Food Grade Dry Van Requirements: What Shippers and the FDA Expect

A food grade dry van gets you into some of the steadiest freight in the van market: canned and packaged food, beverages, snacks, paper goods that touch food, and pet food. It also gets you rejected at the gate if the floor is wet or the trailer smells like the last load. Here's what "food grade" means for a dry van, what the FDA rule actually asks of carriers, and how to keep a trailer ready for food loads.

What "food grade" means for a dry van

There's no federal food grade stamp for a trailer. The term describes condition and history. Shippers and receivers look for:

• A clean, dry floor with no debris, residue, loose wood or standing water.
• No odors. Chemical, fuel or spoiled-product smells get a trailer rejected fast.
• No pests and no signs of them in corners, door seals or vents.
• A sound box: no light through the roof or walls, doors that seal.
• A known previous load. Many food shippers won't load a trailer that recently hauled chemicals, waste, scrap or other freight on their list.

The clipboard at the top of this page has the quick version. A trailer that passes it on the first try means no rejected appointment and no wasted trip to a washout.

The FDA sanitary transportation rule

The FDA's rule on sanitary transportation of human and animal food, part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), sits in 21 CFR 1.900 to 1.934. It applies to shippers, loaders, receivers and carriers moving food by motor vehicle or rail in the U.S. (21 CFR 1.900).

What it says about the trailer

Under 21 CFR 1.906, vehicles and equipment must be:

• Designed and built so they're suitable and adequately cleanable for their intended use.
• Maintained in sanitary condition for that use, so the food doesn't become unsafe.
• Stored so they don't harbor pests or become contaminated.

Temperature control requirements apply only to food that needs temperature control for safety, which is reefer freight, not the shelf-stable loads a dry van hauls.

What it says about carriers

The carrier duties in 21 CFR 1.908(e) apply when a written agreement makes the carrier responsible, in whole or in part, for sanitary conditions during transport. If that's you:

1. Meet the shipper's specifications for the trailer and keep the food from becoming unsafe.
2. Keep written procedures for cleaning, sanitizing and inspecting trailers.
3. Train your personnel at hiring and as needed, and keep records of the date, the type of training and who was trained (21 CFR 1.910).

Many of the rule's contamination controls focus on food that isn't completely enclosed by a container and on bulk loads. Sealed, shelf-stable cases carry fewer requirements, but the shipper's written specs still bind you on every load you accept.

Who's exempt

Businesses with less than $500,000 in average annual revenue, adjusted for inflation, are "non-covered businesses" under 21 CFR 1.904. Don't treat that as a pass with shippers: their contracts usually require the same trailer standards whatever your size.

Washouts and trailer prep

A washout is a wash of the trailer interior, done at a truck wash with a washout bay. Shippers vary: some want one after every non-food load, some just inspect and decide.

• Ask before dispatch whether the shipper requires a washout or a washout receipt.
• Keep the receipt with the trailer's records. Some shippers ask for the date and place of the last washout.
• Dry it. A wet floor after a washout is as bad as a dirty one. Plan time to air it out.
• Sweep and inspect between every load, washout or not.
• Price it in. A required washout is a cost on that load; ask whether the broker covers it.

Which van freight needs food grade

On dry van loads, food grade requirements usually come with:

• Canned and packaged groceries
• Beverages, water and juice in sealed containers
• Snacks, cereal and baking goods
• Paper and packaging that touches food
• Pet food and feed in bags

Food loads are often heavy. Beverages and canned goods can reach legal weight well before the trailer is full, so check the numbers against the max weight for a 53 ft dry van before booking.

How the trailer type affects food loads

Composite plate walls with smooth interiors are easy to clean. Wood floors absorb spills and odors, which is why a trailer's history matters. Vented vans can let in dust and pests if the vents don't seal. Our guide to types of dry van trailers compares them. Whatever you run, a pre-trip of the inside of the box belongs in every dry van trailer inspection.

Is food grade freight worth it?

For many small carriers, yes. Grocery and beverage freight moves all year, and it often comes from shippers with repeat volume. The trade-offs are stricter trailer standards, more lumper and appointment loads at grocery DCs, and occasional washout costs. Run a food load through the dry van load profit calculator with the washout and lumper included to see what it really pays.

Our dry van dispatchers handle the back-and-forth on trailer requirements before a load is booked. Browse more dry van guides on loads and compliance.

Food grade dry van questions

What makes a dry van food grade?

There's no federal 'food grade' certificate for a trailer. In practice it means the trailer is suitable and cleanable for food, kept in sanitary condition and free of pests (21 CFR 1.906), with a clean, dry floor, no odors, tight walls and roof, and no history of hauling freight the shipper won't accept. The shipper decides whether your trailer passes.

Does the FDA sanitary transportation rule apply to dry vans?

It applies to shippers, loaders, receivers and carriers moving human and animal food by motor vehicle or rail in the U.S. Many of its contamination controls focus on food not completely enclosed by a container and on temperature-controlled food. Shelf-stable food in sealed packaging carries fewer requirements, but the shipper's written terms still apply.

Are small carriers exempt from the FDA rule?

Businesses with less than $500,000 in average annual revenue, adjusted for inflation, are 'non-covered businesses' under 21 CFR 1.904. Check your own revenue against the definition. Many shippers still require the same trailer standards from small carriers as part of their contract.

What records does a carrier need for food loads?

If a written agreement makes you responsible for sanitary conditions, you need written procedures for cleaning and inspecting trailers (21 CFR 1.908(e)(6)) and records of training for your personnel (21 CFR 1.910). Keep washout receipts with the trailer's records.

Do I need a washout before every food load?

Not by federal rule for every load. The shipper's requirements decide. Many want a washout after anything that left residue or odor, and some ask for the date of the last washout. When in doubt, ask the broker before dispatch, not at the shipper's gate.

Sources

1. 21 CFR 1.900, who is subject to the sanitary transportation rule, checked October 2026
2. 21 CFR 1.904, definitions (non-covered business, carrier, transportation operations), checked October 2026
3. 21 CFR 1.906, vehicles and transportation equipment, checked October 2026
4. 21 CFR 1.908, transportation operations (carrier duties in paragraph (e)), checked October 2026
5. 21 CFR 1.910, training, checked October 2026
6. FDA, FSMA Final Rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food, checked October 2026

General information on the FDA sanitary transportation rule, checked October 2026. Not legal advice; the shipper's written requirements govern each load.