Driving a Reefer (refrigerated)

[BiGG T33]

I tryed to search here for info on drivng a Refrigerated trailer and i couldn't find anything..(maybe didn't put correct search term).

How noisey are they for when your trying to sleep?

Does this require me to unload trailer?

Will i be only going to grocery stores?

Are there Mulitple stops with one trailer?

Am i supposed to fuel the cooling system and how?

Can you give me a scenario of a typical reefer driver experience?

Central Refrigerated is a company i'm looking at...


Thank Again
Be Safe Out There!

[unclehotte]

I just quit Shaffer (reefer) to drive local, I was with them for 14 months
so i think I can tell you a little bit.

Depending how old the reefers are they are different in the noise level.
I personally always slept with earplugs, my wife did fine without.

They are easy to refuel and nothing to worry about.

In Shaffers case reefer didnt mean grocrey warehouse, that happened once or twice a month. If you find the right company you will be good, a bad onewhich takes you to those hated warehouses will have you sit A LOT.

Unloading depends on the company, too. In my Shaffer time I never unloaded myself ever.

One problem which I ran in more often then I liked, was dropped reefers from other drivers with problems. Because when the reefer has to be fixed you dont make any money and waste a lot of time. ( I still would choose reefer over dry van in the long run anyway)

You will have multiple stops, but I didnt see them more often compared to the time i drove dry van.

In my opinion reefer will be a better payoff in the end then a dry van.
I will never forget how often I got told from dry van drivers: How can you
stand this fueling the reefer all the time? I said, I get about 25% more pay per week then you, I CAN spend the 2 EXTRA minutes at the pump.

Hope this helps!

[BiGG T33]

Yes it does help answering these questions....Earplugs are a good idea...never thought of that .

Thank for the help unclehotte!!!

Be Safe Out There!

[WildK9]

Marten is the same way, I rarely go to grocery store warehouses. I mainly drop and hook, and fueling is simple, as is everything with a reefer. (of course, that may not be true if the company has some really old trailers)

There's not a whole lot of difference than a dry van. In orientation they should show you the few differences. :wink:

[fireman932003]

You get used to the noise of the reefer. You will even get to where it wakes you up when it DOESN'T run.

[WildK9]

You get used to the noise of the reefer. You will even get to where it wakes you up when it DOESN'T run.

So true, so true.

[ohiomohawk]

I pull reefer trailers for WMART, you have to be keep your eye on the temps.

A couple rookie drivers left a backhaul with a loaded trailer and did not set thier temps and by the time they arrived to the Wmart dist center $20,000 worth of food had gone bad and had to be unloaded and thrown in the dumpster

Just the other day I was at a backhaul and they came and woke me up and told me that I was loaded and ready to go...The guy told me the temps were set. I checked and 1 of the zones was never turned on.

[WildK9]

A couple rookie drivers left a backhaul with a loaded trailer and did not set thier temps and by the time they arrived to the Wmart dist center $20,000 worth of food had gone bad and had to be unloaded and thrown in the dumpster

:shock: :shock:

Just the other day I was at a backhaul and they came and woke me up and told me that I was loaded and ready to go...The guy told me the temps were set. I checked and 1 of the zones was never turned on.

Yeah, on our loaded call, we have to put both the set temp. AND the gauge temp.

[steelhauler2007]

Never hear my reefer running.Oh,I drive a flatbed.

[nickbtubas]

Never hear my reefer running.Oh,I drive a flatbed.

i heard on the CB they just starting making refrigerator flatbeds...

[Sealord]

That's for toting the cryogenic sailboat fuel. BOL

[steelhauler2007]

Refrigerated flatbeds.Works for me. Be alot cooler when tarping.

[Trucker4Life]

Never hear my reefer running.Oh,I drive a flatbed.

i heard on the CB they just starting making refrigerator flatbeds...

But for some strange reason they only work in Jan-Mar, and only in the Midwest and Northeastern states...strange. Still working on the bugs I guess :shock:

[Double R]

I tryed to search here for info on drivng a Refrigerated trailer and i couldn't find anything..(maybe didn't put correct search term).

How noisey are they for when your trying to sleep?
Depends on the age of the trailer. Some are loud and the new ones you will bearly hear.
Does this require me to unload trailer?
depends on the company you work for and what you are hauling. Grocery warehouses will require you to either unload it yourself or hire a lumper. I would hire a lumper if the company pays for it(most do)
Will i be only going to grocery stores?
Actual stores, doubtful. Grocery warhouses, most likely. Be propered for LONG waits, lumps, washouts, etc.
Are there Mulitple stops with one trailer?
Very possible. Alot of Reefer companies are now doing LTL loads(multi-stop)
Am i supposed to fuel the cooling system and how?
Cooling system, NO. Trailer, YES. Just like fueling the tractor, they have there own fuel tank
Can you give me a scenario of a typical reefer driver experience?
I pulled a foodservice reefer regionally, can't really help you there, contact LUCKY13, he was with MARTEN for 10 years. He would know(or any of the other reefer drivers on here)
Central Refrigerated is a company i'm looking at...
Only know what I heard from some of thier drivers. Might want to see if you can talk to a driver for them(current of former), they could help better

Thank Again
Be Safe Out There!

[continental]

Refrigerated flat beds?
SIGN ME UP!
I'll take a spread Transcraft combo!