You have been working in the transportation industry for a while now. You feel comfortable behind the wheel, and really enjoy what you do. But often you will ask yourself: how can I make more money with my experience? 

Luckily in the trucking industry, there are a lot of options to consider! There is a wide variety of routes with different earning potential and there are different loads. Let’s look at available options.

 First off, only in the USA on the roads, only one in 4 trucks is a reefer. It is true that dry vans are much more versatile and can handle just about any goods. 

Flatbed? Dry Van or Reefer?

If you are on the road you most likely are driving a flatbed, dry van, or a reefer.

Flatbed truck driving challenges:

Driving a flatbed is a high-risk job, because of the nature of the loads. It is designed to carry heavy loads that have to be strategically placed on a flatbed for better weight distribution. A shifted load can lead to a truck overturning or causing an accident. Even more so during inclement weather. 

 As a result, flatbeds are more often checked by the MTO for safety. More stops more checks.

Another dreaded element added to the flatbed truck drivers is tarping and maintaining its integrity even in the coldest temperature outside. 

It is common to wait for a couple of days for the crane to unload. And the job also comes with a lot of empty miles. 

Dry Van driving challenges:

Dry vans are considered to be the most versatile trucks, after all, they carry the most of loads we can think of. As we mentioned before to one reefer truck there are 4 dry vans on the road. It seems like a good option, as there will be also loaded availability.

But it does come with a few quite negative points. The dry van miles are not that well paid:

• LTL loads becoming more and more common 
• Rising cost of fuel
• High competition

The driver has to spend a lot of time on the road to make the ends meet. It results in exhaustion, increased risk of accidents, and bad life/ work balance. 

The Reefer Advantage

LTL vs FTL loads

Since there are often no restrictions on dry cargo transportation conditions, and with the growth of a number of distribution warehouses, the flatbed and dry van drivers are often asked to pick up split loads. 

What does that mean for a flatbed or dry van driver? Smaller runs to deliver the same volume(=value) of loads. It equals more time on the road with the same pay (more so at current fuel prices).  

Now with reefers, the situation is different. Since various types of goods do have different temperature requirements, most can not be combined for the same run. As a result, the driver’s run is shorter and better paid. The FTL loads are the majority of loads that you are required to haul. No time and mileage to waste!

Maintenance 

It is true that driving a reefer does take a little bit more knowledge and a little bit more maintenance between the loads. Reefer truck drivers have to arrive at the warehouse with cleaned trucks and temperature preset for a specific load. There is specific knowledge when it comes to different cooling modes in relation to goods temperature and outdoor temperature. It is a bit of a learning curve. 

But they are paid well for the expertise and extra skills. Where there is extra knowledge and skills there are always extra opportunities and better pay.

Paid wait time

While a flatbed truck or Dry van driver might get stuck and have to wait for an appointment, the reefer’s appointments are better timed, and if there is a wait time it is better paid for. Yes, you are paid while you are waiting. Your wait time becomes more you-time.

Fuel & Mileage

Another question that becomes even more burning now. With fast-rising fuel prices, the more time you spend on the road delivering the less you are getting paid. Again, the reefer trucks are in bigger advantage with FTL and shorter but better paid for a run.

Make more money with a trusted logistics company

As we see switching to become an owner-operator and work with a great logistics company puts more money in your pocket, for doing an easier job! 

If you are an experienced dry load owner-operator and are thinking of switching to refrigerated loads, as you want to earn more, you are now in good luck! Trucking companies that work with refrigerated goods offer better terms to professionals. 

We at Xan -systems always believe that well-planned routes and logistics and client management systems put more money in everyone’s pocket. In other words, we work together to help you achieve your goals.

Thinking of finding out more about how you can make more money as A-Z licensed owner-operator in refrigerated transportation?
Call us at XAN systems, and set up an interview – 647-362-8976