Daffyduck528
Expert Expediter
This may be in the wrong section, but when you have a -20c load, how long does it take you to get back to temp after you load your cargo?
Reefer times
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Varies greatly. Depends on ambient temp/humidity, how big the load is and how well the box was conditioned prior to loading. Has been a couple to several hours.
Varies greatly. Depends on ambient temp/humidity, how big the load is and how well the box was conditioned prior to loading. Has been a couple to several hours.
Daffyduck528
Expert Expediter
Gotcha. Very small load. Just preconditioned enough to hit my minimum required temps. I figured I'd be out in a hour. I was wrong. It took me a few hours.
For temps that cold I like to precondition the box a LOT more than that.
I know about how long it takes to get into range at any given temp and ambient conditions. I then add about 3-4 hours to that to insure that the probes have settled in and all of the equipment, furniture pads, etc. are good and cold, or warm if I am heating in winter.
Daffyduck528
Expert Expediter
I like to do that as well. Dispatch pushed my time back 2 hours from my previous delivery to this pickup. I called and complained that it wasn't enough time and they only gave me an extra hour. My previous load was a 77f load.
Did some one Get there degree in underwater basket weaving?? You know well enough after you do a 77f load you cant get down to -22f in a couple of hours. You know you cant. Nope not a couple of hours. Now if you were at temp and while they were loading you they shot 22F into you while loading them yes you got a chance at the temp in under a couple of hours. doing it that way Id say Min.
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The result of dispatch not having a clue about reality. I too have had problems at a shipper when dispatched too quickly from a load that was set at 70F and the next load was at -20C. It was near 90F that day and humid. I ended up picking up the load but not when I was dispatched for. Many in dispatch need training on how temp control works.
Wolfie62
Seasoned Expediter
It does depend on ambient temps, parked or moving, daytime or nightime, and condition of your reefer-especially your condensor coil/fins. Corrosion eats up those aluminum fins and wrecks your heat transfer rate, especially belly mount units. Last month had -20 C load that picked up in Long Island and had 2 delivery stops. Took 3 hours at night in Bordentown NJ to drop temp, but 68 F ambient. Then 8 hours preconditioning box at -20 C before pick up. At pickup, shipper only had 1 skid, Fedex approved, so we loaded it. 1.5 hours later, at set point, Fedex says unseal, and remove skid, shipper is going to devide skid for 2 customers. We open again, back in to dock, and shipper removes skid. We close doors and run reefer. 15 mins later we open doors again, back in to dock and reload 2 smaller skids. Now it is 2 pm, and 97 F ambient, have to park on asphalt, no shade, cant move truck. Took nearly 5 hours to get back to temp. Got stuck in NYC traffic next 2 hours, reefer had hard time of it in hot traffic, barely moving. So, yes, reefer time depends on many factors, and dispatch is clueless.
We must not forget that as trucks age it's takes longer to get into temp range and more difficult to hold temps. The insulation in these trucks breaks down, forcing the TCU's to work harder.
jimby82
Veteran Expediter
Interesting article, that somewhat addresses the subject of insulation breakdown in reefer trailers and trucks. http://www.foodlogistics.com/article/10316279/keeping-the-cold-air-inside
Moisture is the enemy.
Moisture is the enemy.
Moisture and vibration.