Reefer for dummies

Use the forum search tool... there's a lot of good words on TTR about how to load produce, techniques for keeping stuff in good shape during transit, etc.

 

I always flipped mine on continuous while sleeping. Once the unit hits the sweet spot it will usually maintain a steady hum. The starting and stopping you can get used to though. Some shippers specify continuous operation during transit other don't care. Sometimes you will get lucky and the outside air temp will match the load temp and the unit will never start once during the whole trip. I used to haul sour creme from Garland Texas to University Park Illinois at 35 degrees and had a few trips without a single start of the unit.

Another thing to remember is that in the summer time when it's 100 degrees + a -10 load will consume about 1 gallon per hour of fuel in maintaining a subzero temperature.

There isn't much to know about reefer loads and you will have it down ASAP. Some of the newer units are quieter than an idling truck. Some of the older ones though aren't near as quiet...as we all know from having to park next to one and try to sleep.

Always hang up the nozzle after you're finished fueling your tractor. Pull forward and then fuel your unit. There is no road tax on reefer fuel and this is how they separate the prices for taxing purposes.

 

Reefer for dummies..... Smoke one if you got one lol.... (be sure to have a large bag of chips on hand )

sorry could help my self !!

good luck

 

Along the same vein...

Reefer for Dummies: Puff, Puff, Pass.

 

Here's a good link to read and save.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3021003

There are several good threads throughout this forum.

Every product has an ultimate haul and storage temperature. Most receivers will allow you a +/- 2* variance.

Get to reading.

 

Seriously? The only thing the DOT can do is tell if your tires are too black or if there's dirt on your brake hoses. The ag inspection stations might want to see permits for certain cargo (nursery, etc).

 

Most of the newer Units are fairly trouble free.
Set the temp according to the BOLs, Broker (on some mixed loads), or what your company wants.

Check the Temp and settings at every stop to make sure nobody is playing with it.
If you have a Status light check it make sure the unit is doesn't have any fault codes also.
Should be able to see it in your mirror while driving.

Fuel the Reefer tank every time you fill up the truck or check it at least.
Unit Setpoint and Outside Temps are going to make a big difference on fuel usage so keep that in mind.

 

It seems a lot of what will affect your reefer experience you encounter has to do with where you're working and their typical freight-base. You may be somewhere that does a lot of drop/hook and pre-cooling is not necessary. At these places the most important thing is to not enter the facility with less then 3/4 tank of fuel. Some shippers when you arrive for a d/h will simply want you to turn the unit on at the entry gate, then turn it off so they can know the unit is going to start and run properly when they decide to load it.

As was mentioned, get in a habit of running the unit's pre-trip routine when you get under a new trailer and before you've arrived at a shipper. Any issues that come up will need to be delt with before arriving at a shipper. The pre-trip routine tests a whole lot of the unit's systems to verify they are working and will tell you "System Ok", or provide you with an errors list.

Also, if you haul a lot of "dry freight", always check the chute after you've emptied from front to rear and inspect for damage. These shippers are not very adept at dealing with the shorter-height reefers and the chute assembly in the nose.

Get a small "pry-bar" to remove broken pallet wood pieces that get wedged into the corrugated bottom from forklift traffic. The trailer doesn't drain well when a channel is dammed up along the way, as well these wood pieces work to restrict proper return air flow.

Any shipper you go into, simply tell them this is your first time there and to please explain the procedures and protocols and pay attention and take notes when they tell you. Some rattle off a lot of information in a short amount of time.

 

Ok, so what's TTR?