New to Temp Controlled

*sub*

not a reefer guy but interesting to know different line of work

 

One thing that I always make sure of, especially in winter, is that the reefer actually starts and runs before you put a load in it. I wouldn't want to get fully loaded somewhere and go to flip the switch and the #### thing doesn't start.

 

^^^ This is why you "pre-trip" the unit when you first pick it up and before you head to the shipper and anytime following extended periods when it has not ran. The pre-trip routine does 2 things, it assures you it's going to start and it assures you all systems are operating correctly, or advices of potential issues before you put a load inside the trailer.

 

Yes, exactly. A lot of our reefers do that automatically when you turn the switch to "on" before it even starts.

 

But what I was getting at, in colder temps there's a chance that if the reefer has a weak battery that it could be completely dead, and unless you checked to make sure it starts before you pull it, some people get all the way to their destination and then realize, "oh crap, she don't start!".

I had to jump a reefer last week, luckily the guy pulling it tried to start it before he went and got his load of cheese.

 

open the service doors on the unit and check the engine oil ! and the belts at the very least .
if i had a dime for every unit i found low on oil id be rich .
give things a good looking over and yank out the birds nests and junk you are apt to find .
when you are done make sure the doors are securely shut .
when outside temps still pushing -10 ive always run my units on continuos to avoid starting probs .

 

Lesser is a good company good refer units,get to know the shop guys trailer shop ,if have a smart phone spend a bit diwnloading carrier and thermo king apps great info to have ,if u need service out in a strange town ,i leave my reefer on if below 30 or freezing out,easer on the equiment ,as a company driver ,you have to a do a pretrip on it ,just like your tractor,while at the dealerships ,grab there books there free,inside the book in the middle is a chart that list all the fault codes thats gobna pop up,most b stupid codes like engine wont start,thats what mins did ro me finnley after 1/2 hour teyibg to start it,i cleared the code and it started up,sometimes you have to do that ,pay attion to them lights,top light is defrost,dont let that scare you,when u got box set at minus 5,thats means it going threw a defrost on the coils in the engine comparnt ,not the box ,so dont freek out when goes to 55 degrees ,it just removing all the ice from the condser unit so dont get to much ice on it and wont cool,pretty much a refer is like your home ac ,heating system

 

Wacth alot utude on down time great place to learn too

 

Just beware that some loads have tattletale boxs in the back ,and u turn refer off ,better have a good answer i leave my on contouis for that reson unless i get to 1/4 tank and make a note of it

 

all good points everett ....also a couple years a ago tyson started putting some tattletales in trailers that record when and if the doors are opened .