Re: Questions about refrigerated trucks/travel fees

Hmmm...that seems a tad steep...

I'm not coming from using one, but my son has a CDL.

'Reefer miles' is precisely that. The mileage the truck is driven while the reefer is on. I've seen it run about .90 to $1. Once you are stationary the cost should be the diesel it takes to run the reefer plus a small surcharge. Equate it with a generator since that's pretty much what it is. Diesels are also more cost effective compared to gas. This shouldn't be the same as the loaded over the road amount. It would also be driven by the difference between the outside temp and the holding temp of the trailer. The insulation in the trailer, the interior volume of the trailer...For instance, it takes a lot more diesel to hold a trailer full of sub zero ice cream in Las Vegas in mid-July than if you were in West Yellowstone in mid winter.

The CDL drivers that I know typically get per mile, not hourly rates. So under the circumstances your cost for a driver is a good deal presuming you're about 240 miles from your gig. 4 hours in one day is also good. The companies my son worked for require the equivalent of layover time for the hours the driver is waiting for the turn around. (Meaning you'd be paying for the difference between the 4 and 11 hours that they were waiting) A good CDL driver isn't making any money if the wheels aren't turning.

I would be very specific with the trucking company about my needs and a guarantee about what they will be providing for the money you are going to PAY them. The LAST thing you want is to find that they haven't maintained their reefer trucks (which happens) and everything is ruined. I'm not saying it will happen, but I wouldn't just trust that everything will be just peachy keen since this is your first time using a trucking company.

Plus I'm assuming that you won't need the reefer return since you'll be done at that point. You'll need to ask what their policy is on that. Reefer/loaded one way. It's very different from renting a U-Haul. But you've probably figured that one out at this point.

As in everything in the real world, there are good and there are bad. Who are you using? Do you have options and gotten bids from various trucking companies? I would be very suspect of a company that wouldn't explain everything to me in great detail until I GOT it. (and after you GET it you can pm me and I'll ask my son and do some nosing around)

As far as your prep staff. Absolutely include their r/t travel in your estimate. They aren't on a holiday and they aren't doing it as volunteer work. While I wouldn't ask for time spent in the hotel I would make a fair estimate as to traveling because they wouldn't be traveling if it weren't for the gig, plus the time for your and their actual 'employment' since your client is paying housing. So you don't have to add that.

Anything else, just ask. I don't know how soon you need this, but I'd be happy to help.

April