Dry vans are popular and work for most freight. Find the right solution with Evan Transportation!
Finding the best road trailer for your freight is worth taking care in. The wrong trailer type could end up not fitting what you need, damaging your freight, or being overkill and overpriced for your actual needs. Dry van shipping is the most common type of road trailer in regional and long-distance truck shipping. How does dry van shipping work, and is it right for you? Learn the ins and outs of it right here.
What Is a Dry Van?
A dry van is a trailer that attaches to the cab, also called the tractor, where the driver sits and sometimes sleeps if the trip requires it. Dry vans are enclosed shipping containers built for trucks to haul and are usually either 48 or 53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and 8-9 feet tall. A 53-foot dry van can store about 26 pallets of goods. Dry vans can haul around 45,000 pounds of freight, but this weight must be evenly distributed for a safe and successful trip. These trailers open at the back and are standardized for easy loading and unloading at the warehousing docks.
How Dry Van Shipping Works
A dry van will attach to the back of a cab using what is called a fifth wheel, which distributes weight between the cab and the trailer and allows the trailer to pivot when the cab makes turns. When drivers load the dry van, the freight can fit together like puzzle pieces, with the weight evenly distributed. The loading dock is the same height as the trailer bed, so forklifts have no problem coming to and from the dry van to remove or load up goods. The truck cab’s fifth wheel is easy to work with, so truckers have no problem unhitching one load and picking up another within a short time.
Applications and Limitations of Dry Vans
Dry vans can ship freight that does not need strict temperature or moisture control. If the goods do not require refrigeration or freezing, then a dry van will work well. Dry vans do not provide specifically low humidity levels, despite the name, but they are reasonable enough for most products, including the following:
- Clothing, paper, household goods
- Electronics
- Construction materials
- Machine parts and other industrial equipment
These products work especially well for dry van shipping if they fit well into standardized containers and pallets.
Products that do not work so well for dry van shipping include items that need to stay cold or come in irregular or oversized forms.
For All Your Trucking Needs
Follow us here at Evan Transportation to get more updates on driving tips and the trucking industry. Evan Transportation provides trucking and transportation services for clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. All of our drivers and staff are offered competitive salaries and benefits and are guaranteed to be home every day. Interested in finding out more? Visit us online or give us a call at 443-673-3365. For even more information, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.