Reeffer? Flatbed? drybox?

[rangerroy]

Hello everyone do you chose your battles on what you pull i would like to hear the pros and cons about the different options what you like and why or why not if you have pulled all and can compare for me in your opinion like waiting at docks or maybe not waiting.

[heavenbound]

Well i pulled a reefer,few times, lot of live loads and live unloads, with dry van i pretty much drop and hook, and i would not even touch a flatbed.

[Uturn2001]

Dry Van.....more drop and hook, however there is also a higher percentage/chance of having to unload your own trailer as many times if it is driver unload there are not any lumpers on site to hire.

Reefer: Lot more live loads/unloads, but rare for driver to have to touch freight unless working for a company that will not pay for lumpers. Takes some getting used to having the reefer running or start and stopping when trying to sleep. One little plus is that it is not unheard of for a driver to be able to take home "damaged" or overages if the amount is small enough and you are instructed to throw it away by your company. Other advantage is that you can also haul most "dry" loads too so you have less chance of sitting waiting on a load. Most deliveries are early morning.

Flatbed: Usually loaded and unloaded quicker, though that time can be lost if you have to tarp the load. Pickups and deliveries tend to be during daylight hours. Customers seem friendlier. More responsibility/work with flatbeds as you have to really secure every load, and check and recheck your load in route. Flatbeds are also more dangerous as you may have to deal with tarps in windy and/or slick conditions and it is not uncommon to have to climb all over a load. Pay is often a little better with flatbeds.

[downsouthdriver]

, and i would not even touch a flatbed.

You're just getting old... :wink:


I pull a flatbed and (for the most part) love it. But then again, I don't mind the physical labor and getting home weekly more than makes up for the little bit extra you have to do.

Most delivers are during daylight hours and there are time you will get loaded in the evening/early morning. I can count on one hand the number of times that has happened to me.

Depending on what is being loaded it can be pretty quick. Coils are very quick both ways, lumber isn't to bad, but pipe can take a while depending on who's doing it.

And the securing/tarping isn't as bad as most make it out to be.

[DaveP]

, and i would not even touch a flatbed.

You're just getting old... :wink:


I pull a flatbed and (for the most part) love it. But then again, I don't mind the physical labor and getting home weekly more than makes up for the little bit extra you have to do.

Most delivers are during daylight hours and there are time you will get loaded in the evening/early morning. I can count on one hand the number of times that has happened to me.

Depending on what is being loaded it can be pretty quick. Coils are very quick both ways, lumber isn't to bad, but pipe can take a while depending on who's doing it.

And the securing/tarping isn't as bad as most make it out to be.

Agree with you dsr! Flatbed all the way.

Just turned 50 but I have the body of......well, one tiredass 50 yr old.!

[Roadhog]

It takes more skill and strength of character to be a reefer driver.

....what? :? Don't hate... you all know it's true.

[wot i life]

Fash. Ya wants tae be hauling fash. Wi water swilling and swaying and a sploshing aal oe,r the place. Haul fash laddie. Ya,ll ne,er starve ti death if ya break doon in the middle o naewhere :wink:

[inmate1577]

Dryvan here.
I dont care about someone elses product either to monitor it with a reefer or secure it to a flatbed.
I'd rather hook and go, and let someone else do the loading and unloading.
I've never unloaded a box either.

[Useless]

You can make a lot of money hauling "REEFERS", as long as you don't get caught!!
:P

[rvrjr7]

I mainly pull flats and stepdecks. i have had 2 appointment times after 6pm at night in 2 and a half years pulling flats. this time of the year flatbed freight is extremely slow so i do end up pulling vans. i would suggest for any new driver wanting to get into flatbedding pull vans for a year before deciding to pull flats