Three reasons why I switch from “reefer to dry van”

In this video I’m going to give you three reasons why I switched from Refeer to dry van. Number one, no maintenance costs, two cheaper insurance and finally I can get some sleep at night.

[@marksill8020]

I always hated the hours of delivery when it came to refers. They always want you to deliver late at night or real early in the morning. Then, after you deliver, no truck parking. And, it always seems the receiver wants to keep you 4-6 hours so they can unload, then if you're carrying produce, they want to test it....and everything else. I hated refer when I did it.

[@colinr6912]

I start trucking in 2 weeks. Reading this comment. Seeing this video. Makes me very very HAPPY. I switched the division I was going to be in... from Refer to Dryvan 😂

[@JohnSmith-pt5sg]

Haven't driven in over 12 years, thinking about going back. I'm realizing the truth of what you're saying. I did 6 months reefer HATED IT. Always flipping days and nights, losing hours to do this, trying to stay awake, F that! 6 months dry, was regional, various loads, but by *8PM, I was done for the day! No BS, alot of drop n hooks.

[@marksill8020]

@@JohnSmith-pt5sg I don't know where you're located, but if staying in your local area is a must, try driving for a container company. Or someone like JB Hunt intermodal type operation.

[@JohnSmith-pt5sg]

@@marksill8020 JB intermodal is nice, guys that get on that, tend to stay from what I heard, haha but my info 12 old. I did JB regional, was ok.

[@JohnSmith-pt5sg]

@@marksill8020 JB was the good one.

[@qb6570]

Fyi anyone looking to get into the reefer side, be aware the average wait times for loading and unloading are RIDICULOUS. Most places are on a strict appt system (for you not them bc they will have you sitting 4+hrs). Not many FCFS places.

[@xpicklepie]

Lots of 3 am delivery appointments and lumper hassles too. And if it's multi P/U's it's 'hurry-up-and-wait'.

[@aaronmelson2887]

I did reefer for year as a company driver and at first it was cool but after about 6 months of doing it I got really tired of it. The constant washouts, reefer noise at night, having to put fuel in it was just getting to be a bit much for me. Of course I was a company driver so I didn't have to worry about maintenance of anything like that but still.

[@vernongray6700]

MelsonWithTrucking Pussy excuses

[@tez_foe4382]

@@vernongray6700 , Shutcho mouth

[@ricky-yt1fh]

@@vernongray6700 😭😭😭😭

[@TRANSFORMER2508]

Came upon your channel because I'm looking to buy a reefer trailer. Glad I watched your video. You give good insight on your experience in reefers and I agree with what you are saying. My buddies are pulling reefers and they say it's great and all that but the maintenance is another thing coming out the gate. I think I'll keep my mind leaning back towards dry Van's again.

[@pojo9925]

Pulling a reefer you don’t have to worry about slow freight. People are always going to eat.

[@miguelrobb5719]

Doug Mammaro that's exactly why im going to purchase my own reefer

[@qb6570]

There are PLENTY of loads you CANT haul in a reefer. Brokers will deny you a dry van load if you have a reefer(some not all)

[@miguelrobb5719]

Q B I dont know why they would deny it. It's still a 53ft trailer. I could be wromy though. Anyways I switched my mind a couple weeks ago. I'm going flatbed. I need something that pays more than vans

[@patmac6356]

No recessions in food!!!!!!!!!

[@patmac6356]

feet till they stab your reefer with the fork lift,lol

[@roberth3094]

I pick reefer because after a year of running reefer you pretty much know all the major cold storage places. You pretty much know most of the places your going. With dry van your delivering everywhere in the country , Too much of the unknown factor for me.

[@MarineDevilDogg]

Which makes it alot more choices for van

[@MantimeHustle]

Reefer = more money. Plus the worst drivers pull van biggest lazy pos on the road imo

[@edwardjr1562]

The sound is very relaxing

[@khaldahmed8977]

I appreciate it bro for your advice the main thing is like you said don’t get good sleep and cost too much for maintenance a little bit more money but I won’t destroy my health

[@halcyon1030]

Thanks nice feedback. I've been running for 26 years and have never pulled reefer. I want to team with a family member and be in charge of my dispatch and home time.

[@onerich8876]

Thanks for watching

[@adrianomedeiros9769]

Thank you bro this video going to help me a lot is a very very good video

[@qb6570]

Food grade trailers..Its a whole different ballgame. I have a reefer now, im definitely going out to get a flatbed soon. Ill just run the reefer in fall/winter

[@MantimeHustle]

Depends on your area bro. I live in central Texas and I would do better with a reefer as fast as having a lane that gets me home more often. I pull a 53 ft conestoga and I gotta damn near circle the globe. The money is great but boy do I gotta run hard

[@justicetrucking5364]

I agree with everything you said I’m changing from reefer to a dry van.

[@LoveTravelAdventure]

Good video brother. Hope all is well

[@onerich8876]

I’m good RVK just working I️ see you staying busy!!!✊🏽

[@PARMYGUY]

One of the biggest reason i left reefer, fuel. Its and extra $150.00 for reefer, $100 to fill it and $50 for a washout, sometimes higher. Strange hours and if you lose that load your going to be charged. Real experience. You will sit at a shipper for any where from 2 to 21 hours. Wait tell you get to a place that trashes it by leaving lose pallet boards, plastic in and area where you dont have a washout for 50 miles.

[@subconsciouslyinyahead7977]

Main takeaways: 1) HIGH INSURANCE 2) Maintenance cost 3) NO SLEEP (most common)

[@MK-yg3go]

since i started in trucking 5 yrs ago i been doing dry sometimes i think about trying reefer but scares me. all i see is negative . most of deliveries and pick up at night so no regular sleeping and noises and hard time finding parking, heavy loads so u need the scale all the time, maintenance and problems with the unit, fueling, washing and cleaning and long wait time at places and all of that just for few cents or even sometimes the same rate ?? so is it worth it. dont think so my friends.

[@bankergeorge]

In the wintertime i just turn off that reefer and sleep and turn it on back lol

[@xpicklepie]

When I stopped at a truck stop for the night, other drivers did it FOR me.

[@bankergeorge]

@@xpicklepie not good

[@TheOblivionUniverse]

Hey bro, I'm new to the trucking industry. I watched videos on flatbed and its strapping and weather that kills everything too and realized it's not for me, I also heard refeer, but that's not for me either cause you don't have a lot of home time. I think I'll stick with dry van. More driving and strict to the appointment but gotta get it done so.

[@andreygoncharov9049]

Thank you for the video!! Be safe!!

[@loulou-fr4sp]

I'm doing reefer I realized it always take time to unloading and loaded

[@stevensmith5490]

Man I couldn’t sleep unless the reefer was running 😂 you’ll get use to it!

[@ericcampbell2775]

Good advice thanks..hope you do well

[@jamesmcfayden9778]

i don't know I've always don reefer. better money and never really had a issue and i started off with reefer. dye van at the bottom not to mention you have to compete with more mega carriers doing drop and hooks. You are out of Florida to. from what I understand it's harder getting a dry van load out of Florida.

[@thegreytrol2980]

Thanks for the info buddy

[@onerich8876]

Thanks

[@racerx3866]

I sleep well with refer running and truck. I do this on special accounts only. I prefer dry van.

[@onerich8876]

Less headaches!!!

[@DaddysFastestSwimmer]

I remember pulling reefers as a company driver. The wait times were a big enough turn off for me. Remember sitting in Americolds dock for 8 hours.

[@nyflo718]

I'm thinking about switching to dry van because most of the videos I be watching the shippers and recievers look less busy compared to reefer I'm tired of fighting tight spaces and 500 trucks trying to back at the same time....sound about right?

[@ramlyfestyle9285]

good info vid! I drive dry van for a mega.. low wage high miles.. payin dues. few months away from trying to do my own thing. did you get your own authority after company driving or did you lease onto a company running their numbers first? I see a lot of folks say lease on somewhere first and get educated but I also see some go straight for their own authority and skip the middle men.

[@zakcoding2621]

Getting your own authority is easier than what people think. First 6 months is a grind as most brokers prefer 6 months +. I just passed that and almost 99% of them give me loads. May be 3 out of 10 were asking over 6 months. But best decision I made.

[@strubies]

Are you still in business?

[@ToledoOhio]

Listening, got the pen n pad, gracias!!!

[@poacher7805]

Reefer trailers mean grocery warehouses and grocery warehouses are a pain in the ass. Dry van all day long.

[@zaire1able]

Would you recommend flatbed as well??

[@onerich8876]

I never did flatbed so don’t want to really speak on it.

[@abijahaj32]

I do flatbed, it pays..

[@ltribb4213]

He right

[@TNG64]

$1752 a month?

[@michaelconstantine6581]

solid info

[@toolbox902]

good info thanks!

[@onerich8876]

toolbox902 Thanks

[@billymadison1466]

Makes more sense to lease trailers until you have plenty of capital saved

[@TheGoodBait]

Good stuff!

[@onerich8876]

Thanks for watching

[@jeremygriggs1333]

Have a receiver tell u going to be 24 hours before a door with no bathrooms hate reefer

[@antionedavis7758]

You should of listen to the guy who trained you. Doesn’t sound really like you making sound choices. And some of this information is false. Maybe true for you. Learn more before you put stuff in the world.there is always more in things than seems. Keep your head up. Start out with what ever you want.or know how to ran. Just learn game and equipment before you step out. Knowing more puts you in a better positions. Stay ready not get ready.

[@jonathancaro3427]

Watching videos it seems like these newer reefers break every other trip.

[@robertlamarr1865]

i knew a guy that ran reefer he took the panles out of the sleeper put in sound deader put the panales back i ran flat bed the company went to automatic drivers hated them no power to pull in the mountains bad in the rain reel bad in light snow deep snow your stuck and a lot of transmisson failers down shift at the wrong time

[@Yeah_eatsht]

Look at the rates dry vs refrigerator... now don't get me wrong certain lanes pay well....

[@onerich8876]

Peace of mind is more important to me...

[@Yeah_eatsht]

One Rich oh yea for sure.. van is less stress but like here in Texas dry freight rates are not even worth it.. but refer here keeps you moving... I will never pull a refer unit lol

[@ThatStiGuy95]

Reefer because if there are no reefer back hauls, you can haul dry loads too

[@baleriotorres6160]

I did reefer first when started, there are lots of waiting, refusals, washout, cleaning, fuelling, mostly running heavy. dry van are faster loading/unloading, lighter most times, a lot cheaper to maintain, overall less stress. as an owner operator there is less money in dry van compare to most reefer loads but it compensate in a way if you haul light freight and saves on repairs compare to your reefer. also a reefer cost a lot more than a dry van. I have lot less stress on driving with my dry van. will try not to go reefer again.

[@atomicwedgie8176]

They call it a 'reefer' for a reason...you have to be high to want to put up with all the hassles.

[@Halopa60]

I don't even have my CDL yet, still in training but, from what Balerio Torres says, reefer seems like one big headache for an owner operator with only one rig. Like One Rich said, wait until you have three or more rigs then as you scale the business some of those costs can be more easily absorbed. Aside from stuff like lettuce, cut herbs and flowers produce is heavy and most of is either originating in California central valley and often takes you over the Grapevine, Donner Pass or it's coming out of Arizona so you got the heat to deal with.All that takes a toll on your truck. And if your'e a newbie you got to watch for being taken advantage those unscrupulous shippers that relish the chance exploit inexperienced drivers by pawning off produce of low quality and not pre-cooled enough then it's rejected on the other end and shipper will try to pin it on you if you don't maintain proper temps. Some reefer loads like chocolate and medicine are high value and losses can lead to insurance companies raising your premiums. Plus unless your'e a heavy sleeper and use ear plugs you could end up sleep deprived and that is the last thing a trucker needs.

[@THEDC81025]

@@atomicwedgie8176 😂😂😂😂

[@Solitude633]

@@atomicwedgie8176 even my truck was green

[@Solitude633]

How much can I make a week doing dry van?

[@zakcoding2621]

Reefers is really cheap to maintain just learn the basics. Thermoking 2009 to 2011 is simple you are able to replace parts with no knowledge 70% of it.

[@lashan4636]

What bout 04

[@everdream741]

People forget that a reefer is actually a dry van with a refrigerator equipment. You still can haul dry goods on a reefer just like in a dry van . Just wash it and clean it afterwards.

[@bayview94124]

Fuel is almost 4.30, new carb compliant truck is $2100, insurance, workers comp, cargo...how do you make money if your not working direct with shippers?

[@Rick-sv3yv]

You wana make money in truckin do Heavy haul NO BS Days no nights no weekends.

[@clarencewilliams9432]

Rick Sattler send me email at [e-mail] about getting into heavy haul

[@zaidchalabi1599]

Transport i make good

[@tez_foe4382]

@@clarencewilliams9432 , will do

[@g41thomas]

Can you explain better?

[@freddysantana4401]

Hey rick could you email me ? [e-mail] about heavy haul

[@diferentesactividadesjr]

good advice bro. thanks! !!! personally I don't like reefers noise

[@onerich8876]

Thanks for watching...

[@sultanissaal-cubi4059]

Dammm 1800 dollars??? With dryVan I was paying $300

[@MrLasboor]

Sound is not the problem home time and waiting time was the final nail in the coffin for me

[@donaldducks3916]

Why can't you use the refer as a dry van? Then just use the refer if a load is paying. Weight of the ac to much to lug around?

[@nathanharrison816]

57. Dollars and 2 cent 😂

[@vhotshotv7838]

how are you doing one rich ? hope you safe & driving :) got me motivated big time. what would you suggest for those that got the money for the truck but no experience in trucking. I am going to permit test this week for cdl. Do you say once i got the cdl go and buy the truck and work for myself or work for some company couple month, what would you recommend . Thank you a lot

[@tjn2254]

Probably good to work for another company to learn to drive better before you screw shit up.

[@truckingandviajando2704]

Almost 3 year with my own autoryty . Im quiting no enough money on loads too much shit brake downs , maintenance and expenses!!!

[@strubies]

What are you doing now?

[@notsoserious9371]

You can license your truck anywhere ,whether you love there or not

[@TroyP20]

I agree with you Rich, I’m in independent contractor and drive for a small fleet. I have driven Reefer and dryvan. I prefer dryvan no crazy hours like Reefer no having to get the trailer washed out. No having to babysit the trailer

[@onerich8876]

Way less stressful ...

[@exclamationthoughts5734]

I sleep like a baby with reefer. Where did you buy your reefer at?

[@onerich8876]

I bought it from a friend of a friend... what year do you have?

[@exclamationthoughts5734]

One Rich I have 2009 thermoking whisper which I am renting from the company but I use to have a carrier. I just brought a dry van last week but been questioning if I should switch because I have been doing 7,000-10,000 a week gross with the reefer and I don’t know if I will be able to hit that with dry van

[@onerich8876]

You can

[@Thillx2]

You can reach that with dry van. But another strategy could be when reefer rate go lower u could switch. Keep pushing

[@bigtextrucker1825]

Good Choice One Ritch👍I've never liked reefer much. Dry van all the way...

[@TheCivic20001]

Bla bla bla this is the driver that like to get money but don’t like spends to fix the equipment 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮

[@larryrodgersjr6540]

Ha ha.. Spot on

[@prettylittlephotons]

Now you know that reefer sleep is some of the best sleep around! 😂😂😒😒 #Kidding

[@Solitude633]

My truck was green though 🤑🌿🚚

[@Flipping_Assets]

Damn man you slammed the crap out of that door

[@bigt704]

Their are refer's that are quieter....🙂I love refer but I also love sleep as well🙂

[@CrashRebootL3]

I heard reefers sit more 🤬.

[@patmac6356]

No u don't, you just have to know where the market is hot and when harvest is coming to close so you can move on .

[@crazzylee]

Lumper I hear take there time.

[@abijahaj32]

You might be right.. I do flatbed the equipmentis very expensive yes I have my own authority..

[@byssbiscit7578]

Plus i hate trying to find washout's its time consuming also. Plus the inside get messd up from the loaders and unloaders.

[@ronaldwilliams4053]

57$ that ain’t bad for a tire

[@robertromero4133]

ronald williams that's just to fix a flat on a tire not for the whole tire

[@ronaldwilliams4053]

Robert Romero oh lol I’m trying my hardest to get in this business I’ve had my class A for 12 years never once had a trucking job and I’m clueless to which way to get in

[@onerich8876]

Start with a big company to get your experience then you can see if you like it or go local

[@ariestrucker7832]

Yeah, I started off doing reefer. I quickly got out of that. If you get to the receiver, and the temperature is even a little off, they can refuse the whole load. I just don’t have time for that.

[@sonupe]

Bro, I'm from Miami and thinking about getting my CDL to try and become a fleet owner.

[@pointnIaugh]

Pulling reefers means sitting at crappy food warehouse shippers for hours on end.

[@patmac6356]

Bill them for it ,I give them 1.5hrs, then warn them that if they go 1min. Past 2hrs everything is retroactive back to minute 1 when I bump dock . You should see the ants scurry around putting load 2gether and load trlr. Make sure you have air tight contact and good standby lawyer who likes fucking with big grocery warehouses for your money ,plus his fees.

[@patmac6356]

@JD cover me insurance, Linden, n.j., ph#1-908- 587- 2619 check local bar association for contracts and labor lawyers they can they'll be up on your states laws to your advantage.

[@patmac6356]

Cover me insurance was best I found starting out especially if you pay entire amount up front my other quotes were ridiculous for a start up company ,they saved me5000$ my 1st year and dropped it annually since, your goal is to be able to get down to less than 9000$ annually.

[@vernongray6700]

Damn son. Get a script.

[@johnny7121]

what is the pay difference fron dry to reefer as of december 2022? thanks.

[@Hammyankee]

How do you find your loads? Do you pay a dispatcher? Or do you work with the broker directly.

[@strubies]

Let me know if you need help getting loads booked

[@politicaloutsider413]

dude is smart

[@TeeroyHammermill]

Try pulling an end dump. Lots of $$$$in the dump business.

[@tjn2254]

Yeah that sounds good to me

[@abebayehuhidoto327]

makes sense for me

[@zaidchalabi1599]

What average you guys get per mile gross for owner operator driving coast to coast I do car transport and im interested in refer to transport produce from CA to east coast Thanks

[@davidhbingham6812]

Aren't there more opportunities to pick loads with reefers over box vans? Guessing your operating authority could be a determination factor if your an OO.

[@onerich8876]

Yes your right however I still would pick dry-van over reefer. Give me a piece of mine and less stressful

[@davidhbingham6812]

One Rich Other drivers I know on KZbin, that are Owner/OP's have reefers and don't have the issues mentioned here, they are on lease purchase agreement with the company whose authority they operate under, both the trailer and tractor covered under warranty & their only costs until the lease paid off are everyday expenses such as fuel, tires, and preventive maintenance. I'm sure the situation would be different if driving second hand rigs and operating under their own Authority..

[@MotoKawi]

of all the videos I have watched to do some research on this topic, your video is by far holding the wisest advice in my opinion. this information was so good in such a brief video. THANK YOU

[@andrewise391]

I'm from Florida too and when I first started they went 43,000 for the year and $19,000 just to work in Florida.. Mississippi has the cheapest insurance out of all of them.. it's like $7,000 for the whole year.. look into Mississippi instead of Texas

[@deronr7560]

Can you mention other states with cheap insurance? Arizona, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia. Do those states fit into the cheap insurance category

[@kevinimp8217]

o god you had a carrier? those things are garbage! i hate it when those things park 1 or 2 spots away!

[@stendaalcartography3436]

1800 is pretty stiff. Im paying 1300 and that feels stiff too. I know ppl who pay like 2300. -_-

[@extreemdancers]

Real in Ohio I got insane new mc for 12900

[@blueleafevirosvc.inc.2796]

I really enjoyed listening to your video. I hope you come out with more new video about the truck industry.

[@slayer77000]

Thought money was in the reefer trailers able to load dry and refrigerated.

[@biggdogg9170]

Where can you go to get a truck and trailer? How much would you spend starting out?

[@110texan5]

Come on brotha a lot of space here in Texas. INS is cheap but also the pay!

[@NoHippieBBQCooking]

Great points

[@jesust6101]

The hell with reefer, dry van is faster and halftimes freights are lights.

[@dwaynegardner7694]

Thank you bro, really good advice.

[@LovepreetSingh-nx8rh]

Thanks for info bro

[@jblackwell-eq7br]

Dont get insurance in high cargo theft states

[@Streetpetezi]

To funny can't handle the noise ear plugs Fu fu

[@jeromeholmes5783]

Man you are good, I need to holla at ya ... for real

[@manjit755]

Thanks for the info it help alot. God bless you

[@jaymvx3]

New sub appreciate you sharing the knowledge and advice bro

[@onerich8876]

Thanks for watching

[@JoseMoreno-cx3eb]

Good info! Thank you!

[@jameshickey9393]

Great advice!

[@kennethbanks1281]

Well I like reefer. Don't mind the wait. I sleep fine with reefer.

[@xpicklepie]

In the early 2000's we had the loud ones, but the California EPA regulations on the reefer units got strict so the company went to all dry van. No one complained.

[@ToledoOhio]

I'm in Texas, wanted oilfield runs but to get those, I'd need the otr experience ..so paying dues!!!

[@onerich8876]

Oldfield is where it’s at

[@Humblearrogance_TX]

how or where do you find the oilfield runs as a owner operator?

[@demondwilliams7345]

@@Humblearrogance_TX Craigslist/Abilene and Laredo