Dry van vs. reefer: which is best?

Choosing your trailer sets your rates, your loads, and your costs for years. The right answer depends on your lanes, your cargo, and how much equipment you want to manage.

Run a dry van and you get the lowest cost of entry and the widest pool of freight. Run a reefer and you can charge more per mile and haul freight that keeps moving even when the market softens.

Dry vans far outnumber reefers on the road, which is why dry van freight is easier to find and cheaper to move. Reefer freight pays a premium in return.

Here is what you need to know and how to decide whether a reefer or a dry van is best when starting a trucking company.

Dry van vs. reefer at a glance

What trailer options do carriers have?

Before you start transporting loads, you need to understand the different shipping methods, trailer types, and which work best for different cargo.

• Dry van. The most common type of trailer can haul a variety of dry freight products, both short and long distances.
• Heavy haul. This type of trailer is suited for hefty and unusual loads.
• Flatbed. Often used for hauling equipment, crates, and miscellaneous materials, this type of trailer is good for loads that wouldn’t fit efficiently into a dry van.
• Reefer or refrigerated. Refrigerated trailers haul perishables that require temperature control during transport.

There are other trailer types, each made to carry certain cargo types and some highly specialized. It’s important to know which equipment is best for which loads and the pros and cons of each.

This guide will focus on comparing reefer trailers to dry vans and loads. Size is usually where the similarities end.

What is a dry van?

A dry van is the most common type of trailer in the trucking industry because it’s very versatile. It’s a contained box, which is why it’s often called a box trailer. When uncoupled or unhooked from the cab, it has legs the trailer stands on. Finding dry van loads on a load board is relatively easy because of the different cargo types they can carry.

Dry vans usually haul non-perishable and dry items: electronics, appliances, non-perishable food, and other things commonly hauled on pallets. Essentially anything dry and non-perishable that will fit inside can be hauled by a dry van trailer.

Most dry vans are between 48′ and 53′ long, 13′ 6″ high, and 102″ wide. Some have roll-up doors, loading ramps for connecting with various loading docks, aerodynamic skirts, and an e-track system to improve fuel mileage.

Advantages of dry vans

• Versatility. They can carry a variety of cargo types for short or long-haul runs.
• Security. Dry vans do a great job of protecting cargo because they’re fully enclosed from weather and easy to lock and secure.
• Convenience. You can use the drop and hook load method (drop one trailer, pick up another) without having to wait for the trailer to be unloaded. This keeps your truck moving and saves you time on multiple runs.
• Affordability. Dry van shipping is more affordable than many other hauling methods.

Disadvantages of dry vans

• Wood floors. Moisture and condensation from the freight or from open doors can damage the floor, which means more frequent repairs.
• Dry freight only. You cannot haul perishable or temperature-controlled loads, so your options are narrower than a reefer’s.
• Heavy competition. Dry vans are everywhere, which puts more pressure on rates when freight slows.

How dry van affects your costs and pay

Dry vans are versatile and can ship all sorts of freight. Because dry vans are so common, dry van freight costs less to haul, which keeps demand high. Hauling dry freight does not require temperature control, so you burn less fuel and spend less on equipment.

The cost of running dry vans will vary depending on fluctuations in pricing in your shipping lanes and demand. You will generally earn less per mile than on reefer freight, so you will want to manage your margins carefully.

If you run dry van and want a load board without freight you cannot haul, a board built only for van freight cuts the clutter. The Dry Van Load Board shows dry van loads only and includes free TMS so dispatch and invoicing live in the same login. Pro adds SONAR market data so you can price a lane before you call the broker.

What are reefer trailers?

A reefer trailer or refrigerated trailer is a trailer that can be temperature controlled using a kind of portable HVAC system. Anything perishable or that requires a specific stable temperature can be moved in a reefer unit, including frozen goods, perishable foods, chemicals, and even pharmaceuticals.

The reefer truck has several parts, including an evaporator, condenser, compressor, and the reefer engine attached to the trailer that runs the HVAC system. It’s also much more insulated than in dry van trucking, but the dimensions are similar at 48′ to 55′ long, 13′ 6″ high, and 102″ wide. The difference is the interior cargo space, which is usually smaller because of insulation.

Floors are usually metal because it handles temperature changes and moisture much better than wood.

Advantages of reefer trailers

• Demand. There will always be a need to transport perishable goods. Besides produce items, there are also medicine and cosmetic items that need tight temperature control, so it’s usually easy to find reefer loads.
• Versatility. You don’t have to carry only refrigerated loads. You can also carry dry goods and other temperature-sensitive loads with reefer trucks.
• Security. Reefer trailers are easy to secure and excellent at protecting freight from weather and theft.

Disadvantages of reefer trailers

• Extra upkeep. Clean the trailer between loads and monitor the cooling equipment and temperature the whole way.
• More to maintain. More moving parts, and a malfunction can cost you the load if it is not caught in time.
• Slower at the dock. Drop and hook is rare, and pre-cooling before loading adds time.
• Higher costs. The added motor and equipment burn more fuel, and the running unit can be noisy.

How reefer affects your costs and pay

Reefer freight pays a premium per mile, but the equipment costs more to buy, fuel, and maintain. What you keep is the spread between the higher rate and your cost to run the reefer.

Drivers must monitor temperatures and ensure freight stays at the desired temperature. If something goes wrong, they must act quickly. There’s a premium for that. There may also be additional costs due to time-sensitive delivery windows. Still, operating reefer trucks provides other opportunities for carriers. They can also haul dry loads, which provides more options for making money.

If you run reefer, a board built for your equipment means you stop scrolling past freight you cannot take. The Reefer Load Board surfaces reefer-eligible loads on the same trusted Truckstop Load Board.

Dry van vs. reefer: which should you choose?

The trailer that fits you depends on where you are in your business.

• New or cost-conscious owner-operators. Dry van is the usual starting point. Lower cost to buy and run, the widest pool of loads, and less equipment to manage while you build broker relationships and learn your lanes.
• Carriers chasing higher revenue per load. Reefer earns more per mile and demand holds up when general freight slows, because food and medicine ship year round. You take on more maintenance and tighter delivery windows in exchange.
• Carriers running mixed freight or still deciding. You do not have to pick blind. Start on the full Carrier Load Board, see what pays in your lanes, then commit to the equipment that fits.

Use load boards to find loads and keep your truck moving

No matter what you’re driving, whether it’s a dry van, flatbed trailer, or reefer, the best thing you can do is use load boards to avoid deadhead runs. Empty trailers still cost you money for fuel, time, and wear and tear on your truck.

A loaded truck is a profitable one. Working with brokers you can rely on is easier when the load board puts broker credit scores, days-to-pay, and ratings in front of you, so you decide who to book.

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