colder stuff.

    Once the doors are open it's good for about 2 hours cooling everyone then I shut it off becuase it takes in hot air and works to the max for nothing. Essentially trying to cool Hell itself which will burn up the compressor, motor and who knows what else.
     
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  10. landlord

    landlord Light Load Member

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    you guys are nuts for leaving your reefer running...all you are doing is forcing it to defrost more often and burning fuel WHEN IT DEFROST IT HEATS THE TRL EVEN MORE
    if you pay attn and walk around docks with trls screaming high speed, they dont cool at all. summer time they might maintain 20* box temp winter time 10* box temp. then it defrost every 5 mins BURNING FUEL.
    keep your doors closed until they come out and get u. when u back up turn it off. yea it sucks waking up every time. but I know I save at least 30 gallons a week doing this. it just grinds my gears having your engine running 2k rpms for hours on end.
     
  11. landlord

    landlord Light Load Member

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    Jan 14, 2012
    chicago il
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    thermo king and carrier states even the dept of ag state doors open reefer off...
    keep wasting your fuel though!!!
    I thought you guys had reefer experience...
     
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