Dry van freight is the standard enclosed trailer for U.S. over-the-road shipping: a 53′ steel box that protects palletized, boxed, drummed, or bagged goods from weather, road spray, and prying eyes. It is the most common equipment type in America for a reason, and the backbone of our Full Truckload and LTL networks.
What a Dry Van Carries
A dry van is built for freight that does not need temperature control and does not exceed standard dimensions. Typical freight includes:
- Palletized consumer goods, retail, and e-commerce shipments.
- Boxed or shrink-wrapped industrial parts and components.
- Bagged, sacked, or drummed non-hazardous chemicals and raw materials.
- Paper, packaging, and printed materials.
- Non-perishable food and beverage (unrefrigerated grocery, dry goods).
If your freight is temperature-sensitive, our refrigerated service uses a reefer trailer to hold a precise set point across the lane.
What a Dry Van Cannot Carry
Dry vans are enclosed but not insulated, so they cannot hold a temperature range. They are also width-, height-, and weight-limited by federal regulations. Dry vans are not designed for:
- Refrigerated, frozen, or heat-sensitive goods.
- Oversized loads requiring permits, lowboys, or extendable trailers.
- Liquid bulk in tankers.
- Flatbed cargo that needs top or side loading (steel coils, lumber, machinery on open decks).
Loading: Dock vs Liftgate
Dry vans load and unload from the rear. If both ends of the lane have a loading dock at the same height as the trailer floor (typically 48″-52″), the swap is fast: backs in, dock lock engages, forklift drives straight in. For shippers or receivers without a dock, a liftgate-equipped truck lowers the freight to ground level. We confirm dock or liftgate on every booking so the right equipment shows up.
Drop-and-Hook for Recurring Lanes
Shippers with steady dry van volume benefit from drop-and-hook programs. We leave an empty trailer at your facility, you load it on your schedule, and our network swaps a fresh trailer on the next pickup. No detention charges, no waiting for a driver, no pressure on your outbound dock. The same model works on the receiving end for retailers and distributors with high-volume inbound.
Drop-Trailer vs Live-Load
A live load means the driver stays with the trailer while you load it, and the truck waits at the dock. This costs time and money. Drop-and-hook eliminates that dwell, which is why it is the default for shippers running more than a handful of loads per month on a lane.
Where Dry Vans Run Best
Dry vans cover every domestic lane in the lower 48. Kargoza moves dry van freight on long-haul coast-to-coast corridors, dense regional lanes under 500 miles, and dedicated routes that run the same origin-destination pair every day.
For palletized, boxed, or bagged freight that needs an enclosed trailer and a direct route, a dry van is the most cost-effective equipment on the road. Send us your commodity, weight, dimensions, and lane, and we will return a competitive dry van quote with the right accessorials.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard dry van size?
The U.S. standard is a 53′ x 102″ (8’6″ wide) trailer, holding roughly 26 standard pallets and up to 45,000 lb GVW. Some specialty dry vans are 48′ for shorter regional lanes.
Can a dry van hold a temperature set point?
No. Dry vans are not insulated or refrigerated. For temperature-controlled freight, see our refrigerated freight service.
Do you offer 26′ pup trailers or straight trucks for LTL?
Yes, for shorter LTL and final-mile moves where a 53′ trailer is too long for the facility.
Is a dry van secure against theft?
Dry vans have sealed rear doors and concealed sides, which makes them more secure than an open-deck trailer. For high-value freight we add seals at pickup, photograph the seal at delivery, and offer team-driver service on long lanes.