A dry van is the most common type of semi-trailer on the road. It is a simple, fully enclosed box trailer with rear doors. It is designed to carry non-perishable freight, protecting it from wind, rain, and road dirt. Unlike reefers, dry vans have no temperature control units. They are loaded and unloaded from the rear using forklifts at standard warehouse docks.
Most dry vans are 53 feet long and can carry up to 45,000 pounds of freight. The walls are made of thin aluminum or composite panels, with wood floors inside. Because they are light and simple, they require less maintenance than specialized trailers. Shippers use them to transport packaged consumer goods, electronics, paper products, and clothing.