Dry Van Trucking: A Complete Guide

Dry van trucking is just about the most common type of truck you'll see on the road. There is a high demand for dry van freight, so it is no surprise that beginner drivers always find themselves asking, what does dry van mean in trucking?

A dry van, also known as a "box truck", is a fully enclosed trailer designed to protect its cargo from weather and other elements. It is used to carry palletized freight, drums, super-sacs, machinery, and other loose cargo. Unlike refrigerated trailers, they are not temperature-controlled, and unlike flatbeds, they cannot carry over-dimensional or overweight cargo.

If you're not in the trucking world, you've probably seen a dry-van in your driveway after moving homes.  

In fact, the phone or computer you are reading this on right now has been on multiple box trailers before finding its way to you.

There is a huge demand for dry van box trailers. Because of this and a low driving difficulty, most newly licensed CDL holders find themselves behind the wheel during the early stages of their careers.

So, If you've been looking at getting started driving a dry van or looking to make a change from another trailer to driving a box truck, this article will tell you everything you need to know before you hook up to one.

What is a dry van in trucking?

Dry van driving is regarded as the easiest form of truck driving job in the industry. A dry van driver is responsible for the safe transport of dry goods & packaged cargo. It requires minimal knowledge of extra equipment and very little extra labor from the truck drivers themselves.

As a box truck driver, while you may not always be responsible for the loading and unloading of the cargo, you are in charge of the safety of your shipments.

This could involve inspecting the straps done by the shipper, verifying truck seal information, and conducting routine checks through long routes.

Dry van drivers can operate domestically or internationally, cross-border. Given the routinely long distances, drivers may drive in a team of 2. This is done to maximize profits for a trucking company and cover more distance in less time while complying with ELD mandates.

How much can a dry van haul?

Dry vans typically come in 4 different sizes. The maximum weight capacity depends on the size of the box unit.

Dry Van Trailer Types Dimensions & Capacity

What do dry vans haul?

Dry vans can be used for full truck loads, LTL freight or small parcel deliveries.  They typically haul “dry-freight” or packaged goods such as pallets, drums, large sacs, furniture or other household items. 

In other words, dry vans can haul almost anything that can fit in the trailer, as long as it meets the legal weight requirements.

As long as the driver has proper hazmat credentials on his or her CDL, you can also pull hazmat freight in a dry van.  This is more dangerous than general freight and will require special markings on the outside of the trailer in order to comply with national road laws.

Since dryvan’s aren’t temperature controlled, you usually wont find them carrying food freight or other perishable items.

That kind of freight requires the use of a specialized dry van trailer called a reefer.

What skills do I need to be a dry van driver?

Like any truck driving job, you need a special set of skills to ensure the safety of the products you are hauling, yourself, and the people who share the road with you. Dry van skills come from training at your CDL school and experience driving a truck.

The more driving hours you can log, the more comfortable you will be behind the wheel of a semi-truck.

Having skill as a driver will keep you motivated and help you deliver results with your trucking company and customers.

There are some skills that are specific to dry van truck driving, but general business and personal skills can't be overlooked.

Safe Driving

Driving safely should be a top priority for any truck driver. Keeping the roads safe is the most important thing you can do when operating a heavy vehicle like a loaded dry van. Maintaining a safe driving record will make companies more willing to work with you over the long term.

Focus

Dry van truckloads can take you on long trips across the country, so a high degree of focus is essential. Not only do you have to be aware of your surroundings, but you have to maintain the same level of focus for hours at a time. Do your best by eliminating any form of distraction before you drive.

Organization

Truck drivers have other responsibilities besides driving a truck. Part of the job of a dry van driver requires filling out documentation and then maintaining those documents. It's important that you are good at keeping the documents like the shipper's confirmation and proof of delivery for each load organized. By law, truck drivers have to maintain their load records for up to 3 years.

Scheduling

Many industries rely on dry van trucking to meet production schedules. This means that proper planning and time management are essential for anyone who wants to sit behind the wheel. As a driver, you need to be efficient at planning your break time, meals, and route to ensure that you get your load to your customers safely and on time.

Mechanical knowledge

Driving long miles puts a lot of stress on your equipment. Inevitably there will be breakdowns, flat tires, and other mechanical issues while you're on the road. It's always beneficial for drivers to maintain a working knowledge of the equipment they operate. That way, when something does happen, you have the ability to find the problem, get help, and get back on the road as quickly as possible.

Load Securement

As a shipper, it's your responsibility to load the trailer. But as a driver, it's your responsibility to ensure it's safe to handle the rigors of the road. It's beneficial for dry van drivers to have a knowledge of load securement, weight distribution in a trailer, and strapping to ensure safe transit.  

How much do dry van loads pay?

The average dry van truck driver pulling general freight can expect to earn an average of $51,000. The earnings potential of a van truck driver is actually one of the major downsides to this truck driving niche.

There is a very low barrier to entry for driving a box truck. They are very common and don't require many specialized skills.

That puts the compensation for this line of transportation work at the bottom of the pay scale, which means a lot of competition drives your earning potential way down.

But, this can increase by adding specializations to your trailer, such as pulling a dry van reefer trailer or specializing in hazardous freight.

Where to find the best dry van loads

Because dry vans are in such high demand, there is no shortage of loads, but as a driver, you have to know where to look. 

There are a number of profitable niches and sources of van loads:

• Load Boards

  Choosing the right load board can give you access to freight as it becomes available. Load boards will show you loads offered based on your equipment's location and when your truck is ready.

• Freight Brokers

  Freight brokers can be a great ally to dry van carriers. Think of them as the matchmakers of the logistics world. When you build a relationship with a reputable freight broker, they will use their network of shippers to try and match you with a load that works for your business.

• Wholesale Distribution Warehouses

  If you are a driver who prefers to find their own freight, wholesale warehouses have an abundance of dry van freight. These warehouses are often consolidation hubs for larger businesses. They rely on dry vans for the timely transport of their cargo to meet very strict deadlines.

• Retail Chains

  Retail chains are constantly cycling through stock and processing returns, so the need for dry van freight is never in short supply. Retail chains move a large volume of freight between stores, so calling them directly is a great way to find consistent and usually well-paying dry van freight.

• Ecommerce Brands

  Ecommerce as an industry is growing every year. Although an ecommerce brand may not have a typical storefront, they are still shipping freight between storage locations. Freight may not be as consistent for a smaller brand, but since this is a young industry, you have the chance to build genuine connections that can lead to freight opportunities over the long term.

• Manufacturers

  Manufacturers have strict deadlines from their production team. Dry van truck drivers play an important role in helping factory lines avoid costly plant shutdowns that can cost a business thousands in lost production. That makes manufacturing companies one of our favorite sources of dry van freight.

Final Thoughts on Dry Van Trucking

The bottom line is, if you are just getting started in trucking and looking for an easy way to learn the rules of the road, then dry van freight might be the right move for you.

It will help you gain valuable experience that you can use to advance your career down the road.

In general, dry van trucking carries the least risk. Unless you decide to haul hazmat freight, it is also safe to get started from a liability standpoint.

Keep in mind that your success in your driving career will always depend on your ability as a driver to learn, adapt and stay flexible. If you keep that in mind, you'll find yourself moving on to more opportunities in no time.