Question:
hi everybody, i would like to get your opinion on the drawbacks to pulling each type of trailer.i know with vans and reefers you will have to deal with lumpers and long waits at warehouses. with flats i have read it can be more physical and dirty. and once again thanks for any and all responses. i have learned so much from the posters on this site. if i do become a driver i will be better prepared for whats ahead because of this site. thanks

Answer:
With any of the three there can be long waits. My second longest wait to get loaded happened when I was pulling a flat bed.
Van freight you may see a grocery warehouse or two but mostly it is going into dry good manufacturers. The chance of hauling haz mat is greatest with van. Most loads are palletized and are usually straight on and straight off.
Reefer: this is where you will deal with lumpers the most, which if you dont want to unload freight you will probably see the lowest amount of potential places that you HAVE to unload. The big upside is that you can haul almost anything in a reefer so the odds of sitting between loads go down versuses van or flat.
Flat beds. No loading or unloading, no lumpers, but you can have a great deal of work at every stop with chaining/stapping, tarping, and taking it all apart again. You also have a lot more pieces of equipment you must keep track of and maintain. You are also required to make frequent stops to check your load and securement. Most of the time all your securement and tarping will be done outside and invloves climbing on loads that can be 13 feet or more off the ground in all sorts of weather. It is also very dirty work.
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