Types Of Trailers

I would like to know the pros and cons of each from people who drive them. I cannot decide between dry, reefer , tanker,skateboard, etc...

I would like to know the pros and cons of each from people who drive them. I cannot decide between dry, reefer , tanker,skateboard, etc...

Have you checked out the following TruckingTruth links yet?:

~ Types Of Trailers

~ Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VI: Dry Van and Refrigerated Companies

~ Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VII: Tankers and Flatbeds

I would like to know the pros and cons of each from people who drive them. I cannot decide between dry, reefer , tanker,skateboard, etc...

I like dry cuz my company has a lot if drop and hook... I've done refer to and I don't like waiting for live load/unload.... But you get a lot more long running loads with refer then dry... Imo

Driving a reefer is hands off. You do have a couple of other considerations to make...reefer fuel..in addition to your truck fuel...but naturally the company you work for likely has this figure tracked and estimated for you. In addition to the worry of it breaking down and going bad you do have minor things you have to do with the load throughout, such as defrosting the trailer and matching the temperature on your manifest to the temperature on the reefer. I've personally never had a reefer go bad on me so that's not a big deal. I'm not 100% sure how often dry vans do trailer washouts. But for reefer trucks you'll have to get your trailer washed out after every unload before getting it loaded again, or dropping it.

So to answer your question the way you wanted it.

Reefer Trailers

Pro's Generally no-touch freight I personally had a lot of long loads 1800+ going from the midwest to the east coast. Which generally translates to less dead time waiting for unloading.

Cons Slightly more work than a dry van due to trailer washouts, mechanical failure and fuel needs. (if you don't unload the dry van that is) Inconsiderate drivers often leave smelly trailers for you to washout. Picking up freight at smelly meat houses. The smell is one thing...that lone fly that gets in, however, that's another. (then again its about to be winter soon not much of an issue then).

I never worked for a dry van/flat bed/tanker so I can't tell how it compares to the others. But those are some of the things I noticed about reefers when I drove them.

I have been leaning more towards dry or tanker. Reefer is probably a no go just for the simple fact I saw one catch fire from an electrical problem when I managed a grocery store. I lost my job that day due to the fire burning the building down, so reefer is a last resort for me. Lol

I would like to know the pros and cons of each from people who drive them. I cannot decide between dry, reefer , tanker,skateboard, etc...

Have you checked out the following TruckingTruth links yet?:

~ Types Of Trailers

~ Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VI: Dry Van and Refrigerated Companies

~ Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part VII: Tankers and Flatbeds