So what happens to a load when it gets too warm?

I've been pulling reefers for 8 years. These aren't the reefers of yesteryear. They're dependable and most companies monitor them. And if the load is bad or rejected, it gets sent somewhere else. I've never had a load's problems put on me in the last 8 years.

 

Even if a load goes bad.
#### happens and most respectable companies won't put that on you...unless it's clearly your fault
Guess you would still be stuck with it until the company finds some other place for you to take it..

I have not had any problems myself.
Even though I worked for a company with a bunch of junk equipment.

 

I never had a load go bad and I pulled some older model reefers. A couple times the thing didn't want to start when on cycle mode, so I put it on continuous mode until the load was delivered. I've seen warm or supposedly warm loads get resold by the broker at a discount. Some 0/0's can really get burned with something like that, especially if the receiver is a crook.

The driver should monitor the temps anyway and the slightest problem, get to a shop and get it fixed ASAP.

I actually liked pulling reefers coast to coast.

 

I pulled a reefer 6 years and never lost a load to temperature. I had 3 claims I remember. One for a box of leaking chicken juice over 7 other boxes. Not charged and it went to a food bank. Second claim was for two damaged boxes of beef thrown on the edge of the last pallet. Hard to secure when the load was sealed. Tyson ate that one. Third one was obvious forks jabbed through. Shipper ate that one too as I watched the unload.

Produce, I batted a 1000. My favorite was sitting on a load of bananas over a weekend in subzero temperatures. My load was accepted while the other two trucks got rejected. Bad for the company but it made me feel good.

If you want to go then go. Reefer is fun and if you CYA you won't have any problems. Pulp all loads you can before during and after and document. Also carry a good camera with you.

Expect to do a lot of night driving with meat, but that too is enjoyable. Produce is more flexible on the hours.

I too liked coast to coast. Well almost, LA/Atlanta areas.

 

Once saw, actually smelled an area near a dumpster where someone got rid of a load of fish.

Must be what those beached whales can do.

 

One of the several downsides to reefer hauling. One of the best gizmo's I've seen, are those digital temp. readout devices that can be seen in the truck mirror. If the load can't be resold to like a dog food company (don't ask what goes into THAT stuff), or some non-food consumption place, we have landfills in Wis. that are getting so tall, they're going to have snow on them in July, I've seen reefers dumping their load in those.

 

If you learn to haul temperature control properly, there is almost no chance of a spoiled load.
You may have a couple rejected cartons due to being crushed, or forklift damage, etc like another poster said, but if you monitor your temps, secure your load, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FUEL IN THE TANK!, and aren't delayed too long (produce has a very short shelf life), you will not have problems.
Most loads rejected are from the large grocery companies...they over bought. They'll reject a load saying it's warm, bruised, cold or the wrong size...just because they had anticipated selling more of that product in the 7-10 days since they placed the order you are now trying to deliver.
Those loads go to brokers, don't usually involve the driver (except to take them there) and are off your truck in hours.

 

I have never had any trouble.But it is very important to check and double check your bills and make sure the reefer is set to whatever temp the bill says and of course check your reefer every time you stop..A few drivers at kb got fired for bad loads because they had the reefer set too high and the entire load had to be tossed.

 

Patty--reminds me of the(well ill leave co.name out) driver who rolled into Wegmans in PA last year w/frozen load of fresh Sweet Corn.....told receiver--well that put ICE on it to help it get cold so I thought it was to freeze it....had the unit set at -10.......
I held my tongue.....i swear...really I did.....
To the OP....ALWAYS know what you are hauling&what the proper setting is...then just keep your eye on it & you'll be fine.....