What's your experience with Flatbed, Reefer and Dry Trailer

I wonder if anyone has run flexible hoses to and from a reefer for cab AC?

 

Lowboys (specialized hauling) is good as well but you need some trucking experience to get one of those because sometimes what you are hauling is bigger than what you are hauling it with but it pays good and you dont do a lot of sitting.

 

Good perspective on it. Every type of trailer presents its own challenges and has crossover skills.

I do disagree that backing flatbed is less hassle. With my current gig we seem to have a lot of customers with, narrow, tight yards where backing is at a premium. Like having three forklifts to raise a large, heavy piece high enough for you to back under. You have to be precise with the trailer position because the piece goes edge to edge. If you are the slightest bit crooked or off to one side or another there's no way you can secure the load and pull out legal without killing your profit getting an over dimension permit. You have to nail that to a fraction of an inch.

 

I used to think about that every day I had to drive this pos reefer International box truck in the summer with no A/C. They would always say it wasn't worth fixing. Was hauling sewer liners to job sites and I was the only one with a hazmat so of course I was blessed with that inglorious basturd.

 

To draw cold air from the reefer unit you'd need a venturi effect which would require the hose to taper; the large end at the reefer and small end inside the cab.
This would increase the velocity which you would need for that distance.
Is this what you mean or do you mean freon lines?

 

Abilene Motor Express is headquartered in Richmond. 100% driver no-touch freight. Company has an excellent reputation.
For tankers, here's some that hire new cdl grads, even if the websites don't reflect that.
SVTN
Tidewater Transit
Schneider Bulk
Trimac Transportation
Superior-Carriers
CTL Transportation
Girton Propane Service

I think Trimac you must apply at the terminal; the others have online applications.

 

Good point...

 

I've done a little Dryvan and hated it. Didn't like the confined spaces to back into when going for delivery. That I couldn't completely secure my loads, and I just thought it was boring. But hey it wasn't for me, definitely different for other people.

I've done a lot of flatbed, a little over 3 years otr running to west coast and back to east coast. Loved it. Would never left it if I didn't have wife & son at home. It is tough work securing loads, in any weather condition. But to me, is very rewarding. Also kept me in great shape. Each load is like a puzzle, or problem to be solved. No confined spaces. Little backing, only at truck stops. Tarping is the worst of it, but must companies pay for it. I got $50/half trailer tarp and $75/full trailer...not bad for a couple hours extra work. Plus partial pay at $50/extra stop.

Never done refer nor want to.

 

I have been driving reefer for 16 months now and I love it. You get a lot of backing experience and for the most part you are busy all year around especially if you're with a good company. For the most part you drive during the day because the clients are open during the day. There are sometimes you will have to drive through the night but not very often in my experience. You can make decent money out here and get good miles especially if you find the right company to work for.

I think the main cons would be that you don't really have a regular sleep schedule. Sitting at shippers and receivers because they take forever sometimes. And having the reefer Unit on right behind where you sleep.

The bottom line is all types of freight and driving have the pros and cons so there's not one that's going to be perfect but you will get good experience from any of them.