Question about bulk potatoes.

Sounds like they were pretty warm when they were loaded. I would keep a close eye on the reefer to make sure it dont shut off on you again. I would Definetally close both vents... The humidity in that part of the country can play hell with a reefer because a reefer has to remove the humidity before it can cool the air. By closing the vents you keep alot of that humidity out.

But if the boss says to do otherwise... Well the boss is the boss. If you do as he says and its wrong he can't blame you.

Best of luck.

Edit: as long as your moving leaving the back vent open will help draw out humidity... But close it if you stop for more than a few mins, or if its raining.

 

A reefer trailer is designed to "maintain" the temp of the product loaded. It is not designed to pull 80/90 degree potatoes down to 52 degrees.

 

The same happens with melons. I picked up a load up in North Florida. They had just been picked from the field. Those suckers were radiating heat all day and night. It took over 24 hours for the reefer to lower the temperature inside the box.

 

Taters are pretty durable. Loaded spuds in my hopper on Sunday. Still waiting in line at the plant to unload. 10-14 hour wait times are common here. Never had a hot load rejection.

 

Do you have a thermometer? I pulped pretty much every load when I was running reefer. Some day it will save you when a shipper loads something too hot.

 

So 45k of floor loaded potatoes in a vented van is OK? I know there are some produce/hay loads not recommended.

 

Yes, but if you have logistics posts, then I would tape them up to about knee level.