Dry Van Full Truckload (FTL) Freight Shipping Services

Dry Van Full Truckload in Practice

Dry van FTL moves non-temperature-controlled freight in standard 48′ and 53′ enclosed trailers. Most palletized, boxed, and packaged goods are a fit, including retail merchandise, industrial materials, packaged consumer goods, and shelf-stable food products.

Trailer Specifications

• Length: 48′ or 53′ trailers
• Interior width: approximately 98 to 101 inches
• Interior height: typically 100 to 110 inches of vertical clearance

Weight and Capacity

• Maximum gross vehicle weight: 80,000 lbs on most U.S. highways
• Typical freight weight: 40,000 to 44,000 lbs depending on equipment and lane
• Pallet capacity: up to 24 pallets in a 48′ trailer, up to 26 pallets in a 53′ trailer (single-stack, standard 48″ x 40″ pallets)

Dry van FTL supports direct routing and reduced handling compared to LTL. In certain scenarios, trailer space can be coordinated with compatible freight on the same lane to improve efficiency while maintaining shipment oversight from pickup through delivery.

What Is Dry Van Freight?

Dry van freight refers to any non-temperature-controlled shipment moving in an enclosed trailer. The term “dry van” describes the trailer itself: a standard enclosed box trailer that protects freight from weather and road conditions without refrigeration or specialized equipment.

Dry van is the most common trailer type in North American trucking and supports a wide range of freight including retail goods, packaged food products, industrial materials, consumer goods, and manufacturing components. If the freight does not require refrigeration, open-deck loading, or oversized handling, a dry van trailer is typically the right equipment.

Full truckload dry van, or dry van FTL, means the shipment fills or nearly fills the trailer and moves as a dedicated load from origin to destination, without the additional stops and handling that come with less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping.

Dry Van FTL vs. LTL: When Full Truckload Makes Sense

The right choice between FTL and LTL depends on shipment size, timing, and handling requirements. Dry van FTL is generally the better fit when:

• Freight fills or nearly fills a standard trailer
• Direct routing is required with no intermediate stops
• Reduced handling is a priority — FTL moves as a dedicated load, meaning freight is not transferred between trailers or sorted through a hub network
• Tighter scheduling and more predictable transit times are needed
• Freight value or fragility makes additional handling a concern

LTL is typically more cost-effective for smaller shipments that do not require a full trailer. When shipment size grows or handling sensitivity increases, the economics and operational advantages of FTL often outweigh the per-unit cost difference.

Not sure which mode fits your freight? Talk to a specialist.

How First Call Supports Dry Van FTL

Available equipment is the starting point, not the finish line. Every dry van move requires alignment between shipment requirements, carrier capacity, and delivery expectations before the truck rolls.

First Call supports dry van FTL through:

• Access to a vetted dry van carrier network across key lanes
• In-house asset support through FC TRANS to enhance equipment availability when needed
• Equipment alignment based on lane, weight, and service requirements
• Shipment visibility through our transportation management system
• Dedicated coordination from dispatch through delivery
• Flexible capacity options including partial FTL and consolidated routing where appropriate

First Call keeps shippers informed and freight moving, from the first call to final delivery.

Dry Van Frequently Asked Questions