Driving Reefers Vs. Driving Dry Vans

[Retired in Nevada]

I am looking at getting into the trucking industry as a second career. I have narrowed my choices down to Watkins-Shepard, Central Refrigerated, and Swift, as all have driver training schools. I will have to go with a training company such as one of these three because I do not have the money to pay for a school on my own.

I will appreciate any input regarding driving reefers vs. driving dry vans, and any input on these three companies.

I live in Pahrump, NV, which is about 70 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Does any of these companies have lanes through this area and/or dedicated runs near Pahrump so that I can get home a little more often? If not, any other training companies that have frequent runs through this area?

I have been reading the forums here at CAD for a few years. I know that there are several past threads on these companies and reefers vs. vans. I am seeking any new, fresh input on these topics.

TIA.

[carlos64030]

Swift has a Terminal in Sparks.

[Retired in Nevada]

Sparks is in northern Nevada, next door to Reno. I'm 400 miles away from Reno/Sparks, close to Las Vegas. Does Swift run through Las Vegas a lot, and would they allow me to take the truck home, 70 miles away from Las Vegas, for my home time?

[carlos64030]

Swift runs everywhere. Yes, they'd let you take the truck home with you.

[Drew10]

Look for sycrosonix (sp). He posts on this board alot. He runs for Swift out in your part of the country. He probably has good info for you regarding your questions. Hes usually on the board at least once a day.

[knobs]

you might ck with swift about taken truck home i have a couple friends who drive for them both have been there about 8 yrs now. and they told me a few weeks ago they have to leave there truck at the terminal. one guy lives in fl 2.5 hrs away from there ocala term thats 5 hrs round trip. plus he said when he leaves his truck there they are using it for local runs. so hes about to leave swift. i have driven both reefer and dry van im going back to dry van. both were ok but with reefer you tend to sit more and its taken two yrs but i have finally got on with a co here in central indiana that will get me home on weekends. i started with swift just for there schooling worked for them 3 months and left for a better co. so just so you know if you go to swift and find you dont want to work for them for the entire time you sign on for you can leave and work out payment plan. good luck

[dobry4u]

knobs wrote

you might ck with swift about taken truck home i have a couple friends who drive for them both have been there about 8 yrs now. and they told me a few weeks ago they have to leave there truck at the terminal.

I can support this....I was told at orientation a couple of weeks ago that Swift's new policy is that trucks have to go to the terminal unless you live within 50 miles of the terminal. They will try to find loads close to your home so that you could possibly take the truck home.

[ohiomohawk]

If you choose reefers KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TEMPS!!

When I worked a Schneider this one individual got loaded at a frozen food shipper and did not check his temps before he left.

He took a 10 hour break and drove to the Walmart distribution center with a trailer filled with about $25,000 of food that had to be unloaded and thrown straight into the dumpster. The temps were supposed to be -20!

They shut 2 zones off to load him up (they did not want cold air blowing on them while they loaded) so he still had a green light on. The green light was only for 1 zone

[BlooMoose]

If you choose reefers KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TEMPS!!

When I worked a Schneider this one individual got loaded at a frozen food shipper and did not check his temps before he left.

He took a 10 hour break and drove to the Walmart distribution center with a trailer filled with about $25,000 of food that had to be unloaded and thrown straight into the dumpster. The temps were supposed to be -20!

They shut 2 zones off to load him up (they did not want cold air blowing on them while they loaded) so he still had a green light on. The green light was only for 1 zone

Yeah, and you do sit A LOT running reefer. Plus, operating costs are high (once the "insulation" starts to break down within the walls, the cooling unit has to work much harder to keep the temperature up). It burns more fuel and, if the company doesn't do anything about it, you will end up hearing a lot of bitching about fuel...as is it's your fault. People love to bitch but don't love to fix problems...

[Retired in Nevada]

Thanks, all, for your replies. I am leaning toward Watkins-Shepard because with them, it's straight from their driving school into a truck of your own. No spending weeks with a trainer who you may not like.

The recruiter I spoke with said that I would be out for three weeks, then have three days home time. As W-S has a terminal in Las Vegas, this did not make a lot of sense to me. Living only 70 miles from that terminal, shouldn't I be able to get home a little more often? This is not a huge deal for me, but I am curious.

The recruiter also told me that about half of W-S's fleet is equipped with APUs, and that the other half should be equipped by the end of the year. Is 3-1/2 months realistically enough time to accomplish this? This is important, in case I get stuck in California where it is now against the law to idle a truck for more than five minutes.

I have lots of other questions for W-S. What kind of freight? What percentage no-touch/drop-and-hook? Can I take the truck home? Etc., etc. I'll be calling her back on Monday for answers.

In the meantime, if any of you can shed more light on working for Watkins-Shepard, please post.

[freebird]

I will have to go with a training company such as one of these three because I do not have the money to pay for a school on my own.

Just wondering, do you have the $$$ to live on and pay the bills at home while you are getting started?
The first paycheck and getting the cash flow started are going to be slow in coming.
When I was training this was quite often a problem with my students.

[zipy46]

Driven both...(dry and reefer)...currently reefer.

In spite of the phenomenal wait time at shippers and receivers

associated with Reefer,

the pay checks are far larger at the end of the week because

food is critical and the miles are consistent...people need food..simple

The miles are there...i had zero luck dry van (Millis)...but then that's
just the way it played out for me.

Current miles are about 360-480 a day avg...works out well as the week

unfolds.

Also we run legal where i work now...so all is good...sleep well at night :wink:

[Retired in Nevada]

I will have to go with a training company such as one of these three because I do not have the money to pay for a school on my own.

Just wondering, do you have the $$$ to live on and pay the bills at home while you are getting started?
The first paycheck and getting the cash flow started are going to be slow in coming.
When I was training this was quite often a problem with my students.

Yes, I do. My home and car are completely paid for, so my bills are very reasonable. Just do not have the $4,000 or so to pay for my own schooling.

[SlingBlade07]

Driven both...(dry and reefer)...currently reefer.

In spite of the phenomenal wait time at shippers and receivers

associated with Reefer,

the pay checks are far larger at the end of the week because

food is critical and the miles are consistent...people need food..simple

The miles are there...i had zero luck dry van (Millis)...but then that's
just the way it played out for me.

Current miles are about 360-480 a day avg...works out well as the week

unfolds.

Also we run legal where i work now...so all is good...sleep well at night :wink:

Zippy tried to pm you but cant dont have enough posts. What was your issue with millis, reason I ask is thats one of the companys I am leaning towards to start out.

[zipy46]

Driven both...(dry and reefer)...currently reefer.

In spite of the phenomenal wait time at shippers and receivers

associated with Reefer,

the pay checks are far larger at the end of the week because

food is critical and the miles are consistent...people need food..simple

The miles are there...i had zero luck dry van (Millis)...but then that's
just the way it played out for me.

Current miles are about 360-480 a day avg...works out well as the week

unfolds.

Also we run legal where i work now...so all is good...sleep well at night :wink:

Zippy tried to pm you but cant dont have enough posts. What was your issue with millis, reason I ask is thats one of the companys I am leaning towards to start out.

Constantly having to 'adjust' the logbooks in order to chase down what little freight would come my way...

Rarely ever made more than about 1800 to 2000 miles a week.


...but i can only speak for me.

There were alot of drivers who did well there and they have very nice trucks and good maintenance

To sum up.....in this industry it all boils down you and your dispatcher regardless of the name on the side of the rig.

[Fredog]

I am looking at getting into the trucking industry as a second career. I have narrowed my choices down to Watkins-Shepard, Central Refrigerated, and Swift, as all have driver training schools. I will have to go with a training company such as one of these three because I do not have the money to pay for a school on my own.

I will appreciate any input regarding driving reefers vs. driving dry vans, and any input on these three companies.

I live in Pahrump, NV, which is about 70 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Does any of these companies have lanes through this area and/or dedicated runs near Pahrump so that I can get home a little more often? If not, any other training companies that have frequent runs through this area?

I have been reading the forums here at CAD for a few years. I know that there are several past threads on these companies and reefers vs. vans. I am seeking any new, fresh input on these topics.

TIA.

you cant drive either one, you have to pull them behind a tractor

[Useless]

My Recommendation??

You can make BIG money, and I do mean MUCHO DINERO, hauling REEFERS around the country....... as long as you don't get caught!!

[Windwalker]

I am looking at getting into the trucking industry as a second career. I have narrowed my choices down to Watkins-Shepard, Central Refrigerated, and Swift, as all have driver training schools. I will have to go with a training company such as one of these three because I do not have the money to pay for a school on my own.

I got to watch a trainer try to have his trainee try to park the rig in a Flying J last night. I once had a safety director that said there was no reason for ANY driver to BLINDSIDE a truck, EVER. And, he was talking about seasoned drivers. There have been places where I have had no choice, but they have been few and far between. But, this guy was going to have his trainee put it into a space BLINDSIDE.... Until half a dozen guys got out of their trucks. For a few minutes, I thought there was going to be a fist-fight. But then, the trainer had the trainee go down to the end of the row and turn around. Sighted-side, he pulled ahead about five or six times, but blindside, he was fixing to take off a few fenders, including his own. That was C. R. England.

You might try Roehl our of Marshfield, WI. I know they have a terminal in Ontario, CA (or somewhere really close to there) and regular runs through Vegas. They do not have reefers, just flatbed, dryvan, and curtain-side. I have heard some poor word about them lately, but I believe they still rank above the ones you mentioned.

[Retired in Nevada]

I am looking at getting into the trucking industry as a second career. I have narrowed my choices down to Watkins-Shepard, Central Refrigerated, and Swift, as all have driver training schools. I will have to go with a training company such as one of these three because I do not have the money to pay for a school on my own.

I got to watch a trainer try to have his trainee try to park the rig in a Flying J last night. I once had a safety director that said there was no reason for ANY driver to BLINDSIDE a truck, EVER. And, he was talking about seasoned drivers. There have been places where I have had no choice, but they have been few and far between. But, this guy was going to have his trainee put it into a space BLINDSIDE.... Until half a dozen guys got out of their trucks. For a few minutes, I thought there was going to be a fist-fight. But then, the trainer had the trainee go down to the end of the row and turn around. Sighted-side, he pulled ahead about five or six times, but blindside, he was fixing to take off a few fenders, including his own. That was C. R. England.

You might try Roehl our of Marshfield, WI. I know they have a terminal in Ontario, CA (or somewhere really close to there) and regular runs through Vegas. They do not have reefers, just flatbed, dryvan, and curtain-side. I have heard some poor word about them lately, but I believe they still rank above the ones you mentioned.

Thanks for your suggestion. I just perused Roehl's Web site. It's pretty lame. There is no mention of where their terminals are, what their regional runs are, etc.

Nevertheless, I will call them and speak with one of their recruiters tomorrow.

You also said, "I have heard some poor word about them lately, but I believe they still rank above the ones you mentioned." Please tell me, what negative have you heard about Watkins-Shepard lately?

[Windwalker]

Between, Watkins-Shepard, Central Refrigerated, and Swift, I've heard a whole lot of bad about (not so)Swift. Central Refrigerated doesn't seem to be as bad as England. And, I can't say I've really heard a lot about Watkins-Shepard. I just thought I'd try to give you another choice besides Swift. For quite some time, Roehl seemed to be one of the most liberal companies out here. However, with the companies that have parked their equipment and freed up how many drivers, Roehl may not have as many empty trucks, and things may have changed. I really don't know.