Comments By Tyler B.

Great info here. I am noting all this. But, if it does not specify temp on Bills, you can always ask them to Print a Temp on the Bills or you can choose not to sign/accept. Normally, they will Write on the bills then a Temp. If your hauling to Walmart, KNOW THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT A Hand Written Notation! If I am hauling for Wally World, I will always ask for a new set of bills to be printed with the proper information/temp listed.

Werner if the BOL requires the load be protected from heat or cold, it stands to reason above freezing and below 85'f, maybe somewhere in between is satisfied that requirement.

If there is no temp stated and the lading is not perishable (flowers, dairy, deli, meat, produce, etc.) set the temp at 55'f. Macro your dispatcher with that info. and go.

You might also ask the shipper what they recommend before you leave their facility. Record this information in case you return to some of these places for the same or similar load.

If it's a Refer Load, & I don't get a Temp, then I call the Broker & I tell him to get me a Temp or I'm waiting. Always read the bills & always only pull away from the Dock once all your questions are answered & you have temp set.

Normally, I know if I am running strawberries, there is a Temp range I will be keeping, & if I am running Frozen Waffles there is a Range I am keeping there... but I ALWAYS get a Temp from the Shipper! Always Read The Bills!!!!

Yeah it was my bad but I've gotten loads with no temp and bills just say protect from heat and cold, then it turns into a 4 hour wait well the company verifies this is true.

Well looks like I learned an important lesson

Ok, Werner. If I could I would hit you in the head with a soft baseball bat. But I can't, so I'm just going to yell at you instead.

Usually, not always, when they put a mark next to the product on the BoL they're making a note that the product is there. So if I'm looking over a load and I see 40 boxes of cereal product #12345 I will put a mark next to it so I know I counted it.

I probably wouldn't say anything and if they confronted me I would just play stupid. But I think you'll get away with this one only because its Beer. They only want it temperature controlled so that the beer wont be 100 degrees. They dont need it ice cold, though they prefer it.

Pray that the receiver is lazy and the dock workers dont care about their job to notice. But I would bet you'll be fine. Just try to keep it to yourself and dont give them a reason to lool at you.

Now as for the yelling part. You really, really cannot let this happen again. If you're not 110% sure about the reefer temp then do not leave the shipper until you get that required temperature with a signature of the shipping clerk. Always read everything. Must not let this happen ever again. Seriously, if this was anything but beer you would be a goner.

Agree with Daniel 100%. Read everything, front and back. If you are running reefer, 99% of the time you will be put-on a load requiring a controlled temperature.

.... that I got passed going downhill on a steep grade. The Rewarding part was when I drove away from the TA & one of the Speed Demons dropped his trailer across the street in a Emergency cause he smoked his brakes, which then ignited his trailer on Fire! Yeah, I did not feel bad at all about being the Turtle that beat the Rabbit! Cheers~

I clipped a guy's mirror backing into a tight slip at a receiver, this morning. I felt bad, but my co driver coached me through handling my first, & what will hopefully be my only accident. He then reminded me of the story he told me, of his first Accident... & how he carried on with things from there. No bad damage, the housing was the only thing broken. Thank goodness. We all will have them, the first Accident. In a career, were all going to make a mistake at least once. Just deal with it and drive on. That's why there is insurance companies & safety departments... just learn & drive on, with a goal not to repeat the mistake.

I did Get Out & Look... I thought I was clear... Life still happens. We just deal & roll forward. Feel free to share your "First Accident story", & then please note how many years since that you have driven on with a safe record. Proof, that we all will in the end if we persevere, will reach a point of professional fulfillment & success. You just have to "Overcome". Cheers~

I am a Greenie, with about 3 months of time under my belt. I run in a Team truck, so I have already found that sleep schedule will rotate as after 12, & 10, your catching 2 hours of the previous lunar day compared to a standard Drive day. Always be safe. I have a CPap machine, so I HAVE TO show that I use it for a minimum of 4 hours every day/night. Means, I schedule sleep. I try to land a minimum of 8 hours of sleep during that 10. I average 7. You really have to Schedule your sleep in this game. I did Time in the service, & watch times also rotated. So I got real good at scheduling rack time & making sure I got sleep. With Refer, I have found that drop/Pick-up days can run longer, normally maxing out the 14. Again, learn to manage your Hours of Service. But on those days just expect to not have a Max day behind the wheel, & be comfortable with getting what you can, getting to a safe stop to take a 10, & then rolling from there. If your flexible, responsive, & "Always Ready" when the DM/Dispatcher says game on, your going to earn a lot of good loads. But if you are unable to adapt, your going to be mediocre & find rough seas ahead. As Bruce Lee said, "Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. be Water my Friend." He would have been a very successful Trucker

I am new to the Fridge Game, but I learned a few things that I am applying now... I have learned from getting burned that if there is Question about a receiving schedule or time, BE THERE AT 2-4am! Twice, I had a Receiver lay me over for another night as they no longer take loads late & they start receiving between 2 & 7 am. 2: Count your Pallets. I have a little Click Counter, like one used to count laps or people in attendance. Wear a Hoody or a Jacket with a Reflective vest, & watch what they load at the dock. Because Refer loads to a large degree are not going to be "SLC" loads. So if there is shortage, guess who is Paying? Always Count your Pallets. 3: just roll with it & be respectful. If your "Cool" in their Refrigerated Dock, the lumpers & staff will be willing to work with you. Compliment them & thank them; they are doing a job in a inhospitable condition, for long hours... a little extra respect can actually carry you a long way.

Every brand of trucking is going to draw a specific brand of Trucker. Refer loads require "Cool Cats". Just be patient & life will go better. If your a Hot head, don't have a long fuse, or are unwilling to adapt, "Your gunna have a Bad Time". But remain positive, & you will not have to break a sweat while on the Clock.

Well, I Drive Refer. Food for thought: usually I take Dry Van loads from East to West, go to a Blue Beacon to get Washed out, & I take Produce or frozen loads back east. Miles are really going to depend on your dispatch or your carriers overall rep with the Brokers.

Really, take the advice, run the loads that your going to jive with. If you don't mind loading docks & backing in, refer or Dry box works. But I do believe that Flatbeders are going to agree that most their loading & drops are either Paralllel or Pull Throughs. Flatbed you have to secure your load. Where with Dryvan & Refer, if it's not SLC (Shippers Load & Count) your responsible for Counting the product that they are putting in your Van. All good to think on. Welcome to the Industry. Cheers

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.

True, on all points fellows. This is what I Want... I just have to get through this roll with a difficult individual; I Survived a year & 1/2 at a Brig, I can survive a couple more days with this dude.

It's at times harder. I am not a fan of sharing a Living Space with this guy... even in the Brig I had my cell to myself... 6 Months. Thanks Don... I shop a couple companies I want, & I keep telling myself that "6 Months, I'm moving on up". You guys are right... just got to embrace it for a "minute" & ride on through as it will get better... 7 months, & I'm getting my Dog!

My first company is a "Second Chance" employer. I was saddled with a Trainer, who is Rude, has less knowledge than me, & is your steriotypical "Super Trucker". Mind you, the company is Team oriented... so I don't really have "Downtime". Did I mention that this guy I'm sharing a cab with lacks all skill in communication, is rude, & very much a version of the rapper 2 short with a Nopolean complex.

I am enduring the suck. I am trying to remind myself that this is worth it... mind you I have only received my Orientation pay & due to my trainers skills in communication, have been laid over for a week total days on our second outing... I have enough Bologna & bread to last me on a Poor man's eating schedule till "Payday"... when this trip pack goes in. I have to endure 6 months, than I can start the process of applying to other companies. But I just need some positivity... someone to tell me that I was not a Sucker & joined a Industry of slave labor & "The Suck". That there is better... I can't wait to go Solo... I just have to get there. Help. Give me some Positive... the sights are cool, the few moments I get to enjoy them before I have to deal with this Anchor attached to my experience.

Mind you, he is as new to the industry as I am... man... this is "The Suck". Any encouragement would be greatly appreciated & thanks