Truckload freight transportation is the most popular way to move your freight throughout the continental United States and lower Canada. But what are the benefits of highway transport and is truckload transportation best for you?
Types of truckload transportation
Much like flatbed vs. heavy haul transport, there is little “shoe fits every size” type of transportation. This is the same with truck loads which offer several options when it comes to the size, type, and requirements of the truck according to your freight. Here are a few considerations:
Flatbed: First off, while slightly different in capacity flatbed transport falls under the truckload classification. The biggest difference you will find behind a flatbed and a dry or temperature-controlled van is a flatbed’s capacity to carry larger and heavier loads. Having an “open” method of transportation also means that there are advantages to loading and unloading freight from different angles and with larger equipment such as cranes. In addition, flatbeds cannot risk movement so all items on a flatbed are securely tightened to the truck since there are no walls to keep freight from falling off.
Dry van: Dry van transportation is the most common method of truck transportation and allows for transport of residential and company assets within an enclosed trailer. Since the trailer is fully enclosed, this type of transportation is ideal for smaller freight which is often set and packed on pallets. While transportation is often cross-country, the biggest way to save money is by keeping transportation within a few hundred miles of the shipping location and the destination. The standard internal dimensions of a dry van’s cargo area are 53 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 9 feet tall.
Temperature-controlled: Temperature-controlled transportation is very similar to dry van with the one exception being that humidity and temperature are controlled providing the ability for fresh produce, frozen goods, and pharmaceuticals to be shipped throughout the country or continent without spoilage. Since transportation from one side of the country to the other typically can be completed in less than a week, this is a great way to provide fresh perishables anywhere in the continental United States and parts of Canada.
Understanding how your freight is transported will help you determine the best method of distribution. Universal Dynasty can provide the know-how to help you figure the best solution to your transportation needs.
