Refrigerated Trucking at Doug Andrus
Description
Doug Andrus runs several fleets for a straightforward reason: drivers don't all want the same job. Refrigerated is the one built around long runs and living well while you do them.
The standard reefer operation covers 48 states, out and back in seven to ten days. A lot of what moves is Idaho potatoes, which is more or less the region's signature freight, alongside other temperature-controlled loads. There's also a specialized regional refrigerated fleet running heavier weights closer to home in the Northwest, if you'd rather not be out that long. On miles, this fleet averages around 11,500 a month — a number worth holding next to any recruiter's CPM pitch, for reasons covered here.
Because reefer drivers spend the most time in the truck, this is where equipment spend concentrates. The fleet runs Freightliners and Peterbilts with a few Kenworths, and Doug Andrus orders the biggest sleeper Freightliner offers and the largest Peterbilt offers — which is, by volume, the largest sleeper in the industry. Considerable attention goes into the interior. The stated goal is a truck that's a comfortable place to live, not just to drive, which lines up with how equipment gets spec'd and maintained company-wide.
Compare against flatbed if you want hands-on work, or the hopper fleet for heavy regional running. Find your fleet · All fleets and services · (800) 336-1034
Video Transcript
Here at Doug Andrus Distributing we have several different fleets that drivers can work for — lots of different types of equipment in our fleet that gives drivers choices on what they like to do, what kind of jobs they like to do.
One of them is our refrigerated operation, which is 48 states, out and back in seven or eight days, sometimes ten. We haul a lot of potatoes out of Idaho in our refrigerated operation.
We also have kind of a specialized refrigerated fleet that hauls a little bit heavier weight and is more regional to the Northwest.
In the refrigerated fleet we focus a lot on driver comfort. Our sleepers are big, they're comfortable, and a lot of detail goes into the interior of the truck. The driver spends a lot of time in the truck in those refrigerated operations, so we try to make it a comfortable place to not just drive, but a comfortable place to live.
We're talking about basically Freightliner and Peterbilt trucks, a few Kenworths. We have the biggest sleeper that Freightliner offers, and also the largest sleeper that Peterbilt offers — which is also, volume-wise, the largest sleeper in the industry. So we try not to skimp on that type of stuff and give drivers a comfortable place to live while they're out on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are refrigerated drivers out?
Seven to ten days out and back, covering all 48 states. The specialized regional reefer fleet runs shorter cycles in the Northwest.
What does the refrigerated fleet haul?
A great deal of Idaho potatoes, plus other temperature-controlled freight. The regional fleet handles heavier weights.
How many miles do reefer drivers run?
The fleet averages roughly 11,500 miles a month.
What trucks are in the refrigerated fleet?
Freightliners and Peterbilts with a few Kenworths — spec'd with the largest sleeper each manufacturer offers. The Peterbilt configuration is the largest sleeper in the industry by volume.
Is there a regional refrigerated option?
Yes. A specialized fleet runs heavier weights on a more regional Northwest footprint for drivers who don't want 48-state runs.
Why does sleeper size matter so much on this fleet?
Refrigerated drivers spend the most consecutive time in the truck of any fleet. The company's stated goal is a truck that works as a place to live, not just a place to drive.