Reefer units getting stopped in Indiana

Its not that they are not working its that the drivers are to cheap to run them say on constant instead of cycle which will cost more. They are just cheap and putting a lot of people at risk by setting there temps way above the safe healthy temp.

 

That was just the one straight truck from last week. They're probably just going to to basic checks for the Health Department.

That trucks reefer unit had failed and they were thinking the meat was going to be sold for consumption. The meat was green

 

Just went thru Indiana two days ago pulling reefer. Pulled into one coop. No issues, no check, no problems.
Sounds like maybe just a random stop?

 

Almost every load I pulled had temperature recorders on them. There was no way around not complying. Every meat load I hauled was USDA inspected and sealed. Most bulk loads going to secondary plants had USDA inspectors at both ends. If the temp recorder is not right, the pulp is incorrect or there is damage or anything out of place, the load is rejected.

The same with produce loads, they will be inspected and the pulp temp checked at the rear, middle and nose of the trailer. If they are not within specs which most was + or -2 degrees, the load will be rejected.


The cycle/continuous depends on the freight. Where refridgerated items like certain produces require constant airflow to maintain an even temperature, many frozen items you can get away with on cycle. It makes no difference.

Your refridgerator/freezer at home doesn't run continuous, it cycles.

Most OTR reefer drivers take pride in their job. The ones that don't, don't stay in the business long.

Final distribution from a Chinese warehouse might be different. I seen one that was real slow putting perishable freight away on a hot dock.

Back in my coke days when I had to work the grocery stores I seen alot of unpleasant things when the delivery trucks come there. Mainly smaller stores I seen meat and stuff sit on the dock 2-3 hours. Most of the bigger chains were good about putting stuff up. The overall appearance of the store pretty much reflected the back of the store.

I would be more concerned about them.

 

I remember hearing about this over the summer in Indiana also. But like you said it was the Asian warehouse delivery trucks that were getting into trouble for this. I do know that there was 1 truck I had heard about on the news back then that had a malfunctioning reefer unit so it was not keeping the product cold enough.

 

The reefer not keeping the product cold enough isn't something the DOT is going to cite you on. They could care less. I've been pulling reefers through Indiana for a year now. I never once got stopped for a inspection. And when a inspection occurs, the reefer is low on their priority list.

The only times that I was ever asked about the reefer temp was at agricultural and border patrol checkpoints, and all they check is that the set temp on the reefer matches the BOL. They dont care if it's on a continuous run or cycle century.

 

The only control a DOT cop has over a Reefer is, It better not be leaking oil on the pavement and be firmly attached to the trailer.
They can't tell you whether to have it on or what temp to have it set at. Not in their job description.

 

Could it be that they are checking that the trailer is not leaking thawed meat $*** all over the road and on following cars? I have been behind such Tyson trucks, and if it is not a DOT offense, it should be... Nice oily windshield and door handles (no, I was not following too closely... It passed me on the interstate)