Question from non-refer driver

Do you recommend setting it on "continuous" before going to sleep? Do you sleep better knowing that its not going to fail to start if it doesnt stop?

 

At this point the question should be asked, "How do you not sleep without it?" I run reefers and late last year I had to run a dry van trailer down to Nashville for our entertainment side. I woke up in the middle of the night scrambling to put my pants on because I didn't hear a reefer that wasn't there.

 

I find it hard to sleep if the reefer is not running. Depending on where your going and whats in the box is how the shipper decides weather its run in start stop or continuous. I go by what the bills say.

 

Against company policy, I usually would set the reefer on continous while sleeping; otherwise, when it shuts off, I wake up & can't go back to sleep worrying if it will start again. In truck stops I usually try to park beside or between other reefer trailers, just out of respect for the flatbedders & dry van drivers. Can't always do that though.

 

I'm not a reefer driver and the reefers running next to me don't bother me one bit. Helps that I'm kind of a heavy sleeper, too.

 

Virtually all of our stuff says "Cycle sentry ok" and that's the way I run it. However, I also have a white noise radio that I keep turned up to about the same decibel level as the unit running so the cycling is not as disruptive. At home or in a motel or wherever, I HAVE to have some fan noise. I absolutely can not sleep in total silence except maybe cat naps in the day.

Typically ice cream loads will call for continuous (especially in summer) but not much else.

 

Interesting .. the only reefer I've run so far was auto parts! And that was set at 50 on a 45 degree night so I slept soundly. Ice cream in summer now thats a little different! Driving is still quite new and Ive found I have no problem getting to sleep at the end of the day. I used to work in an office and had trouble getting to sleep sometimes - but not on this job!

 

it is a nightmare for refer driver when he cant hear BZZZZ and refer engine sound..... gotta bad ideas about faulty refer unit in da head, and it is time to wake up in the middle of the night and fix this thing, till no goods inside are damaged...... LOL

 

you do get used to the noise behind you. It took me a couple of days, but we lump our own loads and I am usually plenty tired after off loading a 53" trailer by hand. I still sleep with ear plugs and that helps to cover up the other noise around me. I like the continous cycle better since when it stops and starts it shakes the truck and it feels to me somebody is kicking my bed.

I always enjoy parking besides or between motorhomes in the rest areas and what do you know some off them leave in the middle of the night.

 

i have gotten used to it besides the newer units are not that loud