If you’re learning about logistics or are already in the industry, you’re likely familiar with the concept of dry van trucking. Dry van trucking are the most common trailers used for shipping. They refer to large empty boxes that are ideal for many different types of shipping jobs. A dry van is also not a flatbed truck. A flatbed is not enclosed on top, thus exposing the loads to the elements or requiring the use of tarps. Flatbeds can also be open on the sides to make it easier to load and unload very large or unusually shaped freight, particularly in areas where there is no loading dock. You’ll often see lumber, heavy equipment, large pipes, and even modular homes transported on flatbeds.
Dry Van Trucking Facts
If you’re unsure about which shipping method you should use for freight, it helps to learn about the different types that you can choose from prior to shipping. The three main choices include dry van shipping, flatbeds, and refrigerated trucks.
Dry Van Shipping
Dry van shipping refers to the vehicle or compartment used to haul shipments. In this case, the “dry van” is the trailer you see connected to trucks on the highway every day. They’re big, rectangular containers, essentially. They’re considered the most common type of freight transportation, and they’re designed to haul pallets or boxes of cargo, as well as most any other type of equipment.
There is no temperature control or other climate alterations within the dry van, which means if your freight needs to be refrigerated, this is not the choice for you.
Dry van trucking is often chosen for their convenience: In addition to being large and versatile, they protect cargo from bad weather, potential damage, and theft. They’re used for both full-truckload as well as LTL shipments—full truckloads can be scheduled with custom pick-up and delivery specifications, while LTL shipments can benefit from lower pricing thanks to freight consolidation.
Refrigerated Trucks
Refrigerated LTL shipments are some of the most complex modes of transportation due to the limitations of time taken for the delivery and distance traveled. These shipments involve a refrigerated, temperature-controlled trailer that can be kept at temperatures for frozen products (0-10 degrees Fahrenheit) or refrigerated products (32-36 degrees Fahrenheit). Refrigerated LTL shipments ship at a temperature range, not at a specific degree, so if your product needs to be kept at a specific temperature while being shipped, this might not be the best option for your product.
Flatbed Trucks
These three methods of shipping freight are somewhat similar, but flatbeds are quite a bit different. They are trailers with no enclosures or doors. They can be loaded and unloaded from either the sides or above, which is ideal for oversized or irregularly shaped freight.
Industries That Use Dry Van Shipping Over Other Shipping Methods
A wide range of industries use dry van shipping for their businesses for several reasons. One of these reasons is because many different products require dry van shipping, including:
- electronics
- foods
- automotive equipment
- cleaning products, and many others
It’s also a common option because of its availability, with many dry van shipping companies out there. Dry van trucking also offers the largest amount of jobs because they operate nationally, regionally, and locally, which makes it easier for truckers to find work closer to home.
The Junction LLC
As a leader in the transportation industry, we demand excellence from our entire team. Our team at The Junction LLC strives to deliver the best possible customer service and by a desire to solve our customer’s toughest transportation and supply chain needs.
Our team is dedicated to serving our customers and will take the necessary action to deliver our customers’ products safely, efficiently, and on-time. This is our promise to you!
Nationwide Services include:
Trucking & Freight Shipping Services:
- Overweight,
- Over-dimension
- Time sensitive shipments
- LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)
- FTL (Full Truckload)
- Flatbed
- Flatbed LTLRGN (removable goose neck lowboy)
- RGN (removable goose neck lowboy)
- Maxi’s / A-Train / B-Train
- Heavy Haul
- Over Dimensional
- Dry Van
- Dry Van LTL
- Refrigerated
- Refrigerated LTL
- Power Only
Additional Services:
- Our sister companies can also provide warehousing in our food grade facilities, cross-docking, and contract warehousing.