I appreciate your input on the reefers and it is information for me to seriously consider in my selection of companies. That's why I am seeking lots of good answers from the pros who have been their and have done it.

Holy effing christ.

It's funny that you mention the truth, CFM. I tell the truth too.

Not all reefer is multi stop.
Lots of companies do drop and hook reefer. TWT being one.
As lucky13 said, you can fuel the reefer tank the same time you fuel the tractor tanks. Even in 100 degree days running the reefer at -10, once a day fueling is all that's needed.

Or CFM, maybe the flatbed side and bulk liquid tanker side of the company is where the money is made and any loss the reefer side has is a write off. Is that possible? TWT does a lot of beef and wine. It's all doom and effing gloom. No other way than yours. Arrgh.

CFM: Again with the pay concerns. Pulling for peanuts ACCORDING TO YOU may not be the same for another person. What if this person's spouse brings in $70k a year and he wants to make a little extra?

Petes and chrome don't mean outlaw reefer outfit. TMC???? :wink:

Crap trucks runnin scales = outlaw outift :wink:

I took a two week inside look at the flatbed side of the house(System Transport) and was less than impressed. Gorgeous building for the suit and tie crowd, the drivers got a double wide mobile on the other side of the lot which seemed to show very well how the outfit thinks of their drivers.

This is no small outfit either, over 800 trucks between the three divisions.

Did I say ALL reefer is multi-stop?

Yes I'm sure they do drop-n-hook. But the point is that there's much LESS drop-n-hook than in dry-van. It's just the nature of refrigerated freight. Reefer = grocery warehouses, lumpers, pallet swaps, washouts, max-weight on the axles, and strange appt time. And everytime you drop that trailer at a customer, you MUST FUEL IT UP.

The reefer is one more mechanical component that can break down that a dry-van driver doesn't have to deal with. So how much do you get for cooling your heels at the Thermo-King dealer?

OK Colin. You worked for TWT. Care to tell the studio audience how much they pay?

I worked for TWT back in the early mid 80's, and yes back then we were allowed to run as hard as we wanted, like most other companies back then who are still around today!! If I remember right the pay was around 29 or 30 cpm, which was then though! They have been around for a while and Made good money, they paid the unloading and other things, which was good in that day. I have talked with some of their drivers through the yrs and they seemed to like working for them. I live in Indiana now and still see their trucks here, so just the I-5 thing is not true. No mater what CFM tells you, there is still money to be made on the road! The road drivers where I work make more than CFM ever thought of. As a matter of fact if you lived in Indianapolis, In I would SHOW YOU HOW to make this money!!!! Blow your heart out CFM....lol What he wants you to believe is there is only 1 way to skin a cat, and as most know that is not true! Would I want to be on the road all my life, the answer is NO! You have to decide what fits in your life, and what will work for you. With these good paying ltl or local jobs CFM talks of making all this money has a trade off which most will not tell you about because they think it is worth it to THEM! Companies don’t give you money for nothing. You don’t work 8 hrs and make 70k and more a year with the limited time CFM has been in this business! Most of these drivers making this money are putting in 12 to 14hrs a day, then drive home, eat, clean up, and then sleep so they can do it all over again the next day. Most like that get less sleep than a road driver JUST to spend a little time with the family! How safe is that??? I don’t agree with some people here, especially Colin, but what he is telling you is sound......Did I Say That......lol wont happen again....lol

CFM, you seem to have all the answers right or wrong so who do you drive for and how long have you been in the business and what do they pay you?

No. And I didn't say you did, either. I was listing some truths.

QUIT BEING OBTUSE! You have never worked at TWT. You don't know how they operate. And of course it's less d&h than dry. Dry van = warehouses, lumpers, sweep outs, max weight on the axles, strange appointment times. What's the difference? Oh, wash vs. sweep. Gotcha. I only ran reefer for 7 months, but I never did a pallet swap. I think I would have seen one in that amount of time.

I for one liked my driving jobs. Yes, it can put pressure on you as far as delivery time is concerned if there is a reefer breakdown, but I didn't care. I DIDN'T CARE. I loved hauling cold loads.

In 2005, I made $.33 cpm, $13 per hour detention pay (I don't recall after how long), and $10 extra stop pay. I was perfectly happy. Nice truck (except for the A/C problem), easy runs, what's not to love. In 2 weeks of employment ( I guessed wrong before with 3 weeks), I ran 5077 (4413/664) paid miles (58 mph I-5 miles) and had 3 full days at home.

I'm certain the pay is different now. Oh wait, they're now buying new 387 Petes for a money losing division. I guess they won't give raises this year...

You might want to keep your blanket statements to yourself. Keep posting how good LTL is and leave the rest of the topics alone.

CFM since you have never worked for TWT let the others that have or someone with some informative information about TWT state the facts, that is all I was asking. You have just come on here to start a pissing contest with others so forget it.

I don't need to stick my hand into a rattlesnake's nest to know it's gonna hurt. Look at Colin - that guy thinks .33 cpm and $10.00 stop pay is like winning the sweepstakes. And don't forget the 10% soaking off the hub mileage due to HHG. Now you see the problem with that side of the biz: too many guys put straight pipes and Yosemite Sam mudflaps over pay, bennies, and hometime. Heck, I know a guy who took a .05 cpm pay cut just so he could tool around in his buddy's StarCar.

Oh well. Happy Trails!!!!