If you pull a refrigerated trailer, chances are, you’ve got your own little system worked out. And there is no shortage of reefer drivers out there with their own little routines, techniques, and idiosyncrasies. We thought we might take a look at some of the tips of the trade when it comes to refrigerated trucking. We’re going to hear from the professionals that deal with refers day in and day out.
Let’s see what a few of them had to say.
R.O. Shares His Refer Pulling Experiences
Because he also hauls dry freight in his refer, there is never a problem locating a load. And rather than sweeping out his reefer, sometimes he uses a leaf blower that is on the small side and battery operated. He says it works great. Not everything makes a messy floor so sometimes just blowing out the trailer works well
He also prefers to carry jumper cables and recommends that, if you carry them too, you get the longest ones possible.
And if you ever run out of gas, you’ll be happy to know this next tip: a unit that has run out of fuel may need to be “pumped up”. For instances when you run out of fuel, you can make a device to help blow fuel into your injectors. You’ll need an air valve from a tire, or an air chuck, and a tennis ball. A mechanic can show you how to do this. Just ask him how to pump up the fuel pump. After running out of fuel once, however, few drivers do it again.
S.D. Provides Cautions When Hauling Dry Freight in a Refrigerated Trailer
If you get dispatched to transport a dry load in your reefer, pay attention to weight capacity. You can’t carry the same heavy load in a reefer that you can in a dry van because the air conditioner tacks on another 42,500 pounds or so. You might need to run a little light on fuel if you put a heavy dry load in your reefer. You going to have to stop more, but that could mean more awesome meals at your favorite truck stops.
Unload times are sometimes longer for reefers than for dry vans as well. And, of course, the maintenance issues involved are more extensive than with dry load trailers. Then again, you can haul both dry and cold loads, and that means more work.
S.B. Shares the Pros and Cons of Reefers
On the upside:
- Bigger, better pay days possible because you spend more time driving. You don’t have to wait around for loads as long as you consider hauling both dry and refrigerated cargo.
- Supermarkets are constantly wanting fresh produce. That means that there is a consistent demand, which makes for a steady freight market.
- If you simply can’t find a cold load, it’s no problem. Make sure that your reefer is clean and dry, and you should be able to locate a dry load to hold you over.
On the slightly lesser side:
- Shipper docks frequently have long waits for loading times
- Because spoilage is a major concern, emergency maintenance must be performed when refrigerated trailers breakdown.
- After every single load, you must clean out your trailer.
- Reefer trailers have constant noise because of the motor contained within.
If you’re in the market for a reefer trailer, or any other kind of trailer for that matter, consider buying a used trailer from Mickey Genuine Parts. We have trailers, vans, trucks, equipment, parts, and accessories – many of them in stock and ready for shipment. Call our customer service representative today if you have questions.