53′ dry van
The standard trailer for truckload freight across North America.
- Pallets
- About 26 standard, single-stacked
- Payload
- About 42,000–45,000 lb
- Loading
- Dock, live or drop
Services · Truckload
Dry Van Truckload
Palletized, boxed and floor-loaded freight that has to stay dry and secure: most of what moves by truck goes in a dry van. One load or a regular lane, regional or coast to coast, I book it with a qualified Landstar carrier and keep you posted until it’s delivered.
- 53′ and 48′ vans
- Drop-and-hook
- Solo & team drivers
Full truckload
One trailer, straight to delivery
With a full truckload, the trailer is yours. It’s loaded at your dock, sealed, and goes straight to the consignee without stopping at terminals or being handled again. Once your freight fills most of a trailer, that’s usually faster, safer and cheaper per pallet than LTL. For smaller shipments, see LTL & partial truckload.
Through the Landstar network I can book one of the largest fleets of van trailers in North America, hauled by thousands of owner-operators and approved carriers. That covers one-off loads, steady lanes and drop-and-hook operations, plus through-trailer service into Mexico and freight into and out of Canada (see Canada & Mexico).
Equipment
Van options
Most loads ride in a standard 53′ van. These are the variations worth asking about.
48′ dry van
A shorter van for tighter docks, city deliveries and some regional freight.
- Pallets
- About 24 standard
- Payload
- Up to about 45,000 lb
- Best for
- Short docks, urban sites
Drop trailers
An empty trailer left at your dock so you can load on your own schedule, then hooked and hauled.
- Best for
- Steady volume, flexible dock hours
- Benefit
- No waiting on a driver to load
- Booking
- Ask about it for regular lanes
Team drivers
Two drivers share the driving so the truck keeps moving, for long hauls on tight deadlines.
- Best for
- Long-haul, time-critical freight
- Range
- Often 1,000+ miles a day
High-value & secure
Seals, tracking and careful carrier selection for electronics and other valuable freight.
- Best for
- Electronics, pharma, retail goods
- Security
- Seals and tracking
- Booking
- Tell me the value up front
Refrigerated vans
Insulated vans with a refrigeration unit for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive freight.
- Temperature
- Frozen to chilled, set per load
Typical loads
What moves in a dry van
- Consumer & retail goods
- Shelf-stable food
- Beverages & bottled water
- Paper & packaging
- Electronics
- Auto parts
- Furniture & appliances
- Boxed building products
- Drums & totes (non-hazardous)
- Trade show freight
How it works
How a van load moves
Quote
Lane, dates, pallet count or floor-loaded, weight, and any appointment times.
Booking
A qualified carrier and the right trailer, with pickup and delivery appointments confirmed.
Pickup
Live loaded or a drop trailer at your dock, counted and sealed.
Delivery
Tracked in transit, with updates and a signed proof of delivery.
Request a quote
What I need for a quote
- Pickup and delivery addresses
- Pickup date and delivery date or appointment
- Commodity, palletized or floor-loaded
- Pallet count and total weight
- Live load or drop trailer
- Dock hours and appointment times
- Value of the freight, if it’s high-value
- One-time load or a regular lane
How many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer?
About 26 standard 48″ × 40″ pallets, loaded straight and single-stacked. The loading pattern and stackable freight can change that, as long as the weight stays within the limit.
How much weight can a dry van carry?
Usually around 42,000–45,000 lb of freight, depending on the weight of the truck and trailer. The legal limit for the whole truck is 80,000 lb gross, with separate limits per axle.
What is drop-and-hook?
Instead of the driver waiting while you load, an empty trailer is dropped at your dock and a loaded one is hooked up later. It cuts waiting time and lets you load on your own schedule, and works best on regular lanes.
When is LTL better than a full truckload?
For smaller shipments, often up to about 6 pallets, LTL is usually cheaper. In between, a volume LTL or partial truckload can beat both. Send me the pallet count and weight and I’ll compare.
Do you offer team drivers?
Yes. Team drivers keep the truck moving almost around the clock, which suits long hauls with tight deadlines. Team service costs more than a solo driver, so it’s worth it when time matters.
Trailer dimensions, pallet counts and payloads vary by equipment and load. The figures on this page are typical; I confirm what fits for every load.
More services
Other freight I move
Request a quote
Have a van load to move?
Send the lane, dates, pallet count and weight, and I’ll come back with a rate.