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Dry Freight in a Reefer Van?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by jldilley, Oct 18, 2013.

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  1. Oct 18, 2013 #1
    jldilley

    jldilley Medium Load Member

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    Hello! I am interested in purchasing my own trailer soon. I have contemplated the idea of buying a reefer unit and running dry freight in it when the market/location dictates, but I have seen some posts that suggest that running dry freight in a reefer van is ill advised. I can't understand why it would be a problem. Am I missing something? Any help is appreciated.
     
    jldilley, Oct 18, 2013
    jldilley, Oct 18, 2013
    #1
    Skydivedavec Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 18, 2013 #2
    cuzzin it

    cuzzin it Road Train Member

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    i do it half the time... never heard of any problems or concern
     
    cuzzin it, Oct 18, 2013
    cuzzin it, Oct 18, 2013
    #2
    jldilley and Skydivedavec Thank this.
  4. Oct 18, 2013 #3
    Dakota1358

    Dakota1358 Medium Load Member

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    Only issue that may come up is weight.You'll be a little heavier than a dry van but not enough to be a concern.I've done it plenty and it was never an issue
     
    Dakota1358, Oct 18, 2013
    Dakota1358, Oct 18, 2013
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    jldilley Thanks this.
  5. Oct 18, 2013 #4
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Issues are: weight, volume is less, lower height inside, some are worried about odors, a refrigerator smell is how some put it. floor loading has been addressed in some specialized cases, but other cases like bare roll paper, are a wood van floor only. Less able to secure the load from shifting(can't use locks nailed down).

    I have heard of a wood floor reefer, but haven't seen very many, and the loss of space inside would still be a problem.

    We quit hauling short back hauls for the most part, but the last one I spent hours and phone calls on, refused to load a reefer, had to be a dry van and I never found out why. I was just about there when the broker called and asked if I had a van, and she had worked with us since before I was there, so sometimes, it is a surprise to everyone when you show up with a reefer.


    Weirdest load was 8 foot squares of steel plate, several men with multiple pallet jacks got it in and situated to spread the weight.
     
    25(2)+2, Oct 18, 2013
    25(2)+2, Oct 18, 2013
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    heyns57 Thanks this.
  7. Oct 18, 2013 #5
    Marlin46

    Marlin46 Medium Load Member

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    Atlanta, GA
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    In addition to the reasons 25 stated occasionally the moisture content or residual moisture in a reefer is the reason for Dry Van only loads. Had a contract with a few hay farmers and if you were to have used a reefer on it you would have never gotten all the hay out of the channels, etc...even if you spent three weeks with a pair of tweezers meaning you conveniently would get rejected from the next 8 food grade only places you go to. The roll stock paper comes to mind as well.
     
    Marlin46, Oct 18, 2013
    Marlin46, Oct 18, 2013
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    25(2)+2 Thanks this.
  8. Oct 18, 2013 #6
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    We loaded a little roll stock, but it was on thick pads of honeycombed heavy cardboard, and, like I said, we quit doing those short hauls.

    You can blow it out with an electric blower or a couple of lengths of air hose hooked to the glad hand with an air gun, but it's still a pain to clean a duct floor without a washout, and even sometimes with a washout.

    The moisture thing can be an issue, too.
     
    25(2)+2, Oct 18, 2013
    25(2)+2, Oct 18, 2013
    #6
  9. Oct 18, 2013 #7
    ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    W A S H O U T

    That's "washout" as in go to the streakin' beacon 'n pay em' about $30 to get the crud out. You can get a reefer trailer deodorized as well... but a can of ground coffee works well for that too.

    When freight is slow, we go over to the dry van loads all the time. Never had a problem. Have a load where moisture is a deal? Set you reefer on 32-degrees, high air. That'll get the moisture out.
     
    ironpony, Oct 18, 2013
    ironpony, Oct 18, 2013
    #7
    FLATBED and VisionLogistics Thank this.
  10. Oct 18, 2013 #8
    Marlin46

    Marlin46 Medium Load Member

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    View attachment 56297

    Sorry to hijack the thread - 25, we used to do roll stock as well from one side of Atlanta to the other, occasionally a few times a day at $350 a piece added up. Clearly after this I too, stay clear of roll stock. Tried to PM this photo to you but couldn't figure it out.
     
    Marlin46, Oct 18, 2013
    Marlin46, Oct 18, 2013
    #8
  11. Oct 18, 2013 #9
    jldilley

    jldilley Medium Load Member

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    Oct 13, 2013
    Indianapolis, In
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    So it looks like there is little cause for concer. Thanks for all the input.
     
    jldilley, Oct 18, 2013
    jldilley, Oct 18, 2013
    #9
  12. Oct 19, 2013 #10
    Winkjr

    Winkjr Road Train Member

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    Old reefers had wood floors.
     
    Winkjr, Oct 19, 2013
    Winkjr, Oct 19, 2013
    #10
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