Everything you need to know about dry van trailers

Dry vans are one of the most widely used trailers in freight transportation, offering a secure, enclosed solution for shipping goods that require protection from weather and damage. With their versatility and cost-effectiveness, dry vans are ideal for transporting non-perishable items across various industries. 

In this guide, we’ll cover the key features, benefits, and comparisons of dry vans to help you understand why they’re a reliable choice for your shipping needs. In addition, we’ll also break down how a trailer management solution like Samsara Smart Trailers can help you transform your trailer operations, improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.

What is a dry van?

A dry van is an enclosed, heavy-duty trailer specifically designed for transporting goods that need protection from weather, theft, or damage during transit. Unlike flatbed trailers or reefer trailers, dry vans are ideal for cargo that does not require climate control or refrigeration units.

Benefits of a dry van trailer

Dry van trailers offer a wide range of benefits, making them one of the most commonly used options for the shipping needs of freight transportation. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Weather protection - The fully enclosed design of a dry van trailer protects cargo from adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or extreme heat. This ensures that goods arrive at their destination in pristine condition.

• Enhanced security - With a 27% rise in cargo theft in 2024, securing your cargo and protecting it from theft has never been more crucial. Dry van trailers provide enhanced security for freight shipping due to their heavy-duty and lockable design. This helps to prevent unauthorized access and minimize the risk of theft or tampering during transit.

• Versatility in cargo types - Dry vans can accommodate a wide variety of freight, including pallets, boxes, and bulk goods. They are particularly suited for non-perishable items, making them a versatile choice across industries, such as construction, food and beverage, field services, and more. 

• Cost-effectiveness - Compared to specialized trailers like reefer trailers, dry vans offer a more cost-effective way to maintain and operate your trailer operations. For businesses with shipping needs that don’t require climate control, dry vans can significantly reduce transportation costs.

• Durability - Constructed from corrosion-resistant materials, dry van trailers are engineered to withstand the wear and tear of daily operations. This makes them a long-term and reliable option for freight transport.

How do dry vans compare to other types of trailers?

• Dry van vs. flatbed trailer - Flatbed trailers are designed to carry oversized or heavy-duty cargo, such as construction materials, large machinery, or equipment that don’t fit within the dimensions of a traditional trailer. Their open design makes loading and unloading cargo easier, especially when cranes or forklifts are required for handling. However, the lack of an enclosed structure makes flatbed trailers unsuitable for goods that need protection from the weather, such as rain, snow, or extreme temperatures, as well as items that require privacy during transit. This makes dry vans more optimal for transporting valuable goods that require additional durability and protection.

• Dry van vs. reefer trailer - Reefer trailers, short for refrigerated trailers, are equipped with specialized cooling systems to maintain a controlled temperature environment during transit. These trailers are essential for transporting perishable goods like fresh produce, dairy products, frozen foods, and pharmaceuticals. While reefer trailers make it easy to deliver temperature-sensitive goods, their operational costs are often higher due to fuel costs and maintenance. In contrast, dry vans are more cost-effective and ideal for transporting non-perishable goods, such as furniture, clothing, and packaged goods that do not require climate control.

• Dry van vs. box trucks - Box trucks, also known as straight trucks, are small, enclosed vehicles primarily used for short distance transport. Their compact size makes them ideal for navigating narrow streets in urban spaces so they are commonly used for moving smaller loads, such as furniture, appliances, or packages. Dry vans, on the other hand, offer significantly more cargo space and are designed for long-haul or less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments. Dry vans are better suited for transporting large quantities of goods across longer distances, making them an optimal choice for full truckload freight.

Improving your trailer operations with Samsara Smart Trailers

Dry vans are essential for ensuring the safe and secure delivery of valuable cargo, but maintaining an efficient trailer operation can often be a significant challenge. Inefficient trailer management can be costly, leading to downtime, delays, and underutilization. Without visibility into your trailer fleet, drivers waste time on yard hunts and correcting inaccurate logs, and it can be difficult to recover trailers when they are stolen or misplaced. 

Today, advancements in telematics and Internet of Things (IoT) technology make it possible to connect your trailer fleet with the cloud, transforming the efficiency, compliance, and safety of your trailer operations. Trailer management solutions like Samsara Smart Trailers provide comprehensive visibility within a single, consolidated platform across your entire trailer fleet. Some benefits include:

• Streamline dispatch and utilization: Improve fleet efficiency with real-time location tracking, alerts, and reporting to know where your trailers are at all times. Gain visibility into dormant trailers, rebalance distribution, improve utilization, and rightsize your fleet by determining the best trailer to dispatch based on cargo status.

• Enhance driver productivity: Enhance driver productivity by freeing them to focus on revenue-generating tasks and quickly locating trailers. Streamline operations by consolidating training materials on one platform and reducing manual paperwork and errors through digital uploads of key documents.

• Optimize revenue management: Maximize revenue from your trailer operation by accurately billing for detention. In addition, real-time visibility into your trailer fleet helps mitigate theft and recover stolen trailers.

• Improve operational efficiency: Transform your trailer operations by leveraging real time visibility to streamline proactive maintenance, ensure DOT compliance, and improve driver safety.

Fraley & Schilling, a leading lightweight fleet operator located in the eastern United States, leveraged Samsara’s Smart Trailers solution to improve trailer utilization and centralize their trailer operations. With new trailers and parts difficult to procure, Fraley & Schilling needed a comprehensive strategy to efficiently identify lost, missing, or underutilized trailers without consuming staff bandwidth. By adopting Samsara, they streamlined and digitized their trailer operations, using the Samsara Dormancy Report to identify and reallocate underutilized trailers. As a result, Fraley & Schilling saved an estimated $150,000 per year.

Interested in learning how to take your trailer operations to the next level? Check out Samsara’s Smart Trailers solution and speak with our team today.