Dry Van dispatch for owner-operators
Enclosed trailer for boxed and palletized freight that doesn't need temperature control.
We find and negotiate dry van loads on your lanes, coordinate pickups and deliveries, and handle detention, TONU, lumper and paperwork. 5% of the rate con or $250 a week, no contract.
Dry Van
A fully enclosed trailer, most often 53 feet, that keeps freight dry and secure. It is the most common trailer type in U.S. trucking and is loaded from the rear at a dock.
Freight it commonly carries
- Palletized retail and consumer products
- Packaged, shelf-stable food and beverages
- Paper, packaging and household goods
- Manufactured parts and distribution-center freight
Typical shipments
- Distribution center to retail store replenishment
- Manufacturer to warehouse loads
- Shelf-stable grocery to a regional DC
Equipment & capacity considerations
- Total weight must stay within the legal gross limit for your truck and the route (80,000 lb federal gross unless permitted).
- Trailer must be clean, dry and free of holes or leaks for most shippers.
- Load bars or straps may be required to keep pallets from shifting.
- Floor-loaded (non-palletized) freight can mean much longer loading times.
Common challenges
- Long waits at docks for live loading and unloading
- Tight appointment windows at large distribution centers
- Lumper fees at grocery and retail receivers
- Low rates on busy lanes where many trucks compete
How THC dispatch helps
- Find loads that match your lanes and appointment times
- Ask about drop-and-hook versus live load before booking
- Track arrival and release times so detention can be requested
- Organize lumper receipts for reimbursement requests
Check before accepting a load
- Weight and pallet count against your truck's legal limit
- Live load or drop-and-hook, and appointment times
- Detention terms and free time on the rate confirmation
- Whether a lumper is used and who pays
General industry information. Weight, dimensions, permits and endorsements are checked for each load against current rules.
Dry Van dispatch pricing
Same two options for every truck type. You choose.
5%
of the rate confirmation total (linehaul + fuel surcharge)
$250
per week, only for weeks we book at least one load
No contract. Accessorials such as detention, layover, TONU and lumper are not included in the 5%. Compare both options with an example week.
Start dry van dispatch
A dispatcher contacts you to talk through your lanes and loads. Asking costs nothing.
Dry Van dispatch questions
What's the difference between live load and drop-and-hook for a dry van?
With a live load you wait while the shipper loads your trailer. With drop-and-hook you drop an empty trailer and pick up one that is already loaded. Drop-and-hook usually means less waiting, but it depends on the shipper having trailers ready.
Who pays the lumper on a dry van load?
It depends on the rate confirmation. Often the broker pays the lumper directly or reimburses the carrier against a receipt. We check the terms before you book and organize the receipt for the reimbursement request.
How is the dispatch fee calculated?
You choose one: 5% of the rate confirmation total (linehaul + fuel surcharge), or $250 per week, only for weeks we book at least one load. Accessorials such as detention, layover, TONU and lumper are not included in the 5%.
Are loads or rates guaranteed?
No. Load availability, rates, accessorial approvals and payment timing depend on the market, the broker and the agreements for each load.
Who approves each load?
You do. We don't book a load without your OK.