Protecting freight from freezing in dry van trailers?

   If you had any involvement in logistics or have ever resorted to commercial freight transportation services, you are most likely aware by now that dry van truck trailers, though being the most widespread and efficient means of freight transportation, happen to also be not temperature controlled. And while that is perfectly fine for the type of goods transported by dry van means, during wintertime, when the temperature drops steeply in some regions of the country, one could naturally question how do trucking firms cope with it and whether that isn’t affecting the integrity of the goods shipped by dry van trailers?

Dry van trailers are some of the transportation industry’s most versatile means of shipping. It is the go to option for non-temperature-sensitive or oversized cargo. Operating at full truckload or less-than-truckload (LTL) dry vans can handle up to 45,000 pounds of freight. Availability and high protection make dry van trailers some of the most trusted and demanded trailer types in the industry. Dry vans typically serve the automotive, electronics, manufacturing, consumer goods, entertainment, healthy & beauty, as well as cleaning products industries. Nearly all industries that produce or ship non-perishable goods use dry van carriers. They can often be combined with other products in a single shipment or LTL shipments, making this method exceptionally cost efficient. The non-temperature-controlled feature of dry vans is naturally what allows for their lower cost of operation, yet this very fact could theoretically put at risk some type of goods transported in below-freezing temperatures. Because ultimately it is the transportation company and the trucker who bears responsibility for the safety and integrity of the freight transported by dry van, we have to resort to some special measures in order to exclude the possibility of freezing inside the dry vans. 

Here’s how dry vans carriers combat the risk of dry van freight freezing when shipping in low temperatures:

1.  Optimizing and/or accepting only shorter freight transportation routes, which do not last more than a day, so as to avoid freezing, given the load actually fails to freeze if it is not exposed to cold temperatures for a too long period of time;
2. Some dry van carriers or Owner Operators install Dry Van – Trailer Heating Units on their dry van trailers, a device that has the sole purpose of maintaining above freezing temperatures inside the trailer;
3. Thermal blankets and pallet covers are another solution dry van carriers resort to in order to protect the load from freezing. Blankets can be used to cover larger loads, and Pallet covers are placed directly on the pallet and have a proven record in protecting freight very well from freezing temperatures;
4. Whenever possible, truckers can park their loaded dry van trailers in enclosed large warehouses with heating during the night, as leaving the trailers indoors minimizes the risk of freezing in low temperatures;
5. Last but not least, a very simple solution is to avoid cold-sensitive loads altogether when the temperatures are very low, or to reroute, if possible, to a route that would avoid areas with freezing temperatures.

At AGM Transport, we specialize in dry van transportation and are keen to support newcomers wishing to join our business and believe this is a great means of supporting our nation and building your career aspirations. Dry van trucking jobs offer the most range, because they run regionally, nationally, and locally, making it easier for truckers to tailor their jobs to their specific needs. Become part of our team and enjoy the rewards and benefits of a commercial truck driver career by calling us now at 630-413-1435.