start up costs????

When I was researching for equipment to use. The advice given to me about dry van/ reefer was to buy a reefer because than you can haul both loads. Not sure how that works in the real world. Extra weight and costs. The only time I have hauled those types of trailers was in a PO,(power only) transport.

 

Hey Jimmbuds,
I also reside in FL, who do you have as ins? I have one truck and paying $1200

 

In theory that is right but I'm speaking from first hand experience here doing a lot of expediting for the automotive industry. There is a lot of that freight, and at times it can pay exceptionally well, but it will never be loaded onto a reefer. There are times when it might but mostly a reefer would get you rejected. That said there is plenty of dry freight that can go on a reefer. But you need to treat it the same as reefer freight and avoid viewing it as cheap loads used to bridge gaps. Dry van can pay as good and/or even better than reefer in the right circumstance. But it's a tough row to hoe trying to convince drivers that.

 

I pull a reefer. I also pull a lot of dry with it. You do limit some of what you can haul (automotive loads are out).

Big thing to ask if calling on a dry load is: Is it palletized, and if so how many. If it's palletized, you're halfway home. If they want to load 30 positions, then you're forcing yourself to load them sideways. You can load 28 in a pinwheel formation, or 26 straight in (this is for standard 40"x48" pallets). If the load is 30 skids, be aware that you will need a spacesaver reefer to fit them. My 2013 Utility can handle it with about an inch or two to spare. But be aware also that the loads can damage your trailer if they're rough with it (that's what killed my 2001 Great Dane). I prefer never to haul sideways pallets. Walls thicker than 3" will mean your pallets will theoretically fit, but won't really due to the angles of loading, unloading.

If it's a floor load, odds are you can't haul it in a reefer trailer. Floor loads go by cube, and reefers don't cut it. Unless it's an LTL/not-full load. I've hauled a lot of 'odd' loads, though. 1 skid from Texas to Pennsylvania paying full rate. 6 wide skids (6' by 4', non-standard) weighing about 2000lb total. I've also hauled a lot of other things (bales of feathers and bales of paper). The feathers were a great price, but were a mess to clean up when emptied. So were the scrap paper (excess cutting from a mill, they're packaged and bundled, but got everywhere). Luckily the scrap paper load was followed up by a load of foam insulation (blocks 8'x3'x8', weighing a total of a few thousand for the whole trailer). They can't ship any more than what a dry van can haul, so I could book it).

Just remember, reefers are food-grade trailers. They generally make the most hauling food (meat and produce) and your loading points adjust seasonally with the growing season. You also deal with grocery warehouses, distribution centers, or terminals, a lot. And they are a pain. they also like to unload in the middle of the night most of the time, and your loads tend to pick up in the middle of the day.

Get paid well to do it, and it works well.