What Can You Ship in a Dry Van Trailer?

Dry van trailers are used in a variety of industries. Dry vans are the most common trailer type, providing a convenient solution for many kinds of cargo.

If your business ships freight, you are probably familiar with this enclosed 53-foot dry van trailer designed to protect cargo from the elements. Often, dry van shipping can present an affordable solution for a company with all kinds of goods to move. 

Most cargo that can be loaded from the rear via a loading dock or lift-gate, can be shipped in a dry van trailer. 

Provided the cargo does not require temperature control and falls within its dimensional confines (8’6” high, 8’6” wide, 53 feet long and 42,000-45,000 pounds) it can be shipped via dry van. 

Usually dry vans are used to ship palletized cargo. Depending on how they are loaded and the size of each pallet, you can expect to fit 24-32 pallets in a 53-foot dry van.

Many industries, including general/retail, food and beverage , healthcare and manufacturing rely on dry van trailers everyday. 

Top Up Logistics Inc. Our fleet consists of company trucks, trailers, and drivers with our headquarters located in Los Angeles, CA.

List of Common Dry Van Commodities

Though this is by no means a comprehensive list, dry van trailers are commonly used to ship freight like:

  • Clothing items
  • Non-perishable food products
  • Manufacturing parts and equipment
  • Non-perishable beverage products
  • Christmas trees
  • Consumer goods
  • Retail products
  • Furniture
  • Household goods
  • Electronics 
  • Some chemicals
  • Plastics and rubber
  • Hospital and precision equipment
  • Textiles and leather
  • Fertilizers
  • Stone products
  • Some building products and materials

Since these trailers are such a versatile solution — demanded by many companies — they are a staple piece of most trucking companies. As such, should you need a dry van trailer for your cargo, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from and competitive prices.

Find the Right Dry Van Carrier For Your Business

There is certainly a lot at stake for your business every time freight leaves your door. While understanding which trailer you need is important, you also need to trust the trucking company you choose can get the job done for you. 

So, now that you understand what most commonly ships in a dry van trailer, let’s talk about choosing a transportation partner for these loads. Since so many companies rely on dry van capacity every day, there are tons of carriers that offer this service. 

While this gives shippers, like you, a lot of control over which company lands your freight, it can also make it hard to select the best carriers from the field. It’s important to note, however, that not every carrier is cut from the same cloth; there are plenty of unreliable dry van trucking companies in the U.S.

To avoid trusting your freight to an unworthy transportation provider — one that will let you down in the end — it’s important to vet the carrier properly. 

For more information on the intricate world of dry van and over-the-road (OTR) shipping, here is a link to our library of resources. Make sure to contact us with any questions or comments.

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