Dry van shipping is the most common trucking option across North America, and for good reason. It entails a fully enclosed trailer, ensuring the cargo is concealed throughout the process. Unlike refrigerated transportation for the food and beverage supply chain, the dry van doesn’t have any form of climate control, which is why it is excellent for transporting various non-perishable goods.
With Continental Logistics, shippers have a reliable and cost-effective way to move a wide range of products across long distances using dry van shipping. But why do shippers prefer this option? This article will explore that answer in detail.
What Makes Dry Van Shipping So Popular?
The dry van allows shippers to move a wide range of perishable goods in decent capacity across the continent seamlessly. It is flexible, versatile, cost-effective, and secure. The standard dimensions and capacities of dry van trailers also allow for effective loading and unloading.
Here are the standard dimensions and capacities of the average dry van:
- Length: Typically 53 feet
- Width: 8.5 feet
- Height: 8.5 feet
- Capacity: Up to 45,000 pounds (depending on cargo density)
Top Reasons Shippers Choose Dry Van Shipping
Dry van shipping is quite common, and shippers increasingly want to leverage it. Continental Logistics serves businesses and supply chains of all sizes and manners. These are the top reasons why many want the dry van shipping option.
1. Dry Van Shipping Provides Versatility Across Industries
With dry vans, shippers can transport products of various sizes across varying distances. The enclosed nature of the trailer allows shippers to protect their cargo from the weather, theft, and debris. It works just as well for shippers that require a full truckload as it does for those that require the less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping option.
These are some of the goods that benefit from the versatility of the dry van shipping option:
- Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG): food & beverages, cleaning supplies, and personal care products.
- Retail Goods: Clothing, electronics, furniture, appliances, and other retail merchandise.
- Industrial and Manufacturing Goods: Raw materials, components, machinery, and equipment used in manufacturing processes.
- Paper and Printed Materials: Books, magazines, newspapers, and other printed matter.
- Building Materials: Construction materials like lumber, drywall, and insulation.
2. The Cost Effectiveness of Dry Van Shipping
Dry van shipping comes with minimal maintenance, and because of the ease of use and low learning curve, the option comes with readily available drivers eager to help transport dry van cargo anywhere in the country. The overabundance of drivers works to the shipper's advantage because it triggers low service pricing (especially in the spot market) compared to other shipping options like reefer.
With dry van shipping, transportation is straightforward, meaning zero to minimal complexities. This allows shippers more control, leading to fewer risks that could disrupt the entire process and cause unplanned financial losses.
3. Broad Accessibility of Dry Van Capacity
Dry van trucks are usually designed with standard dimensions and capacities, which many supply chain facilities, including warehouses, ports, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities, can easily work with. This allows for seamless loading and unloading, leading to faster turnaround times. In cases where the dry van truck is too high, dock levelers and ramps can easily compensate for the difference.
The body of the dry van truck is also designed to fit in and maneuver more nuances than most trucking options. For instance, certain terrains are more accessible for the dry van truck to maneuver than for the step deck truck or hazmat truck.
4. Safe and Secure Shipping With Dry Van Services
Because the dry van is enclosed, it is difficult to know what exactly is inside, which can be a major deterrent for cargo thieves and other nefarious players in the shipping industry. The dry van also protects the cargo from external damages, and in cases where there is a minor accident, the cargo can escape without much problem, such as toppling over. With a secure enclosure, sensitive goods like FMCG and electronics are protected from dust and bad weather conditions in a dry van.
Leveraging 3PL Expertise For Dry Van Shipping
While dry van shipping is fairly common, it can present all sorts of problems for the shipper when not properly managed. This is why logistics providers with experience, technology, and expertise in managing the entire process are critical for the success of the dry van shipping operation. Continental Logistics is a leading third-party logistics service provider with experience and expertise in various shipping options, including dry van shipping. We ensure your dry van cargo is transported safely and securely. Connect with us today.
