Dry van shipping is one of the most popular and widely trusted freight transportation mediums available. It is a preferable means of transportation due to its affordable cost and the number of benefits of having an enclosed trailer throughout the shipping process.
What is a Dry Van?
Dry van trailers are attached to semi-trucks mainly for shipping large quantities of loads, goods, products, or larger items like automobiles. In fact, dry vans are the most popular and common trailer you see behind a semi-truck today! The reason these trailers are called “dry van trailers” is because they keep the goods and products “dry” and protected from the external elements, like weather conditions, road debris, accidents, etc.
Types of dry van trailers
Dry van trailers come in many different sizes and materials. The two most widely use types of dry van trailers are ‘general trailers’ and ‘pup trailers’. Generally, the length of dry van trailers is 53-feet long, whereas the length of pup dry van trailers is 26-29 feet long.
Furthermore, there are some materials that dry van trailers are available in. Mainly galvanized steel, aluminum, hardwood or iron are used to make dry van trailers.
Related: AN ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR FTL SHIPPING
When do Transporting companies use dry van?
Dry vans are generally used for both short-distance and local shipments, as well as long-distance over the road shipping jobs. Dry van trailers are extremely flexible and can handle many types of freight, such as non-perishable food, building materials and more. Dry vans are used for transporting goods such as:
1. Transporting non-perishable foods and beverages, textile and clothing products, electronics, plastic, and building material.
2. Relocating household goods, furniture, electronics, and more during the moving process.
3. Transporting small machinery and equipment in the construction industry to move raw materials from the warehouse to the construction site, or vice versa.
4. Transporting cars, motorbikes, minibusses, other automobiles, and components of bigger machines like airplanes and ships.
Challenges in Dry Van Shipping
There are always pros and cons of every type of shipment, for dry van shipping we have a small list of cons:
• There is no temperature control mechanism, insulation, or other climate alterations within dry van trailers. This means the dry van is not the right solution for the goods and products that need to be refrigerated.
• The hardwood floors in most dry van trailers are exposed to moisture and condensation buildup that can come from freight or through open doors. This can lead to extra repair or replacement costs if the trailer gets damage.
Tenax Transport
All in all, dry van shipping continues to proves itself as one of the most affordable means of transportation that is able to accommodate both regional and short-distance shipments along with long-distance shipments. If you’re looking for shipping service, Tenax Transport offers full truckload and LTL shipments services. Contact Us Today!