Through all of my reading that I have done on here I have seen nothing but idle mentions as to "coolie carriers suck". Can anyone give me legitimate reason as to why they are sub-par compared to everything else? Also, while I am on the subject, what makes flatbeds so much better than everything else?

 

take this for what it's worth - it's based on reading this board and others..

but I don't think it's the drivers (other than the sneer at somebody who can't get out of an unwanted job).

It's my understanding that reefheads pretty much have to offload their trailers themselves - and don't get paid for it. And if you can't get out of a job like that.. well.. some might feel justified in looking down their noses.

Of course, if I'm wrong, somebody will be sure to let me know

Me, if I drove a reefer, I'd see about putting my bunk in there.. A/C just never seems to get the place cool enough for a good night's sleep

 

As a flatbedder, my reasoning on why I think flats are better is simple. Load and Unload times are minimal and I've never had to touch my load. Forklifts and cranes do it for me.

 

'Coolie carriers', as I understand it, is a reference to East Asian 'coolies', or (from merriam-webster.com) "an unskilled laborer or porter usually in or from the Far East hired for low or subsistence wages". If someone's talking about 'reefers', it's usually refrigerated trailers, not joints.

 

I have been pulling reefers for about 2.5 years now. Have never ever touched the frieght other than to check the count. The D.C.s have a lumper service and you will either pay them with a ComChek or your company has an account with them. They will not let you drive their forklifts so just pay up the fees and go take a nap.

The big beef with reefers is the waiting you have to do at cold storage sheds and dist centers to be either loaded or unloaded. Usually you will get detention pay after waiting two hours. Meat loads are the absolute worst for waiting.

After about a week you will not even know the reefer unit is on, its like living next to the freeway, you get used to it.

I haul produce to a Walmart D.C. and no matter what the economy is, we have to eat so my frieght has never slowed down.

 

I've pulled reefers for the last three months, and have unloaded twice -- both of which I was paid handsomely for doing. Some live loads/unloads are very slow, but that's true for dry vans also. Dry van loads have a higher percentage of drop and hook, which can make a difference in "sit and wait" time, but some of my longest wait times have been when I'm carrying dry-van loads in my reefer.

Personally, I like pulling the reefer. A bit more work, a few more headaches, but not significant.

 

"coolie carriers" is from the great and wise CFM. he did not like the big OTR companies and that is how he described them. unfortunatly he has been banned so we will no longer understand how bad large companies that do otr suck...over, and over, and over, and over again. it has nothing to do with refrigerated freight.

 

pullin reefer is easy to sum up,either you love it or you hate the thing nuff said

 

Reefers are nice for one reason WE ALWAYS HAVE TO EAT. That means Reefers always have loads moving. Yes the Loading and unloading can suck but the Detention time helps plus newer untis are ALOT quieter than the ones I pulled. Ones I pulled you knew when they were running with the older ones lets say they shook the whole truck when satring and stopping.