Multizone Reefers?

And heavier. Like 37,000 empty with a tractor. There are certain loads you can't take because of weight issues, not to mention they burn a lot of fuel.

 

The new ones are not near as heavy--yes they are a little more expensive to operate--so it depends on YOUR situation--I love ours--BUT--we do LTL nationally--so we can put more than enough revenue on it to make it cost effective--and--in terms of weight just for an example--I have a heavy 379exhd--and out new Danes w/3 units-3 bulkheads-8 loadlocks-and 30 mt pallets--comes in at just under 36k w/1/2 tank of fuel--(150 gal tanks)and full tank(50gals)reefer fuel--
They are on super single tires with liteweight alcoa wheels
Just my $.02

 

Oh and BTW--when I say i love them--remember the LTL part--when I used a single unnit trailer--the freight had to come off in order--so if for example my 1st 2 drops where refrigerated and then frozen next--I had to strip out all the reefer freight in front of the bulkhead--then get the frozen drop out then reload the reefer freight to move on--and it could go like that all week--multi unit doesn't always completeley solve that problem--but it sure helps!

 

I've talked to a few SNI drivers who run the WalMart account with Multi-zone reefers, and they seem to enjoy them overall. Allows the trailer to set two or three different temp zones to deliver freight to the stores, get maximum use out of the trailer instead of using three different trailers to delivery three short loads that all require different temps.

 

I did the Walmart thing with Swift out of Harrisonville Mo (6065).

They ran fine for the most part.

 

Multi temp reefers are very common here, there's little difference with weight or running costs, usually they are 2 compartment with a single sliding bulkhead, they are a no-brainer for Multi temp or distribution work. On the down side ceiling mounted evaporator units cut into internal height but modern ones the units are quiet small so u can work around them. Personally I found they were a good advertising tool and certainly brought some good work my way on account of a Multi temp is less common than a straight fridge.

 

Older ones like I had were pretty bulky but I was looking at a new one the other day, the unit was only 2feet wide approx and with a specially recessed ceiling it was only 4 inches from the ceiling so it would be very easy to work with.