Skip to content
DryVanDispatch

Van freight

Dry van loads worth booking, and the ones to pass on

Dry van loads are everywhere. The major boards carry a constant stream of van postings, and that's the problem: plenty of them aren't worth your truck. Below is where van freight comes from, what our dispatchers check on every dry van load before you see it, and a board you can filter yourself.

Van postings, your filters

Example
Load filters
$
mi
lb

Load types

5 of 8 loads pass your filters. Sorted by all-in rate per mile.

  • Loaded $/mi
    $2.67
    Pallets
    24
    Unload
    Drop and hook
    Appointments
    FCFS pickup, 06:00 delivery appt
    Detention
    $50/hr after 2 hr

    Dispatcher's read

    • Drop and hook both ends: little dock time
    • Clean terms, counter the rate first

EXAMPLE postings, not live loads or current market rates. Set your limits and watch the board sort itself the way a dispatcher would.

Posted is not the same as good

The rate is one line on the load. There are ten others.

A van load that pays $3.00 a mile can lose money if it starts 150 miles away, weighs more than your rig can legally carry, sits four hours at a grocery dock with no detention, or drops you somewhere with nothing going out. A $2.40 load with drop and hook at both ends and a strong reload can beat it.

That's the job of dry van hauling done well: judge the whole load, not the headline number, and line up the next one before this one delivers.

Where van freight comes from

Where dry van freight comes from

  1. SOURCE 1

    Load boards

    The fastest way to see spot van freight. Every carrier sees the same posts, so the good ones go quickly and rates get negotiated hard.

    Which boards list dry van freight
  2. SOURCE 2

    Freight brokers

    Brokers move most spot dry van freight shipping. Once a broker trusts you, they call with loads before they post them.

    Working with dry van brokers
  3. SOURCE 3

    Direct shippers

    Manufacturers and distributors who tender dry van truckloads straight to carriers. Steadier, but they want a track record, insurance and patience on payment terms.

  4. SOURCE 4

    Dedicated and repeat lanes

    The same lane week after week with the same shipper or broker. Less upside on a hot week, far less empty driving.

    How dedicated dry van lanes work

Dry van shippers range from retail distribution centers to food and paper manufacturers. The freight is boxed, palletized or crated and doesn't need temperature control, which is why dry van shipping turns up on nearly every lane.

Before you say yes

What to check on a dry van load before booking

  • 1

    All-in rate per mile

    Divide the pay by loaded miles plus deadhead. The posted rate per mile ignores the empty miles to get there.

  • 2

    Weight

    Compare the load's weight with what your tractor and van can carry under 80,000 lb gross and your axle limits. Heavy beverage and paper loads get close fast.

  • 3

    Loading and unloading

    Live load, drop and hook, driver assist or lumper. Driver assist means your time; a lumper means a fee at the door and a receipt for reimbursement.

  • 4

    Appointments

    Pickup windows, delivery appointments and first-come first-served docks decide whether the load fits your hours of service.

  • 5

    Detention terms

    How many free hours, then how much per hour, and that it's written on the rate confirmation. No terms in writing usually means no pay later.

  • 6

    The reload

    What's outbound from the delivery city on that day. A dead market turns a good rate into a long empty drive.

Load types

Dry van truckload vs partial vs multi-stop

Dry van load types compared
Load typeWhat it isWhy book itWatch for
Dry van truckload (FTL)One shipper, one receiver, most or all of the trailerSimplest paperwork, usually the most predictable dayShippers want you on time; detention terms matter at busy DCs
PartialLess than the full trailer, often 4-14 palletsPairing two partials going the same way can beat one full loadMore stops and more coordination; check how the freight is loaded and secured
Multi-stopSeveral pickups or drops on one loadHigher total pay for retail and distribution runsEvery stop needs its own appointment and stop pay on the rate con
ExpeditedTight pickup or delivery timingPays more for the urgencyOnly works if your hours of service allow it

One load, start to finish

An EXAMPLE dry van load and what it really pays

Midwest DC to Southeast DC

Full truckload, 24 pallets, 38,200 lb, drop and hook

Example
Load pays$1,900.00
Loaded + deadhead miles712 + 22 = 734
All-in rate per mile$2.59
Fuel at 6.8 mpg, $3.80/gal-$410.18
Dispatch fee (6%)-$114.00
Left for insurance, payments, maintenance and you$1,375.82

Fuel economy and diesel price are EXAMPLE figures; use yours. Run any load through the dry van load profit calculator to add tolls, lumper and detention hours.

How we keep your van loaded

How our dispatchers find and book your loads

  1. 1

    Start from your rules: lanes, home time, minimum rate, max deadhead and weight.

  2. 2

    Search boards and call the brokers and shippers who move freight on your lanes, including loads that never get posted.

  3. 3

    Check every item above, then counter the rate.

  4. 4

    Send you the load with the full numbers. You approve or pass.

  5. 5

    Book it, send you the rate confirmation and start looking for the reload before you deliver.

You approve every load, and the fee is a flat percentage of each load's gross. See dry van dispatch pricing and how onboarding works, or get the full picture of our dry van dispatch service.

Your trailer

Dry van freight FAQ

Questions about van loads

What are the highest paying dry van loads?

There's no fixed list. Pay follows the lane, the season and how urgent the freight is: expedited loads, short-notice tenders, freight leaving areas with few trucks, and holiday retail peaks usually pay more. A high rate per loaded mile still has to beat your costs once deadhead and the reload are counted.

How do I find dry van loads without a broker?

Go direct to shippers: manufacturers, distributors and warehouses on your lanes. Expect them to check your safety record, insurance and references, and to pay on their own terms. Most small carriers mix direct freight with broker loads while they build those relationships.

What is a partial dry van load?

A shipment that uses only part of the trailer, often a handful of pallets. Partials pay less than a full load on their own, but two or three heading the same direction can fill the van and pay more than one full truckload.

What is expedited dry van freight?

Van freight with a tight timeline: pick up within hours, deliver overnight or by a set time. It pays a premium, but only take it if your hours of service and the route actually allow the delivery time.

How much does a typical dry van load weigh?

It varies widely. Light retail and consumer goods can fill the trailer well before they get heavy, while beverages, paper and canned goods can reach the legal cargo limit with floor space left over. How much your rig can legally carry depends on your tractor and trailer weight; our guide to the max weight for a 53 ft dry van shows the math.

Who pays the lumper on a dry van load?

Usually you pay the lumper at the receiver and the broker reimburses you, if the rate confirmation says lumper fees are reimbursable. Get a receipt every time and check the rate con before you book; we confirm lumper terms on every grocery load.

Apply in about 2 minutes

Let a dispatcher work the board for you

We filter, call, counter and line up the reload. You get loads that already passed your rules, and you still say yes or no.

6% of gross for one truck, 5% for 2+ trucks (limited-time). No haul, no pay.

Your trailer

Prefer the full form? Open the application