I've owned a reefer for about a year and a half, but I rarely do frozen loads. This week I've had 2, both requiring -20 on the temp. So is it normal in hot weather for the reefers to struggle to get to and maintain that temp? It was 104 outside when I picked up my first load, and my reefer ran on high until the middle of the first night when it finally reached -20 and kicked into low idle in continuous mode. Ate up a full tank of fuel in 48 hours. Besides the additional wear and tear on my reefer, the fuel cost will be a consideration when booking these loads in the future when it's hot. Just wondering if this is normal in hot weather. Trailer was new when I got it and everything seals up good.
Fozen loads in hot weather
Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by SteveScott, May 30, 2020.
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If you got to -20 in 104 degree temps you're doing good. Do you know if the product was -20 when it went on? Seen a lot that were 0 to -5 going on and they want -20.
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How long ago was the condenser cleaned?
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Coffey, KB3MMX and Trucker61016 Thank this. -
SteveScott Thanks this.
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When I used to haul fresh loads during cold winter weather or frozen loads in hot weather, I would plug the floor drain holes with paper towels, to help keep load warm or cold. Some drivers have rubber plugs to plug drain holes.
Coffey, Capacity, BoostedTeg and 2 others Thank this. -
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Get a laser thermometer and only agree to haul the load (when the ambient temp is drastically far from maintain temp) at the temp the product is at when loaded (for frozen, not fresh produce, paticularly berries). I stayed away from border loads for this reason. I got too many that were a lot warmer than maintain temp.
Jarhed1964, Coffey, KB3MMX and 1 other person Thank this. -
My first load this week was ice cream, and my second load that delivered this morning was frozen blueberries. Judging by how hard my reefer was working, I'm guessing that neither load was close to -20. It never really occurred to me that a temp difference between 0 and -20 would keep my reefer running non-stop like that. It makes one heck of a difference in the fuel cost for the load. Duly noted for future frozen loads. I normally only haul chilled items that are never below 32 with most of it in the 40-50 range.
Jarhed1964, Coffey and bzinger Thank this. -
Which unit do you have?
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