Enclosed truckload

Dry van freight brokerage for enclosed truckload shipments

Enclosed trailers for palletized, packaged and general commercial freight that needs protection from the weather.

Black semi-truck pulling a 53-foot enclosed dry van trailer on a rural road

Overview

How dry van freight brokerage works

A dry van is the fully enclosed, non-temperature-controlled trailer behind most of the trucks you see on the interstate. It keeps freight out of rain, snow, wind and road spray, and it loads from a dock with a forklift or pallet jack. As your freight broker, we match your shipment with an authorized motor carrier running the right van for the load, then coordinate the details from pickup through delivery.

Equipment

Typical dry van specifications

Common length: 53 ft
Interior height: ≈ 108–110 in
Pallet positions: Up to 26 (48 × 40 in)
Typical freight weight: ≈ 42,000–45,000 lb
Loading: Rear doors, dock

Typical figures for general planning only. Actual dimensions and capacities vary by trailer, and legal height and weight limits vary by state.

When a dry van is the right fit

Dry vans are built for freight that can be loaded through rear doors, fits inside the trailer's interior dimensions and does not need temperature control. If your shipment is on pallets or in cartons and should arrive clean and dry, a van is usually the most practical and widely available option.

The enclosed box also adds a layer of security compared with open-deck equipment, because freight is out of sight and trailer doors can be sealed at the shipping dock. Seal numbers can be recorded on the bill of lading so the receiver can confirm the doors were not opened in transit.

Enclosed dry van trailers backed into loading dock doors

What we need to plan a dry van load

Most dry van quotes come down to a handful of details: where the freight picks up and delivers, how many pallets or pieces there are, the approximate weight, and when it is ready. We also ask whether both locations have a loading dock, because a facility without a dock may need a liftgate or a different loading plan.

If the freight is stackable, or if it must stay upright, tell us early. Those details help the carrier plan how the trailer is loaded and keep your product in the condition you shipped it.

Forklift loading palletized freight into an enclosed trailer

Dry van compared with flatbed

Choose a dry van when freight should be protected from the elements and can be loaded from the rear. Choose open-deck equipment when the freight is too tall, too wide or too awkward to load through trailer doors, or when it must be loaded by crane or from the side.

Semi-truck with an enclosed trailer on an open highway under a wide sky

Request a quote

What to include in your quote request

The more accurate these details are, the more accurate your dry van quote will be.

Start your quote

01Pickup and delivery city and state
02Number of pallets or pieces
03Approximate total weight
04Commodity description
05Dock or non-dock at each location
06Ready date and any appointment times

FAQ

Dry Van Freight questions

What kind of freight ships in a dry van?

Dry vans carry freight that does not need temperature control and fits through the rear doors — palletized goods, cartons, packaged consumer products, paper, packaging, non-perishable food and many manufactured parts.

How much freight fits in a 53-foot dry van?

A 53-foot van typically holds up to 26 standard 48-by-40-inch pallets loaded single-stacked, and many can carry roughly 42,000 to 45,000 pounds of freight. The exact limit depends on the tractor, the trailer and how the weight is distributed across the axles, so we confirm the numbers for your specific load.

Do both locations need a loading dock?

Dry van freight is usually loaded and unloaded at a dock. If the pickup or delivery location does not have one, let us know when you request a quote so we can discuss options such as a liftgate or a different loading method.

Is a dry van the same as a reefer?

No. A dry van is enclosed but not temperature-controlled. A refrigerated trailer, or reefer, has an insulated body and a cooling unit for freight that must stay within a set temperature range.

Keep exploring

ServiceFlatbed FreightOpen-deck trailers for construction materials, steel, lumber, machinery and freight that loads from the side or top.ServiceStep Deck FreightA lower main deck gives taller freight additional vertical clearance compared with a conventional flatbed.Guide · 6 min readHow Does Freight Brokerage Work?Guide · 6 min readDry Van vs. Flatbed: Which Is Right for Your Freight?Guide · 5 min readWhat Information Do You Need for a Freight Quote?

Request a dry van quote

Tell us about the shipment and we’ll follow up to confirm the details and the equipment.

Request a Quote Call (872) 710-5305

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