The odds are that you’ve seen a dry van trailer before — probably hundreds if not thousands of them while on the road. But just because you’ve seen one in passing doesn’t mean that you understand how these popular trailer types work and what they’re used for.
Thankfully, RPM is here to help teach you everything you need to know about the versatility of this method of transportation and how you can secure it for your products:
What Is a Dry Van?
A dry van is an enclosed box trailer that offers protection for the goods inside. Also known as box trailers, dry vans are the most common type of freight transportation in the United States for a reason.
Here are some of the advantages of shipping with a dry van:
- Dry vans can be used to ship a wide variety of different goods of different shapes and sizes
- Dry vans can be used to ship a wide variety of different perishable and non-perishable goods at the same time by combining multiple different shipments into a single trailer
- Dry vans offer protection from both the elements and security concerns, including theft and vandalism, since they can be closed and locked
- Dry vans can be easily dropped off and rehooked to another trailer once they have been emptied to improve shipping efficiency
Every method of transportation has its own set of advantages and disadvantages — and dry vans are no exception. Although dry vans offer a whole host of advantages, they also offer some disadvantages, including:
- Limited capacity since they are completely enclosed
- Outside weather can influence internal temperature without insulation
- Wooden flooring can be susceptible to damage from heavy items or moisture from weather
There are several different dry van trailer dimensions shippers can choose from based on the size and quantity of goods being transported:
- 52 feet and six inches long by eight feet six inches wide by nine feet tall or a “standard dry van trailer” or a “53-foot trailer”
- 47 feet and three inches long by eight feet three inches wide by nine feet tall or a “48-foot trailer”
- 27 feet and three inches long by eight feet three inches wide by nine feet tall or a “28-foot trailer”
The two larger dry van sizes have a maximum load capacity of 45,000 pounds with up to 26 different pallet positions. The smaller dry van size has a maximum load or weight capacity of 22,500 pounds.
What Costs More? Dry Van or Flatbed?
In a majority of cases in freight shipping, dry van carriers are going to be one of the cheapest methods of shipping. This means that using a dry van often costs less per mile than using a flatbed. And while the cost per mile may not seem huge, it can quickly add up when you’re transporting goods hundreds of miles.
For instance, flatbed truck drivers ask for about $0.08 more per mile compared to dry van drivers. Over the course of a year, based on an annual driving distance of 162,500 miles, you’ll pay flatbed truck drivers about $13,000 more than dry van truckers per year.
In addition, shipping with a flatbed truck may involve additional charges for tarping in the event of inclement weather. Tarps are used to cover the goods on the flatbed truck and protect them from rain, wind, and other elements.
Based on this information, if your goods can fit into a dry van, this is likely going to be a better option than using a flatbed truck.
How Are They Loaded?
Loading dry vans involves planning the proper weight distribution, preparing the trailer, and loading the goods into the trailer.
Here’s what you need to know about each stage in the process for your inspections and records:
Dry Van Weight Distribution
Before you even begin to load the dry van, you need to make sure that the weight of the items is properly distributed throughout the trailer. Concentrating all of the weight in one place can damage the goods and cause damage to the trailer.
The two axles underneath the truck should hold about 43% of the truck’s total weight, whereas the other 14% should be evenly distributed on the front axle between the cab and the engine.
You can redistribute the weight on the trucks by moving the weight of the shipment lengthways, moving the trailer tandems backward and forward, moving the 5th wheel, or adding or losing fuel.
Trailer Preparation
Prior to loading the goods into the dry van, you need to ensure that you have the proper equipment to do so. For instance, you may need a hand truck or a forklift.
From there, you need to inspect the trailer. Make sure that it’s relatively clean and free of debris. Make sure that there aren’t any holes in nails or sharp objects. If you do find any holes in the van, properly patch them up to prevent leaks and further damage to either the truck or the cargo.
The Loading Process
After the trailer is inspected and ready to go, you can begin the actual loading process. Start by loading your last stop first so that it’s in the back of the van, and your first stops are right in the front. Also, make sure to keep different orders together.
Load lighter items on top of heavier items to prevent damage during transit. Also, use pallet securements to keep items from shifting. Avoid leaving small pallets on the floor by themselves as they are more likely to get crushed if items shift along the way. Feel free to use fillers with shipments that don’t properly fit on a pallet.
Along the way, make sure that the cargo is loaded evenly, and the weight is equally distributed on both sides of the trailer. Also, make sure that the trailer is not top or side-heavy. Finally, keep axels below 34,000 pounds in weight for a safe and secure journey.
How Do Dry Vans Work?
Dry vans work by being hooked up to a truck and then hauled to the final destination. Some dry vans have swing-open doors, whereas others have roll-up doors for easy cargo access. These doors can be locked to provide an extra level of security for the goods during transit.
The goods are also protected by the structure of the dry van that’s able to keep the goods dry along the way.
What Are Dry Vans Used for?
Dry vans are used to transport various products that need to be kept safe and secure during transport. Specifically, products that need to be protected from the elements should be transported with dry vans.
Furthermore, products that are particularly valuable and need to be protected from theft or vandalism should be transported with dry vans.
Here are some examples of common goods that are shipped using dry vans:
- Construction materials, including plywood, siding, bricks, pipes, etc.
- Retail products and dry goods, including clothing, toys, non-perishable food items, etc.
- Agriculture equipment and materials
- Automotive parts and service products
- Beer, wine, and spirits
- Publishing and printing materials including books, magazines, paper, etc.
- Oil and gas equipment and materials
- Healthcare equipment including non-perishable medicine, personal protective equipment (PPE), syringes, etc.
Dry Van vs. Refrigerated Trailer
Another method of shipping involves refrigeration units or a “reefers.” These refrigerated trailers use temperature control so that you’re able to set the trailer at a specific temperature or temperature range.
Medications and perishable food items like produce need to be shipped at specific temperatures to maintain the freshness and quality of the product.
There are a few different mechanical systems that are able to maintain the temperature of the trailer. Additionally, the trailer is insulated so that the hot or cold air cannot easily escape. It’s important for drivers to know how the trailer’s system works as well as monitor exterior weather conditions.
This is because exterior weather conditions can easily affect the temperature inside the trailer. For instance, if the outside temperature is below freezing and the goods within the reefer trailer need to be kept at 60 degrees, the trailer will have to heat up in order to maintain that higher temperature.
On the other hand, if the outside temperature is 80 degrees and the goods within the reefer trailer need to be kept at 40 degrees, the trailer will have to blast the air conditioning to maintain that lower temperature.
At the end of the day, the driver’s knowledge, experience, and diligence play a key role in the successful shipment of perishable goods with a refrigerated trailer.
How to Secure Dry Van Transport?
Even though dry vans are the most common method of transport, they also come with the highest demand. As a result, it can be difficult to secure the services of dry van shipping companies — especially in light of capacity constraints, including truck driver shortages, computer chip shortages, and other global supply chain issues. Although it can be difficult to secure dry van transport, it’s possible with the right logistics partner.
You need to look for a logistics partner with a large and diverse network of carriers that are capable of meeting your shipping needs. RPM has a network of over 30,000 monitored and vetted carriers that offer dry van transport in addition to other methods of transport, including but not limited to flatbed, reefer, and bulk liquid.
You also need to look for a logistics partner with experience and efficiency. RPM Freight works with over 2,000 clients to transport thousands of shipments a day. Despite all these shipments, we have an on-time delivery rate of 98%.
Conclusion
So if you’re looking for a dry van transport to keep your goods safe and secure throughout the journey, reach out to RPM for more information about our services and for a custom quote.
Sources:
What Is a Dry Van? | Truckload Shipping
Dry Van Shipping: How It Works and Pros and Cons | Truckstop.com
What Is a Dry Van Trailer? 8 Shipping Facts | PLS Logistics
