Dry van truckload shipping
An enclosed trailer that keeps palletized, boxed and packaged freight dry and secure. It's the most common way to move a full truckload.
What dry van shipping is
A dry van is an enclosed, non-refrigerated trailer, usually 53 feet long, loaded and unloaded at a dock. In a full truckload (FTL) shipment, the trailer carries only your freight from pickup to delivery. There are no stops to load or unload anyone else's freight in between.
Dry van is the right fit when your freight needs protection from weather and theft but no temperature control.
Freight that fits
- Palletized consumer and retail goods
- Boxed or packaged products and parts
- Paper, packaging and non-perishable materials
- Floor-loaded freight such as cartons or bags
Equipment and handling
- Standard 53-foot trailers hold up to about 26 standard 48" × 40" pallets, single-stacked.
- Typical maximum cargo weight is around 42,000–45,000 lb, depending on the truck and route.
- Loading is usually at a dock. Tell us if either location has no dock, or needs a liftgate or pallet jack.
- Note any stackability limits, load bars or straps your freight needs.
Dimensions and weights are typical industry figures. The actual capacity of a load depends on the carrier's equipment and the route.
Coverage and limitations
- We arrange dry van loads between points in the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
- We don't currently offer less-than-truckload (LTL) service.
- Freight that won't fit through a trailer door or is loaded by crane belongs on a flatbed.
Information for your quote
- Pickup and delivery city, state and ZIP
- Requested pickup date and any delivery deadline
- Commodity: what the freight is
- Total weight in pounds
- Pallet count, or piece dimensions for loose freight
- Whether freight is stackable
- Dock or appointment requirements at each end
What affects the price
- Lane and distance. Miles matter, and so does how much freight leaves the delivery area, since that affects what a carrier can haul next.
- Market conditions. Truck availability shifts with season, weather, holidays and demand on your lane.
- Lead time. Loads booked with more notice usually have more carrier options than same-day requests.
- Fuel. Diesel prices are built into carrier rates.
- Extra services. Detention, extra stops, driver assist or lumper fees add to the base rate. See common accessorial charges.
We don't publish fixed rates. Every quote reflects your lane, timing and freight on the day you ask.
How we coordinate your shipment
- We confirm the trailer type, appointment times and special requirements with you before booking.
- We tender the load only to a carrier whose operating authority, insurance and safety record we've checked.
- We confirm pickup with the carrier and send you updates at pickup, in transit and at delivery by phone, email or text.
- If timing changes on the road, we tell you right away and work out the next step with you and the receiver.
Dry van shipping questions
How many pallets fit in a dry van?
A 53-foot dry van holds up to about 26 standard 48" × 40" pallets loaded single-stacked. Stackable freight, or pallets turned to fit, can change that. Give us your pallet count and dimensions and we'll confirm.
Is my shipment big enough for a full truckload?
Truckload usually makes sense once a shipment fills a large part of a trailer, or is heavy enough to use most of its weight allowance. It also fits when you want the freight to go straight through without being handled at terminals. Our FTL vs. LTL guide walks through it.
Can a dry van deliver to a location without a dock?
Sometimes, but it depends on how the freight will come off the trailer. Tell us on the quote form that a location has no dock. We'll talk through the options before booking, such as a forklift on site or a different trailer.
Get a dry van quote
Share your lane, pickup date and freight details. We'll review them with you and send a quote.