Reefer Is More Night Driving?

I'm sure there would be exceptions, but if someone drove reefer could they expect to need to drive more nights to get their job done than Dry Van generally speaking?

I'm sure there would be exceptions, but if someone drove reefer could they expect to need to drive more nights to get their job done than Dry Van generally speaking?

It all depends on delivery times and how a driver manages their clock. Either one will require night driving.

Running reefer your appointments can be anytime day or night. Four to ten hour load/unload times are not uncommon.

You will likely run some nights just because of how your resets fall and due to the pickup and delivery times.

I ran mostly nights when I hauled reefer solo, but I prefer driving at night. You could probably still run mostly days, but your schedule will likely be more chaotic than dry van work.

I would say overall you'll spend more time at night awake and driving when you're pulling a reefer than you will a dry van. Like G-Town said a lot of it will depend on the specifics of your situation, like whether or not you're on a dedicated account for one particular customer with certain tendencies.

But in general, refrigerated freight tends to have fixed appointment times more often than dry van which often has a range of times you can make pickups or deliveries. Often you'll find those fixed appointment times for refrigerated freight are in the middle of the night because food warehouses run 24/7. Dry van pickups and deliveries often go to customers that run 8:00 - 5:00 type schedules or you're able to do a drop and hook whenever you happen to arrive.

I'm new to TCD and was on my trainer's truck the last 3 weeks. I'd say it varies but it seems most nights we started driving between 1 and 3am. The advantages to that are you're usually able to find good parking at truck stops and traffic is usually light when you're driving (although we hit some rush hour both morning and evening). The disadvantages are it can be noisy while you're trying to sleep, it can be hot while sleeping, and around 2-5am or so is when I was the most tired. Once the sun began coming up it was good though.

around 2-5am or so is when I was the most tired. Once the sun began coming up it was good though.

I agree 100%. I was running reefer during training & did tons of night driving. There's something about 4am driving that my biological clock didn't like. I found myself pulling over and walking around very frequently.

Once the sun came up, I was golden. (see what I did there?) 😁

I see what you did there Charlie Mac. You put the word golden in italics you sly dog you.

I ran reefer with Prime, Inc. for a year and a half. 95% of the time I was able to run during the day, usually starting around 5-7am. In that whole time I had maybe 5-6 occasions (running 1-3 days at a time) where I had to run between midnight and 6am. Sometimes the load just calls for it. As a general rule though, if I could avoid driving after midnight I definitely would. I have a few friends that work reefer jobs and they'll generally drive after midnight. Not sure if it was more a preference or just how they managed their clocks.

Even though I run dry van I tend to deliver to a lot of food places. My appointments tend to be between 10 pm and 8 am. My fix is to do my unload during my 10 hr. I either get there and sleep before or after my appointment. I prefer running during the day.

I concur. Now, I have been running a Month & a Half. I am still a greenie.... but I am running teams in a company that does specifically produce loads going East on our return trips.

Nights have there advantages. But the man is right when he says that pre-sunrise hour is the most challenging. I find myself slamming a second cup of Joe & listening to some music 🎶 (rock) to keep my focus sharp. Refer loads I have found will often start drops right around either 2-4am or in the early day before noon or as late as 2. Logic: afternoons are hotter & loading docks need to be temp controlled. Easier when outside temp is cooler? Possibly.

If you ever half to question a Drop Appointment time (let's be real, receivers are sometimes real shifty about times... & when I say Sometimes I mean Most of the time) you might want to take the load over there if there is a question at 2 & double checking the appointment time.

I want to move to Flatbed soon enough. But I just got matched up with a partner at my team job that I don't continuously want to burry in a Shallow Grave ⚰️☠️ Hahaha one day at a time. Any Flatbed companies looking for a Hard running fellow, I am here for you!

it can be hot while sleeping, and around 2-5am or so is when I was the most tired. Once the sun began coming up it was good though.