All businesses that deliver goods recognize the same thing: their product must arrive safely and timely from point A to point B. However, it can be difficult to know exactly which type of shipping is best for a given situation. This is important because utilizing the right kind of shipping method can save time, money, and resources.
Lean Cargo Logistics, LLC, McAllen’s number one McAllen logistics service, is well aware of the multiple challenges that businesses face every day. Whether you need to make a punctual delivery to a small business or to multiple drops across the country, we have the answers you’re looking for.
Let’s get into what exactly makes dry van shipping unique and when you might want to utilize it as a delivery method.
Dry Van Shipping: What Exactly Is It?
If you were to go up to a random person on the street and ask them to imagine and describe a shipment, most likely they would answer with what is known as “dry van shipping.”
Dry van shipping is essentially a container on wheels — there’s no need to install any “temperature controls” because the products are shipped completely dry. Additionally, unlike expedited shipments, dry van loads are run in more traditional lanes and are not “prioritized” to meet specific time quotas.
Dry vans are both easy to store and come in a few standard measurements: 28-foot, 48-foot, and 53-foot, depending on how much is shipped. Additionally, there are “box trucks,” which typically only deliver to local businesses.
What Situations Call for Dry Van Shipping?
Dry van shipping can be used for a number of purposes, usually to ship non-perishable goods for agricultural, healthcare, construction, and other industries.
Some examples of shipments that would call for a dry van include:
- non-perishable food and drink, which includes most alcoholic beverages
- agricultural, automotive, and transportation goods as well as those used in construction
- publishing materials, retail goods, and healthcare equipment
Of course, if the item won’t fit into the truck, then you may need to call in a flatbed to effectively ship the equipment or product.
However, for the most part, dry van shipping is a great shipping method because of all the options it offers, so let’s get into some of the specific positives and a few counterpoints.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Dry Van Shipping
As is the case with other methods of shipping, a dry van has unique advantages that make it a safe option to move cargo. Let’s go into a few of those now:
- Affordable and Efficient – Dry van shipping options are generally more available and less costly, so they are often more affordable in the end. It’s also much easier to consolidate goods in a box truck.
- Total Enclosure – As opposed to options like flatbed or other types of trailers, dry van shipments are fully closed, protecting cargo from the outside elements.
- Variety and Versatility – Unlike temperature-specific shipments, dry vans allow for a greater variety of non-perishable goods to ship through them. The space of a trailer also can accommodate different types of items in the same area.
There are certainly a few disadvantages to dry van shipping, such as capacity constraints, in addition to limited climate regulation and potential damage to the interior.
Don’t worry – Lean Cargo Logistics, LLC, has the solution to any problem and can let you know if another mode of shipping might be the better choice.
Everything You Need to Know About Dry Van Shipping
When it comes to successfully shipping your product, you need to make sure you research and select the best shipping method. Thankfully, Lean Cargo Logistics has all the shipping and transportation services you could possibly need!
