One of the earliest and most consequential decisions a new trucking company makes is which type of equipment to run, since dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed freight each come with meaningfully different costs, pay rates, and skill demands. There's no single "most profitable" answer that holds for every carrier, the right choice depends on experience, starting capital, and risk tolerance.
In This Guide
1. The Three Main Types
Dry van, the enclosed box trailer most people picture when they think of a semi-truck, is the most common and versatile equipment type in the industry. Refrigerated trailers, commonly called reefers, serve food, pharmaceutical, and other temperature-sensitive freight. Flatbeds carry oversized, irregularly shaped, or construction-related freight that can't go in an enclosed trailer.
2. Dry Van
Dry van is the easiest entry point into trucking, requiring the least specialized skill and offering the widest pool of available freight on any load board. It's also the most price-competitive segment, precisely because so many carriers can haul it, which tends to keep per-mile rates on the lower end compared to the other two types.
3. Refrigerated (Reefer)
This equipment type pays somewhat more than dry van on average, reflecting both the added equipment cost, a refrigeration unit adds meaningfully to a trailer's purchase price and ongoing maintenance, and the added responsibility of keeping temperature-sensitive freight within spec throughout the haul. Reefer equipment has the highest upfront and maintenance cost of the three types, since the refrigeration unit itself requires regular servicing and fuel to run.
4. Flatbed
This freight type commonly pays a 10% to 20% premium over dry van rates, reflecting the additional skill required to properly secure and tarp a load, and the physical labor involved compared to simply backing into a dock. Flatbed work isn't for everyone, it requires climbing on and off the trailer to secure loads in all weather conditions, but the pay premium reflects that real added difficulty.
Properly securing a flatbed load according to FMCSA cargo securement regulations takes real training and experience. New flatbed haulers are strongly encouraged to train directly with an experienced flatbed driver before running solo.
5. Pay Rate Comparison
While exact rates shift constantly with market conditions, the general pattern holds fairly consistently: dry van tends to run on the lower end of per-mile rates due to high competition and low barriers to entry, reefer runs moderately higher reflecting its added equipment cost, and flatbed commonly runs highest reflecting its added skill and labor requirement. None of these patterns guarantee profitability on their own, since equipment and operating costs scale alongside the pay rate for each type.
6. Choosing the Right Type for You
New drivers with limited capital commonly start in dry van simply because it's the lowest-cost entry point and the most widely available freight. Drivers with flatbed experience from a previous job, or the appetite to learn proper load securement, often find the pay premium worth the added complexity. Reefer makes sense for carriers willing to take on the higher equipment cost in exchange for steadier, less price-competitive freight in the food and pharmaceutical supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays more, dry van or flatbed?
Flatbed commonly pays a 10% to 20% premium over dry van rates, reflecting the added skill and physical labor required to properly secure and tarp a load. Dry van remains the most widely available and easiest-to-enter freight type.
Is reefer freight more profitable than dry van?
Reefer typically pays somewhat more than dry van, but it also comes with meaningfully higher equipment cost and maintenance, since the refrigeration unit itself requires regular servicing. Whether it's more profitable depends on how well those added costs are managed.
What equipment type is best for a new trucking company?
Dry van is the most common starting point for new carriers due to its lower equipment cost and wider freight availability. Flatbed and reefer can both be more profitable per mile, but they require either prior experience or specialized equipment that adds to startup costs.
This guide is for informational purposes. Regulations, fees, and requirements change — always verify current information directly with the FMCSA, your state DOT, and qualified professional advisors before making business decisions.