Reefer VS Dry Van for a newbie

I don't know about longer loads and unloads. I know most of the freight you aren't going to touch. Also you can't build tiers in reefer trailers so no furniture and bullsh@t! With a reefer you can haul a dry van load or reefer load. So that right there increases your miles. Plus if you start off as a reefer puller you aren't going to know the difference. There really isn't anything to it. Make sure the reefer stays running. Everybody has their own preference though. Sometimes your loads are tight and sometimes you have 5 extra days. It really isn't that different when it comes to the logistics. Some drivers complain about the noise, but it isn't any worse than being parked next to a truck that is running. Some nice foam earplugs are good to have anyway. I saw you are from NH. I was born there! We used to do a lot of christmas tree runs there when we worked for Central Ref. Welcome to the forum and good luck to you!

 

I've done both at the Swift Cupcake Division (heavy haul). These were dedicated outhauls to Costco and random backhauls. In my case, the loads were going to at max 2 stores.

I preffered the reefers. They were lighter and easier to manuver than the 4 axled dry vans. But I got a lot of "little boy pride" from running the heavier dry loads up and down the NW hills. Sorry, at 46 I'm still a kid at heart.

 

Drop and hook dry van loads are a whole lot better than sitting at a grocery warehouse or cold storage for 8 hours without getting paid... I pulled reefers for over 18 years... I own one but I pulled the unit off but I still do some retail grocery store hauls... most are a PITA.

 

Drop and hook dry van loads are a whole lot better than sitting at a grocery warehouse or cold storage for 8 hours without getting paid... I pulled reefers for over 18 years... I own one but I pulled the unit off but I still do some retail food store hauls... most are a PITA.

 

Reefers tend to run more when freight gets slow. As for miles? Probably work out about the same. I've done both, currently pull a reefer and prefer it. Don't have to touch the loads. Don't have to build cribs. The noise of a reefer running is about the same as your APU. Get some earplugs.