Why so many winter (water based) liquid loads posted for vans?

I've hauled bottled water and beer in freezing temps and never had a problem. Some said to idle the truck when parked and that it would be enough vibration to keep from freezing.

 

Friend of mine from Montana drives for Missoula Bottling in one of their transport trucks. He said if it’s real cold they just idle all night and don’t have any problems.

 

I've never had a problem with water freezing in the northeast here. Maybe if your way up north and it gets around 0 and you have it parked over the weekend that might be a different story

 

Been about a decade since i did van loads but when i ran beer and drinks never really had a problem unless it got into -40 or less range. Those bottles kegs ect are usually coming from heated warehouses and there is a LOT of thermal mass in them that bleeds out into the trailer which then insulates them to a degree. They WILL freeze....EVENTUALLY but it takes either a long time or extreme conditions. You might lose a handful of bottles on the outer edges but as a general rule as long as its not in the trailer for days or weeks your going to be fine.

 

I personally not run a water load thru -26 in the northern plains over a few days. When my contacts freeze to my eyeballs and snot turns to sharp icicles in your nose.or when you run a reefer and dare not to have it on start/stop for the cold..That’s the sign! They should have paid for a reefer but would rather you pay for the load.

 

Entirely understandable. If your really worried could always hook an espar bunk heater up to an aux tank on the front in a waterproof box blowing warm air inside. Seen a few guys run setups like that over the years.

 

Most a water or soda loads. If you leave truck on that keeps it from freeze and that is what they are saying.