Reefer vs. Dry Van: Which Way To Go?

[Mike]

I am currently analyzing my next move. Unlike moving furniture here on the forum, I'm pretty slow and calculated about anything I do with the trucking business.

As it stands right now, I'm happy pulling a dry van. Rates are good, and even when rates have typically been low, I have been able to keep the truck in areas where I still did well.

What I am currently focusing on is what my next trailer move will be. I am currently on a waiting list to get a secure parking spot for the truck and trailer, and when I do, I have the option of running power only, running my current dry van, or potentially buying a 2nd trailer. Most likely, just hanging on to my current dry van until it needs to be replaced.

That said, I am considering the prospect of my next trailer being a reefer. Whichever trailer I end up with, my goal is to run more regional/local. I'm looking at rates out of my area, and the rates for reefer, just as when I bought this current dry van, is much higher than dry van. I'm going on posted rates, not what I can negotiate, because I don't know that yet. Also, the number of loads for reefer out of here is typically double what you see for dry van. In a lean market, the ration favors reefer even more since I am located by the Tyson mothership.

Just thinking out loud, maybe you folks have some thoughts.

 

[Mike]

If I were to go with a reefer, the first thing I would be doing is locating local brokers and lining up some rates, most likely looking at a radius of about 250 miles from my house. The target here would be round trip rates, home daily or every couple days type stuff.

If I can ever get a parking spot secured, might go after this same thing with dry van freight. I think I stand a chance at being more profitable with reefer freight, though.

 

[mndriver]

I’ve gone from van to reefer to step to flat to RGN.

I had the reefer under my own authority and leased to others. Same with the flat.

The step and RGN are so specialized, to me, they aren’t worth doing unless you have a load base and office support to help with all the detaily type things. IE permits etc. pushing the trucks take a lot of effort and focus as it is.

Reefer, I’d say talk to your insurance company about it. The increased maintenance, operating, overhead etc as far as I’m concerned don’t justify the slight increase in rates. The hassle of food distribution and their associated detentions as well… yeah, not worth it.

Flatbed and dry van seem to be the common freight that’s plentiful for an independent that lives off the load boards.

Yeah it’s nice getting those unicorn paying loads, but they are the exception not the rule.

If I were to do all this again, own authority etc…

I’d stick with a dry van and be a solo one-truck show.

 

[mndriver]

The key for YOUR situation is hometime. With gymnastics and all it’s associated distractions, the worst thing you could add to the mix is contract freight. Because then your ability to control home time is restricted to your customers demands and expectations.

Beauty of the spot market. Do what you want, when.

 

[Mike]

The key for YOUR situation is hometime. With gymnastics and all it’s associated distractions, the worst thing you could add to the mix is contract freight. Because then your ability to control home time is restricted to your customers demands and expectations.

Beauty of the spot market. Do what you want, when.

Oh, I'm not looking at contract freight, just looking to speak one on one with the local offices around me. Find out what short stuff they have and just feel them out a bit.

Only way I do the reefer thing, at least at this point, it focusing on really short haul stuff. Stuff that I can bounce right back home on. I'm talking not even looking at inbound freight, only outbound.

 

[Sinister]

Reefers have idiotic delivery times. Less so in dry vans.

For me that's just a recipe for a lot of rescheduling. Half the time I'm not moving "on time" anyway. But I'm also never late. Because we don't have stupid tight time frames.

The entire idea of hard appointments in trucking should be done away with in favor of "delivery windows" like in standard flatbedding. Acting like being 5 minutes early is a crime and the earth will stop spinning at 5 minutes late is the purest form of bullshit ever.

One time I was heading to California with a flatbed and someone asked me about making delivery appointment times and how they do it. Thats when I told them about delivery windows.

Why the hell would you want a cloud hanging over your head like that for an entire 2300 mile trip? It's got to add a whole level of stress that's just so stupid.

No thanks.

 

[Mike]

Reefers have idiotic delivery times. Less so in dry vans.

For me that's just a recipe for a lot of rescheduling. Half the time I'm not moving "on time" anyway. But I'm also never late. Because we don't have stupid tight time frames.

The entire idea of hard appointments in trucking should be done away with in favor of "delivery windows" like in standard flatbedding. Acting like being 5 minutes early is a crime and the earth will stop spinning at 5 minutes late is the purest form of bullshit ever.

One time I was heading to California with a flatbed and someone asked me about making delivery appointment times and how they do it. Thats when I told them about delivery windows.

Why the hell would you want a cloud hanging over your head like that for an entire 2300 mile trip? It's got to add a whole level of stress that's just so stupid.

No thanks.

No, appointments are far better.

As I said, I am looking at a very small radius. Nothing I can't turn and burn back home empty with and be profitable. 250 mile max.

As a carrier, appointments work just fine, as long as you run you business properly. Detention must be clearly laid out, or my truck doesn't move.

With short hauls, detention only means I make more money on the load, and I can still get back home after getting unloaded.

 

[Electric Chicken]

My only experience pulling reefer was Walmart as a Schneider filling in. However, every place I took dry van container loads, the reefers were being treated like shit. It's enough reason for me not to want to do it.

 

[Sinister]

No, appointments are far better.

As I said, I am looking at a very small radius. Nothing I can't turn and burn back home empty with and be profitable. 250 mile max.

As a carrier, appointments work just fine, as long as you run you business properly. Detention must be clearly laid out, or my truck doesn't move.

With short hauls, detention only means I make more money on the load, and I can still get back home after getting unloaded.

I mean like 0200 delivery times at Walmart GRO warehouses. At least Tomah has a holding area guys can park in an a Porta shitter so they can pee all over the seat. Cheyenne has a road into the industrial park that's on borrowed time and I watched a guy outside Sterling once who had dropped his trailer alongside the road to run to town waiting on a wrecker because when he tried to rehook it it slid off the 5th wheel and headed to the ditch. He had drive wheels off the ground and everything.

If you think you're going to be immune to that you're crazy. All those people are also "doing it properly".

Maybe lease a reefer before buying one.

 

[Mike]

I mean like 0200 delivery times at Walmart GRO warehouses. At least Tomah has a holding area guys can park in an a Porta shitter so they can pee all over the seat. Cheyenne has a road into the industrial park that's on borrowed time and I watched a guy outside Sterling once who had dropped his trailer alongside the road to run to town waiting on a wrecker because when he tried to rehook it it slid off the 5th wheel and headed to the ditch. He had drive wheels off the ground and everything.

If you think you're going to be immune to that you're crazy. All those people are also "doing it properly".

Maybe lease a reefer before buying one.

Like I said, short haul only.

The delivery times are something I am looking at. Much of dry van is pushing toward that late night crap as well, so factoring it all in.

that is why, when I look at it, I'm looking at literally doing out and back loads. If it delivers at 0200 in OKC, that means it is picking up during the evening near my house and going straight through. dock, sleep, and drive back home once unloaded.

Not paying close attention to the rates right now, but the current rates for a 200 mile load from my house is $1900. That is posted rates on DAT, so I can just imagine what they could be pushed to. I can easily make that work for me, figuring a 400 mile round trip and home every day.

Rates will come down though, and that is what I will be watching. Not doing this anytime soon, as my current trailer is a 2018 and won't need to get rid of it anytime soon.

Also looking at some areas to purchase that would clearly cost me more than my monthly truck parking rate, but buying 2-3 more trailers if I went that route. Again, that would be an operation where I am sticking really close to home and doing a bit of freight storage.