Professional refrigerated truck drivers safely and efficiently ship the products that are produced by the agricultural sector across Alberta. Drivers in this sector also import produce from other parts of the continent and haul other cargo that has specific temperature requirements.

Drivers in this sector operate straight trucks and tractor trailers both locally and over long-haul distances. Reefer loads are what feed those within Alberta and beyond, and life as we know it wouldn’t be possible without the timely delivery of refrigerated products. Drivers in this sector also overlap with local food and beverage delivery drivers, both in terms of tasks and equipment.

  • Seasonality

    Work is nonseasonal, but some refrigerated transport companies have busier times of the year.

  • Method of Pay

    Distance-based pay (i.e., paid by the mile) with additional compensation for tasks like loading and unloading is common for long haul drivers. Local drivers often see hourly pay.

Equipment and Tasks

There is often less variety in equipment and tasks in this sector than in others. However, locations and customers can vary widely, and drivers often cover long distances.

  • Equipment

    Drivers will see straight reefer trucks and day cab tractors with reefer trailers for local work and sleeper tractors with the same types of trailers for long haul work. They may also operate shunt trucks specifically to arrange trailers in loading yards and terminals.

  • Tasks

    Reefer truck drivers can expect to perform standard driving-specific tasks like city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and customer service-related responsibilities. In addition, they’ll have to monitor the refrigerated equipment, which is generally a separate diesel engine-operated machine mounted to the front of a trailer. This requires additional work during inspections and regular monitoring to ensure the correct temperature is maintained throughout the trip. Drivers may also be involved in the loading and unloading of the vehicles, especially during local work.

Lifestyle in the Industry

Drivers in refrigerated transportation may have the option to take part in a long haul lifestyle, or they may stay closer to home. The experiences between different positions, reefer trucking services, and employers vary greatly.

  • Work Shifts

    Night-time deliveries are common in refrigerated transportation, meaning night driving and night shifts are as well. However, this isn’t universal. Shifts may be up to the maximum legal working time for drivers (14 hours in a 16-hour window).

  • Physical Demands

    Reefer trucking is less physically demanding than work in other sectors, especially when loading and unloading are not the driver’s responsibility.

  • Work/Life Balance

    In refrigerated transport solutions, the work/life balance depends on whether the driver works locally or in a long haul position.

  • Predictability

    Work is often predictable due to the scheduling needed for these loads, but some reefer trucking companies operate more sporadically, especially when they take brokered loads from other carriers.

  • On-Call

    The on-call component in this sector is unlike others, but employers may have an open dispatch system where drivers wait on loads. At times, they may not know where and when they’re going.

Getting Started

Larger refrigerated transport companies have online application systems, but smaller employers may have to be researched and contacted directly. Once a driver has passed the pre-hire safety checks and is hired, they’ll be orientated by the company and can expect a period of supervision. Team driving is also common for long haul drivers in this sector, and a team driving arrangement may be presented as an option to provide additional guidance (i.e., an inexperienced driver is paired with an experienced one who can provide help when they’re not resting in the truck’s sleeper).

Drivers may also get their start by transitioning from another role, such as being a shunt truck driver in a yard or a labourer at a warehouse. Generally, larger employers are the only ones able to offer such options.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    Most refrigerated work requires a Class 1 licence, although straight truck driving can be done with a Class 3. Criminal record checks are common. Drivers will also have to meet US requirements related to drug and alcohol testing, age, and medical fitness if they’re doing cross border work.

  • Preferred Skills &
    Previous Experience

    Experience with shift work and long hours are assets, along with any form of familiarity with the industry. A mechanical aptitude and previous driving experience in other vehicles also improve a driver’s chance of being hired.

Red Flags

Drivers in this sector work with the public and different people at all hours of the day and night. They often have aggressive driving schedules. Those interested in starting a career as a driver in refrigerated cargo should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):

  • Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
  • Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
  • A lack of safety training by an employer, including transportation-specific training for the vehicles being driven and training on how to safely load and unload equipment.
  • Promises from recruiters that are not kept during the hiring, onboarding, and initial phases of employment.
Quick Facts:
  • Refrigerated and reefer both refer to trucks and trailers that keep products cool.
  • It’s common for drivers in this sector to be on tight schedules.
  • There are often less physically demanding positions in this sector, especially when there are no driver loading/unloading responsibilities.
  • Reefer carriers haul perishable freight, meaning schedules may be more restrictive than other sectors.

More Help

Are you interested in learning more about working safely in transportation? Check out our Resources page for insights from industry experts and organizations. We’ve taken great care to present information relevant to those interested in truck and bus driving careers, those already employed in trucking or busing, and employers navigating labour challenges.

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