Dry Van Shipping

A dry van is the most common type of trailer used in North American trucking. It is a fully enclosed, non-temperature-controlled rectangular box, typically 53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and 9 feet tall on the interior, mounted on a wheeled chassis. The name “dry van” distinguishes it from refrigerated trailers (reefers) and liquid tankers. The vast majority of consumer goods, retail merchandise, packaged food, building materials, and e-commerce products move across the United States inside dry vans.

Specifications and Capacity

A standard 53-foot dry van offers approximately 3,489 cubic feet of internal cargo space. It can accommodate 26 standard pallets (40 x 48 inches) loaded single-file, or up to 30 pallets using a “pinwheel” loading pattern where some pallets are turned sideways. Maximum payload weight is approximately 44,000 to 45,000 pounds, limited by the 80,000-pound federal gross vehicle weight limit on interstate highways (the tractor weighs roughly 17,000 pounds and the empty trailer another 15,000 to 16,000 pounds, leaving 44,000 to 48,000 pounds for cargo depending on the specific equipment).

The 53-foot trailer is the standard in the U.S. and Canada. In other markets, you will see 40-foot and 45-foot dry vans. Shorter trailers are sometimes used for urban deliveries where maneuverability matters or for intermodal service where the trailer dimensions must match ocean container standards.

Dry Van vs. Other Trailer Types

Reefer trailers are the temperature-controlled alternative. Anything that must be shipped cold or frozen goes in a reefer, not a dry van. Flatbed trailers carry oversized or heavy cargo that cannot fit through van doors or needs crane loading from above: steel beams, lumber, heavy equipment. Step deck and lowboy trailers handle tall equipment that would exceed legal road height in a standard flatbed. Conestoga trailers combine the weather protection of a van with the top-loading capability of a flatbed using a retractable curtain-side system.

Dry vans dominate the freight market because most goods are not temperature-sensitive and fit within the trailer’s dimensions. Estimates place dry van shipments at 70% to 80% of all full truckload freight in the United States.

Modes of Service

Full Truckload (FTL): One shipper’s cargo fills the entire trailer, and the truck goes directly from origin to destination without stops. This is the fastest and most efficient option for shipments large enough to fill a trailer. Less than Truckload (LTL): Multiple shippers’ freight shares a single trailer, with the carrier consolidating shipments and making multiple stops along the route. LTL rates are based on weight, freight class, and distance. Partial truckload: Falls between FTL and LTL, where a shipment occupies a significant portion of the trailer (typically 6 to 18 pallets) but does not fill it completely. Some carriers offer partial rates that cost less than FTL while providing the direct-route speed of a dedicated truck.

Loading and Securing Cargo

Dry van cargo is loaded through the rear swing doors (or, less commonly, through a side door). Freight inside the trailer must be secured to prevent shifting during transit. Methods include load bars (adjustable metal poles braced between the trailer walls), straps, air bags (inflatable dunnage placed between pallets), and friction mats placed under pallets. Unsecured freight that shifts during a hard brake or sharp turn results in damaged products, and the carrier’s liability for that damage depends on whether the shipper or the driver was responsible for load securement.

Dry Van Shipping for FBA Sellers

Outbound shipments from prep centers to Amazon fulfillment centers typically move via dry van, either as FTL loads (for large shipments filling 10+ pallets heading to a single FC) or as LTL shipments (for smaller quantities sharing trailer space with other shippers’ freight). MeisterPrep ships FBA-bound pallets via both FTL and LTL depending on volume, using Amazon’s partnered carrier program where applicable and third-party carriers when routing or pricing favors an alternative. Proper palletization and load planning at the prep center ensures the shipment arrives intact and passes Amazon’s receiving inspection without damage-related rejections.