While there are many different ways to transport goods, one of the most common ways is to use a dry van. This method of transport offers a level of protection and security to give you the peace of mind that your goods are well taken care of.
Let’s learn more about what dry goods transportation is and what a dry goods carrier does.
What a Dry Goods Carrier Does
A dry goods carrier specializes in shipping goods that are non-perishable but cannot get wet during transit. Dry shipping is the method of transport used for all sorts of different products ranging from non-perishable food items to beverages, building materials, clothing, and various retail goods.
A dry goods carrier utilizes dry trailers to transport these products from point A to point B safely. The most common sizes of dry trailers are 48’ and 53’ trailers depending on the size of the shipment. It is considered less than truckload or LTL shipment if the shipment is smaller and doesn’t take up the whole trailer.
On the other hand, if the shipment is larger and does take up the whole trailer, it is considered a full truckload or FTL shipment.
What Are the Advantages of Moving Your Goods by Dry Goods Transportation?
There are going to be pros and cons when considering any shipment method. Here are some of the advantages of moving goods via dry transportation:
- Perhaps the biggest advantage of moving your goods by dry transportation is that it’s one of the most affordable shipping options available if you’re looking to save money on your shipping costs.
- Another advantage of moving your goods by dry transportation is that it’s one of the more efficient shipping options available. It allows you to consolidate many different items into a single shipment, thanks to its versatility.
- Additionally, moving your goods by dry transportation offers a layer of protection and security not offered by other shipping options like flatbeds where your goods are completely exposed the entire time.
- Finally, moving goods by dry transportation is easy since it offers the option to drop and hook, which boosts turnaround times.
What Sort of Risks Are Involved in Moving Goods by Dry Goods Transportation?
Conversely, here are some of the risks involved in moving goods via dry transportation:
- Moving your goods by dry transportation may limit what you’re able to ship in terms of height and weight since you’re dealing with an enclosed trailer
- Also, moving your goods by dry transportation doesn’t offer any form of temperature control and instead allows the outside weather to influence the internal temperatures of the trailer that may negatively affect some goods
<h2>The Differences Between Dry Van Shipping, Flatbed Trucks, and Refrigerated Freight</h2>
If you’re new to the shipping game, you may not know much about the different shipping options out there.
Thankfully, the RPM team is experts in everything related to shipping, and we are here to help break down the differences between dry van shipping, flatbed trucks, and refrigerated freight.
Dry Van Shipping
Dry van shipping involves enclosed trailers used to transport goods and products. This is by far the most common shipping method. You can expect to see dozens of dry van shipments when you’re driving on the highway.
Specifically, dry van shipping is designed to transport pallets or boxes of cargo that typically fall into the category of consumer packaged goods or CPGs. CPGs include everything from clothing to electronics, machinery, and packaged foods.
Since these items are packaged into large boxes or pallets, dry van shipping allows you to maximize the space within the trailer to ship large amounts of freight at the same time.
Additionally, dry van shipping offers the benefit of keeping the freight “dry” during transit. Since the trailer is enclosed, it protects the contents from the elements, potential damage, and theft — making it an incredibly safe and efficient method of transport.
Refrigerated Freight
Refrigerated freight involves temperature-controlled trailers that are used to transport goods and products that need to be kept at a certain temperature. This shipping method is commonly used to transport things like perishable food items and medications. Refrigerated freight is a complex method of shipping that leaves little room for error.
But just a small issue with the trailer’s refrigeration can ruin the entire shipment. For instance, say you were shipping meats that got too warm — these products are now spoiled and cannot be sold to consumers. As a result, it’s important to ensure that products shipped by refrigerated freight are stored at the right temperature.
Refrigerated freight deals with temperature ranges rather than a specific temperature. These temperatures can range between -20 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are some ideal temperature ranges for different products shipped by refrigerated freight:
- You should keep meats, poultry, fish, and dairy products at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit
- Keep plants and flowers at temperatures around 33 degrees Fahrenheit
- Keep produce items including greens, berries, apples, and grapes at temperatures between 32 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit
- Ship produce items including avocados and cranberries at temperatures between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit
- Ship produce items including potatoes, green beans, and sweet potatoes at temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit
- Keep produce items including watermelon, cucumbers, citrus fruits, bananas, and tomatoes at temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit
Flatbed Trucks
Flatbed trucks involve open trailers with no sides, enclosures, or protection from the elements. As a result, these trucks are relatively easy to load and unload. Flatbed trucks are often used to ship large and oversized goods that don’t require extra protection. These goods are securely tied down to the truck to prevent damage and theft while on the road.
Out of all the different shipping methods discussed above, flatbed trucks are perhaps the most simple. This is because they don’t require much special handling or consideration. All you have to do is load up the flatbed, secure the products, and hit the road.
How Do You Prepare Dry Goods for LTL Freight Shipping?
If you have an LTL, then preparation is key to ensure a safe and successful freight shipment. Here are some things that you need to do before your goods are loaded onto the truck for shipping:
- Pretend like you’re playing Tetris with your different goods to help them take up as little space as possible within their boxes or pallets.
- Additionally, try to minimize any extra weight added on by unnecessary attachments, packaging, etc.
- Speaking of packaging, you need to make sure to include adequate protective packaging — especially if you’re dealing with fragile or breakable items. You may want to use bubble wrap, air pillows, packing peanuts, packing tape, etc.
- Also, make sure to use standard-sized boxes and consider any weight limits before you package your goods.
- From there, you should wrap all of your boxes with shrink wrap to add another layer of protection.
- Make sure to accurately label all of your pallets and boxes in several different locations so that items can be easily loaded and unloaded.
- Try using banding straps to prevent the load from shifting during transit and potentially causing damage as a result.
How to Compare LTL Freight Shipping Costs When Shipping Dry Goods
The cost of dry shipping goods through an LTL freight carrier will depend on a whole host of different factors. The best way to compare costs is to get a quote from multiple carriers. From there, you can select the carrier that offers the best rates and the best service.
Here’s what you need to do to get a shipping quote for the shipment of your dry goods:
- Know the dimensions, weight, freight class, origin zip code, and destination zip code for your shipment
- Provide this information to several different carriers to get a price quote and an estimated transit time.
- The carriers will then get back to you with their terms to make your final decision.
How Do You Select a Carrier for Dry Goods If You Need a Full Truckload?
If you need a full truckload, the process is generally the same. Just make sure that your carrier is reputable and experienced for dry shipping goods.
For instance, you’ll want to ensure that the carrier has positive reviews, great on-time delivery rates, and vetted carriers for the best possible results.
Conclusion
Dry goods transportation carriers offer a unique service for non-perishable goods that don’t require refrigeration but still require protection from the elements.
RPM offers both LTL and FTL dry goods services to meet the needs of our clients. We carry over 15,000 shipments a month thanks to our network of more than 30,000 monitored and vetted carriers.
So reach out to us today to see how we can meet your dry goods shipping needs!
Sources:
What Is a Flatbed Truck? | Car and Driver
Types of Protective Packaging for Shipping | Grainger
