Dry Van dispatch that pays
Dry van is the deepest freight market in the country, which cuts both ways: there is always something to haul, and there is always another truck willing to haul it cheaper. Winning at dry van is about lane discipline and pre-planning rather than chasing whatever posts first.
- Indicative rate
- $2.60 - $3.20
- Per mile, national average
- Typical use
- 53 ft and 48 ft general freight
- Dispatch fee
- 5%
- Of gross linehaul
- Coverage
- 48 states
- 24/7 dispatch desk
What moves on dry van
- Retail and consumer goods
- Packaged food and beverages
- Paper and packaging
- Non-perishable groceries
- Import container transload
- Automotive parts
Common lanes
- Chicago to Dallas and the Texas triangle
- Southern California to Phoenix and the Intermountain West
- Atlanta to the Northeast via I-85 and I-95
- Pennsylvania and New Jersey distribution outbound to the Midwest
Where it pays
- Largest load volume of any equipment type, so there is rarely nothing available
- Simple loading and no temperature or securement complexity
- Lowest equipment and maintenance cost of the major trailer types
- Easiest equipment for a new authority to get set up on
What to watch
- The most competitive market, so posted rates are often the weakest
- Heavy exposure to seasonal retail cycles
- Detention at distribution centres is common and frequently unpaid unless claimed
How our dispatchers work dry van
The habits that separate carriers who do well in this segment from carriers who grind.
Pre-plan out of distribution hubs
Dry van rates are strongest when you book ahead rather than reacting. Markets like Chicago, Atlanta, and the Inland Empire have enough volume to line up the next load while you are still under the current one.
Claim detention every time
Dry van work involves more distribution centre appointments than any other equipment type, and unclaimed detention is one of the largest silent losses in the segment. Get terms on the rate confirmation before you roll.
Watch the retail calendar
Volume builds from roughly August through December and softens sharply in January and February. Plan for the soft window rather than being surprised by it.
Rolling in 24 hours, not 24 days
Onboarding is deliberately boring. Four steps, one phone call, and a short document list.
Onboarding call
A 15-minute call to map your equipment, home base, preferred lanes, and the rate floor you refuse to go below.
Paperwork setup
We collect your MC authority, W-9, certificate of insurance, and factoring notice, then set you up across our broker and shipper network.
First load booked
Most carriers are rolling within 24 hours. Nothing gets booked without your approval on the rate. Ever.
Keep rolling
Your dispatcher pre-plans the next load, files the paperwork, and invoices the broker while you are still on the road.
Dry Van questions
It is the most common starting point because equipment is cheaper, loading is simple, and load volume is high. The trade-off is that it is also the most competitive segment, so rate discipline matters more than in specialised freight.
Pre-plan out of high-volume markets rather than taking whatever is posted when you deliver, work consistent lanes so brokers call you first, and claim detention and accessorials every time. Those three habits move dry van earnings more than harder negotiating on individual loads.
Drivers who stopped hunting loads
Names and companies used with permission. Ask us for a reference in your lane and we will connect you.
I went from chasing loads at midnight to running three trucks without touching a load board. My gross per truck is up almost $1,900 a week.
The paperwork side alone is worth the fee. They set up every broker, chase every POD, and my factoring company finally stopped calling me.
Blew a tire outside Amarillo at 2 a.m. and someone actually picked up the phone. Had road service and a reset load inside an hour.
Put your dry van to work
Send your MC number and your lanes. We will pull real rates and tell you honestly whether we can beat what you are getting now.