Pros and cons of running refrigerated

Great info.

 

So how do you know what to do with rejected product? And if you're an O/O, if it's rejected, does that automatically put you at fault and have to cover it with your cargo insurance???

Surely if the load was spoiled to begin with, it's not your fault, but how can you prove that it wasn't your reefer that failed that caused the load to spoil?

 

Shipper will determine what to do with rejected product(if the truck is at fault) Cargo insurance does not cover operator error(wrong setpoint ect). If your unit is new enough it has a data logger that records every 3 minutes of operation,usually back 30 days. If no data logger,hope there is a temp recorder. If you can't prove that the load was at the right temp you're responsible.

 

In this case here?

I actually had pictures of it on the shippers dock and they noted the bills it was damaged prior to loading.

Major difference between van and reefer. Reefers, you are most times on the dock when loading/unloading.

ETA:


I have pretty much been running -10 loads since Monday. I filled up Monday night with a full tank about 6 PM. Didn't shut it off really but for Tuesday night. I used 9 1/2 gallons all week so far.

 

You have to enjoy the fuel cost during the winter because during the summer it goes way up.

 

We have been tracking costs now on a reefer similar to this since last Spring (2012). It will go up a bit. But not as much as a guy would think. I am sitting in Denver in 40-50 temps. not running much more than it was in Des Moines in 10 degree.

If anything, I turned it off in Des Moines because I noticed over half the time, it was in heat cycle. set at 0 Degrees.

 

Last 6 months,47K reefer. Previous 6 months 66K. Adjusted for price.

 

When you're buying a used reefer,run the temp down to -15 and take thermal pictures all around the trailer. Easy way to see water/insulation problems.

 

who has a thermal camera to do that once or twice.

http://www.amazon.com/Extech-i5-Thermal-Imaging-Camera/dp/B003B3N60E

 

I have ran reefer and never had problems with the unit.Anyway the cons are you have midnight appt with grocery warehouses and some of those places are real tight backing.Never have weekends off.With dry van,for me many times I would pu a load on fri and dont have to deliver it till monday,so thats always nice.Think reefer has to deal with lumpers alot more then dry van.You do have washouts especially if you haul any meat.Sometimes you wont need to have it washed out.Just depends on what you hauled.Some customers are very picky with reefers and will turn you away if the trl is not completely clean.