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Reefer Driving...what's the truth?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by jjsiegal, Jul 2, 2014.

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  1. Jul 2, 2014 #1
    jjsiegal

    jjsiegal Light Load Member

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    Jun 19, 2014
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    Hi Friends,

    I met a guy yesterday while having a Sandwhich at Subway. He was driving a Reefer truck for Dunkin Donnuts. Long arse trailer (looked like 40ft +).
    He looked like he was in his late 30's, and his team driver looked like he was in his late 20's.

    He was nice enough to talk to me about the gig and his history (apparently left law enforcement---don't ask me why---i didn't). Said he made about 6-8 drops a day and worked about 60hrs a week....(WOW). I asked him how much weight he was "slinging" a day and he said "i don't even want to know!" I thought...this was good philosophy because if he knew, it might affect his positive mind set.

    Anyway, My back is an issue...i am in good shape now, but i know from the past, doing extreme physical labor, throws my back out.


    • On one hand, i hear of drivers who do reefer and say "they don't touch a thing?"
    • On the other....i hear reefer drivers saying, "you gotta touch freight!

    What's the truth about driving reefer ?
     
    jjsiegal, Jul 2, 2014
    jjsiegal, Jul 2, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jul 2, 2014 #2
    Trygg

    Trygg Light Load Member

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    Depends on who you drive for whether you touch the freight or not. I run refers for Central Refrigerated, now Swift Refrigerated, don't ever touch a thing except for applying load locks and re-arranging some horribly loaded freight once in a while.
     
    Trygg, Jul 2, 2014
    Trygg, Jul 2, 2014
    #2
    jjsiegal Thanks this.
  4. Jul 2, 2014 #3
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    That depends on the company.Some have 100% no touch freight and others have like 80%.I've hauled reefer for a few companies and never had to do anything.But ive also sat longer at the dock then van too.
     
    pattyj, Jul 2, 2014
    pattyj, Jul 2, 2014
    #3
  5. Jul 2, 2014 #4
    gpsman

    gpsman Road Train Member

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    I think you're confusing local LTL with OTR.

    I can only offer my experience with OTR. I never touched a single load except to "pulp the product" (check the temperature before loading).
     
    gpsman, Jul 2, 2014
    gpsman, Jul 2, 2014
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    Puppage Thanks this.
  7. Jul 2, 2014 #5
    Tonythetruckerdude

    Tonythetruckerdude Crusty Deer Slayer

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    Last edited: Jul 2, 2014
    Tonythetruckerdude, Jul 2, 2014
    Tonythetruckerdude, Jul 2, 2014
    #5
    xlsdraw, "semi" retired, Skydivedavec and 1 other person Thank this.
  8. Jul 2, 2014 #6
    jjsiegal

    jjsiegal Light Load Member

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    Thanks Tony.

    Yep....i guess that's what you would call it....."food-service driver!" I guess it is physically demanding and YOU GOTTA have some Muscle to do it!. I got some muscle BUT, in all honesty, my back is not that great. Its not bothering me now, but i'm tall (*6.3) and weight (200lbs). I ain't exactly Hercules (like some of these guys i see) so i don't think i could throw that kinda weight around like these guys from DD.
     
    jjsiegal, Jul 2, 2014
    jjsiegal, Jul 2, 2014
    #6
    Tonythetruckerdude Thanks this.
  9. Jul 2, 2014 #7
    PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    I don't touch freight, only myself.
     
    PackRatTDI, Jul 2, 2014
    PackRatTDI, Jul 2, 2014
    #7
    Dark_Majesty_06 and joseph1135 Thank this.
  10. Jul 3, 2014 #8
    stlvance

    stlvance Medium Load Member

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    Otr reefer in the 3 companys i have been with has been no touch except one time i had to split into 17 pallets a load of yogurt. I have had to pulp product and watch the load going on and off at times. I haul mostly boxed meat now so any unloading is done by lumping services.
     
    stlvance, Jul 3, 2014
    stlvance, Jul 3, 2014
    #8
  11. Jul 3, 2014 #9
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Yeah food service is mostly hand truck deliveries, but, it can be rollers and even pallets with a lift gate and electric pallet jack, which is gravy. But on the other hand, you may pallet jack a few pallets off the lift gate but the back door to the establishment won't fit pallets, so you end up hand trucking it in.
     
    Allow Me., Jul 3, 2014
    Allow Me., Jul 3, 2014
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    Tonythetruckerdude Thanks this.
  12. Jul 3, 2014 #10
    ontheroadagain2

    ontheroadagain2 Bobtail Member

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    I do otr reefer i never touch a thing,thats what companies pay lumpers to do,so you dont have to.i had back surgery 15 years ago,so no im not lifting anything
     
    ontheroadagain2, Jul 3, 2014
    ontheroadagain2, Jul 3, 2014
    #10
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