1st Company And Would Like To Haul Reefer...

Ok, so I am looking at choosing my first company, and I believe reefer will be my choice as far as what to haul. The following are the companies that I am considering, so I would appreciate any insight that can be offered to help me in the decision-making process:

Bulkley Trucking Butler Transport CFI Hogan JBS Carriers KLLM Kold Trans May Trucking National Carriers "the Elite Fleet" Navajo Express Pride Transport Sweet Express Tyson Foods

I know that some of these carriers haul more than just reefer, or more specifically, some don't have a division just for reefer.

The decision process starts with sending applications. There are going to be some companies in that list that may reject you. I started my career with my list of preferred companies. None of them would even give me a shot. So I suggest you get serious about applications and then you can settle on a few that are willing to take you on.

I am curious though...

How did you throw Kold Trans into the mix? Was there something appealing to you with them? I am just trying to figure it out. Forgive my curiosity.

I can't really advise you on particulars about specific companies. I can tell you that your success will have nothing to do with the name on the doors of your truck. You will determine whether you are able to make this career work or not. You already quit once. So you know how frustration comes with the territory. The company you go with cannot eliminate the problems associated with trucking. Those issues are up to the driver to overcome.

The decision process starts with sending applications. There are going to be some companies in that list that may reject you. I started my career with my list of preferred companies. None of them would even give me a shot. So I suggest you get serious about applications and then you can settle on a few that are willing to take you on.

I am curious though...

How did you throw Kold Trans into the mix? Was there something appealing to you with them? I am just trying to figure it out. Forgive my curiosity.

I can't really advise you on particulars about specific companies. I can tell you that your success will have nothing to do with the name on the doors of your truck. You will determine whether you are able to make this career work or not. You already quit once. So you know how frustration comes with the territory. The company you go with cannot eliminate the problems associated with trucking. Those issues are up to the driver to overcome.

Applications already filled out. None of them have eliminated me...yet. After speaking with them on the phone (will happen middle of next month once I return to the US) that will be a point where either the company or I decide the other just isn't a good fit. Because of the uphill battle that I have created for myself, I am not really in a position to outright rule out any specific company, so this is the reason Kold Trans is on that list. The fact that Kold Trans exclusively hauls reefer is a bit appealing. I have several on there that haul refrigerated among other types of loads because they are companies in which I genuinely have an interest. Thank you for the feedback.

Kerry, forgive me if I seem to ask questions rather than offer suggestions. It is a habit of mine to ask questions because I like for people to think about the choices and decisions they make when pursuing the trucking career. Sometimes a discussion about choices will bring out some interesting conversations that are helpful.

Could you explain to us why you prefer refrigerated freight? It might help some other newbies when they see your reasoning behind your choices.

Also, part of the reason I was curious about Kold Trans is because it is part of the Knight/Swift group of companies. I just thought it was odd that you had singled them out over the other companies in that group. But it makes sense if you just want to concentrate on reefer loads.

Ok, so I am looking at choosing my first company, and I believe reefer will be my choice as far as what to haul. The following are the companies that I am considering, so I would appreciate any insight that can be offered to help me in the decision-making process:

Bulkley Trucking Butler Transport CFI Hogan JBS Carriers KLLM Kold Trans May Trucking National Carriers "the Elite Fleet" Navajo Express Pride Transport Sweet Express Tyson Foods

I know that some of these carriers haul more than just reefer, or more specifically, some don't have a division just for reefer.

Just watch your reefer light AND MAKE SURE TO TURN THE THING BACK ON IF YOU TURN IT OFF. Had someone I worked with before that didn't turn theirs back on and when they got to their next stop the product was 60+ degrees and rejected. Driver fired immediately.

Ok, so I am looking at choosing my first company, and I believe reefer will be my choice as far as what to haul. The following are the companies that I am considering, so I would appreciate any insight that can be offered to help me in the decision-making process:

Bulkley Trucking Butler Transport CFI Hogan JBS Carriers KLLM Kold Trans May Trucking National Carriers "the Elite Fleet" Navajo Express Pride Transport Sweet Express Tyson Foods

I know that some of these carriers haul more than just reefer, or more specifically, some don't have a division just for reefer.

Just watch your reefer light AND MAKE SURE TO TURN THE THING BACK ON IF YOU TURN IT OFF. Had someone I worked with before that didn't turn theirs back on and when they got to their next stop the product was 60+ degrees and rejected. Driver fired immediately.

Not delivering a load at the proper temperature is definitely problematic. Delivering a load with the trailer not even on is serious negligence. If I were that careless in my job, I would expect to be fired.

Kerry, forgive me if I seem to ask questions rather than offer suggestions. It is a habit of mine to ask questions because I like for people to think about the choices and decisions they make when pursuing the trucking career. Sometimes a discussion about choices will bring out some interesting conversations that are helpful.

Could you explain to us why you prefer refrigerated freight? It might help some other newbies when they see your reasoning behind your choices.

Also, part of the reason I was curious about Kold Trans is because it is part of the Knight/Swift group of companies. I just thought it was odd that you had singled them out over the other companies in that group. But it makes sense if you just want to concentrate on reefer loads.

Old School, I like your reasoning. Nothing wrong with the approach of asking questions to get a person to come to conclusions rather than telling the person what to think. I don't know if I stated that all that well, but I hope the point is sufficiently made. I prefer refrigerated freight because long-term employability dictates that having experience hauling something other than dry van is beneficial. Also, refrigerated hauling typically pays a little better than dry van. Hauling refrigerated freight is a step up from dry van, but doesn't require any endorsements. Another reason that I prefer to start off with reefer is that it is easier to get longer runs versus dry van. On top of this reefer tends to run all 48, as compared to other load types which become a bit more regionalized. The last reasoning here is that refrigerated freight is typically 95+% no touch freight. On the question of considering Kold Trans but not Knight/Swift, it is partially because I want to run reefer. In addition to that, I would consider Swift, but before I completed CDL school, Swift said no on my background. Ok, so might ask, "if Swift said 'No,' then why would you expect a different response from a different company within the same corporation?" My only response would be that they do operate as different companies, so where one said "No" another might give me a chance. Also, I did put in an application with Knight in case other companies don't pan out.

Kerry, thanks for responding!

I like your reasons, and it is obvious you've been looking into this and studying to see what works best for you. I like that.

How are you with night driving and operating on erratic hours? That is part of trucking that may effect refer drivers more than others. I do a lot of unusual schedules as a flat bed driver, but I can tell you I see a lot of reefer drivers out here when I am running through the night. I do what I can to be efficient with my time, but I certainly see a lot of my reefer brothers out here at all times. Sometimes I will see them getting unloaded at some very unusual hours for most of us.

Kerry, thanks for responding!

I like your reasons, and it is obvious you've been looking into this and studying to see what works best for you. I like that.

How are you with night driving and operating on erratic hours? That is part of trucking that may effect refer drivers more than others. I do a lot of unusual schedules as a flat bed driver, but I can tell you I see a lot of reefer drivers out here when I am running through the night. I do what I can to be efficient with my time, but I certainly see a lot of my reefer brothers out here at all times. Sometimes I will see them getting unloaded at some very unusual hours for most of us.

There are various reasons that I have wanted to become an OTR driver, and among them is the fact that my sleep is often erratic and does not lend itself well to the typical predictable schedule job. I usually sleep 4-5 hours during a given 24-hour period. (Notice that I didn't say "4-5 hours per night.") Staying awake at night is a common practice for me. Truck driving is most definitely not something that works for everyone. There are some of us who just naturally live in ways that adapts pretty well to the demands of the lifestyle required.

I don't know much about our Temp Controlled division. I know they have a few trainers.

It is or will be possible to start out dry van and switch to refer.