Fueling reefer while reefer on?

You know, if DOT would hang around at the fuel pumps, they could make a fortune...

§392.50

My day isn't complete 'til I've broken at least a few rules...

 

I said I was not going to add anymore comments but your post was just too tempting. I never really was able to run my tractor when fueling because the dang thing would not run but for about.5 minutes before it cut off. I never worried about my reefer pro or con. However I did ask an Agent that worked in the Atlanta FMCSA district office about this regulation. He smiled and said think UCMJ 134. Then I understood. However I agree. There are scores of regulations violated every day. That is why I advise drivers to never get into a pissing contest with an officer that has hours upon hours of education and continuing education to stay certified. Most of the time you are going to lose.

 

Harvey Silverglate wrote a book "Three Felonies A Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent" detailing just that...there are SO many rules and regulations on the books, sometimes even contradicting one another, that it is virtually impossible to NOT break a few laws as you go about your day. Hell, even the government itself has lost track of exactly how many crimes are on the books. This is the reason criminal defense attorneys will tell you to NEVER talk to the police...you might be admitting to a felony you didn't know existed.

 

Fuel and Filter problems are quick and easy to solve. Filters are not hard to find just about anywhere. Any good diesel mechanic can solve a fuel problem. In all honesty ,are rare for a cooling unit.

Master switch, board, controller, thermostat problems are not. Almost all require parts that are not available on sight. Shutting a cooling unit down just for a fueling invites these problems.

In addition starter, battery, charging problems may be easier to solve, but are more parts dependent and consuming then fuel problems.

 

Sorry but your point about scarcity of parts does not jive with my experiences. This website is to a TK state by state map. I also had a TK service book with telephone numbers and locations listed in it. TK also services other reefer makers units as well. There are hundreds of TKs nationwide and almost all keep these critical parts on the shelf. The food industry is a multi BILLION dollar a year enterprise and keeping these reefers up and running is CRITICAL. I used to drive for WSE. This company along with it's sister company at the time MCT operated some of the worst junk on the road. I have had charging circuits, battery's, control boards even both in and out temp sensors to go out. In all that time I never heard a mechanic say I don't have that part and it is not on the shelf back at the shop. Im going to repeat this point. When a reefer fails it has failed. It don't matter how long you nurse it, it is going to fail. Yes I agree the fuel clogging issue is an easy one to solve, however also is all the other issues as well. If you choose to flip off that master switch while fueling and the unit fails upon startup that sucks I fully agree. However that unit was a failure waiting to happen. I can't tell you based on my above comment about WSE how many times I was called by my Fleet manager to get to a place ASAP because our reefer had failed and they need that empty I was hooked up too. Also because of the junk we pulled I got a good inside look at the TKs all over the country. Now I need to go on offense. What do you tell a driver when shutting off his tractor for the night? Oh no don't do that because it might not crank up in the morning. Like I said in one of my other comments, If I was still driving and lived in such fear of my equipment not working when I need for it too I would be better to just stay on the porch.

 

Okay. But TK or Carrier, there are vast areas of interstate that are a minimum of 300 miles from an authorized dealer and that nearest one may be in the wrong direction related to wherever your load is going. Never mind how hours and weekends and holidays factors into the potential problem.

I'm just not wired to open the door to unnecessary risks, needlessly.

 

This post reminds me of coax length, limiter clipping, peak and tune, and SWR arguments. Everyone has their opinion on the topic!

 

I am not either for that matter. I actually don't remember ever shutting my reefer off just to fuel it. I did once have an Ohio DOT Officer direct me to shut my reefer off. And I have had to shut off a reefer some after it was pre-cooled because the place I was loading wanted it off. This is the core of my point. Sometimes you have to flip that master switch off. Living in fear that it won't crank is not a good position to be in.

I edited my comment to address the weekend and nights topic. Reefers are a critical item. I have had to call for road service at 2AM etc on nights and weekends. TK has people on call to answer these calls. They are used to it.

 

"Are YOU going to accept ALL liability for the load and its disposal if the temp rises above the customer's specified temperature while the unit is shut off? There is a temp tracker inside and the receiver will know and the load will be rejected. If so, I'll need it in writing along with your contact info. If not, I cannot shut it off."

 

Good thing 392.50 doesn't say anything about the reefer unit. Just the engine of a cmv must be off.