What ships in a dry van
The enclosed 53-foot dry van is the workhorse of manufacturing freight. If your product is boxed, palletized, and doesn't need temperature control, it almost certainly moves in a van. Typical loads we plan include:
- Consumer packaged goods — household products, personal care, cleaning supplies, school and office supplies.
- Shelf-stable food and beverage — snacks, canned goods, bottled water, pet food and dry ingredients.
- Apparel, electronics and tires — floor-loaded or palletized, often high-value.
- Packaging and raw materials — empty boxes, film, resin and components headed back to a plant.
Where dry van freight goes wrong — and how we plan around it
Most dry van problems don't happen on the highway. They happen at the dock. A truck arrives outside its window, the PO number on the bill of lading doesn't match, the pallets overhang, or the receiver wants a lumper and nobody budgeted for it. Each of those turns into a refused load, a re-delivery, or a chargeback.
Before pickup we confirm
- Pallet count, footprint and whether the freight can be stacked
- Total weight and how it's distributed, so the trailer scales legally
- Live load or drop trailer, and the shipping hours at your dock
- PO numbers, delivery reference numbers and any receiver-specific labeling
- Appointment owner and window at delivery
Full truckload vs. partial
A full truckload means your freight has the whole van — no stops, no transfers, no other shipper's pallets. It's usually the right call from about 12–14 pallets or 20,000 lbs upward, and often cheaper per pallet than people expect. Smaller shipments can sometimes move as a volume partial; tell us the pallet count and we'll tell you honestly which makes more sense.
Retail distribution center deliveries
Big-box retail DCs run tight receiving schedules and enforce vendor compliance rules — appointment windows, pallet specs, labeling, and on-time-in-full targets that can lead to fines when missed. Rules differ by retailer and are updated regularly, so we work from the receiver's current routing guide for your shipment rather than assumptions. Our Retail DC Delivery Guide covers the basics every vendor should have ready.
What to send for a fast, accurate quote
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pickup & delivery ZIPs | Sets the lane and the mileage |
| Ready date & required delivery date | Determines whether standard transit works or the load needs a team or expedite |
| Pallet count & footprint | Tells us whether it's a full van or a partial |
| Total weight | Legal weight limits often cap a van before space does |
| Stackable or not | Changes how many positions the load uses |
| Appointment requirements | Drives scheduling and detention exposure |
Don't have every answer? Send what you know — we'll ask for the rest. Or start a quote now.