Not all trailers are created equal. And choosing the wrong one? That’s like wearing sandals to a construction site.

At The Amer­i­can Truck Inc., we match ship­ments with the right trail­ers every sin­gle day. The real ques­tion isn’t “What are you ship­ping? it’s “Which trail­er is best for it?” This guide explains Dry Van, Flatbed, and Reefer trail­ers so you can con­fi­dent­ly choose the Best Trail­er For Your Freight.

Dry Van Trailer: The Workhorse for Everyday Freight

What It Is

A ful­ly enclosed trail­er that pro­tects car­go from the weath­er and road debris. It’s the default choice for most dry goods.

When to Use It

• Boxed, pal­letized, or crat­ed goods

• Non-per­ish­able freight

• When weath­er pro­tec­tion is required

Examples

• Con­sumer pack­aged goods

• Elec­tron­ics

• Appar­el

• Paper prod­ucts

Limitations

• Only acces­si­ble from the rear

• Not suit­able for very tall or wide freight

Flatbed Trail­ers: For Freight That Doesn’t Play by the Rules

What It Is

An open plat­form with no walls or ceil­ing. Great for freight that doesn’t fit in a box—or a box truck.

When to Use It

• Freight too wide or tall for enclosed trail­ers

• Loads need­ing crane or fork­lift access from the side or top

• Con­struc­tion or indus­tri­al mate­ri­als

Examples

• Lum­ber and steel

• Large machin­ery

• Pipes and scaf­fold­ing

Limitations

• Exposed to weath­er

• Requires extra tie-downs and tarps for safe­ty

Reefer Trailers: Keeping Cool Under Pressure

What It Is

A tem­per­a­ture-con­trolled trail­er designed for per­ish­able or sen­si­tive goods. Think of it as a mobile fridge—or freez­er.

When to Use It

• Items requir­ing cold or frozen trans­port

• Prod­ucts with strict tem­per­a­ture ranges

• Sen­si­tive or sea­son­al items

Examples

• Dairy and frozen food

• Phar­ma­ceu­ti­cals

• Flo­ral freight

Limitations

• High­er fuel and main­te­nance costs

• Less inter­nal car­go space due to insu­la­tion

Choosing the Best Trailer For Your Freight

Real Scenarios – What Shippers Actually Face

: Retail Distribution

You’ve got pal­letized elec­tron­ics going from Texas to Illi­nois. Dry van is your best friend here—secure and weath­er­proof.

 Construction Delivery

You’re mov­ing steel beams, pipes, and scaf­fold­ing to a site with no dock access. Flatbed is your only real option.

: Medical Supply Chain

You’re ship­ping vac­cines that must stay at 5°C. Dry van? Not a chance. You need a reefer.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t assume a dry van works for every­thing. It doesn’t.

• Don’t skip tarps on a flatbed. Weath­er dam­age is real.

• Don’t load per­ish­ables with­out a reefer. The spoilage risk is mas­sive.

What Shippers Ask (And How We Answer)

Q: Is a reefer worth it for par­tial loads?
A: If tem­per­a­ture matters—even for one pallet—yes.

Q: Can I ship build­ing mate­ri­als in a dry van?
A: Only if they fit. Oth­er­wise, flatbed is safer and faster.

Q: What’s the most cost-effec­tive trail­er?
A: Dry van. But cost shouldn’t be your only fac­tor. Match the trail­er to the freight.

Still Not Sure? Ask The American Truck Inc.

We han­dle all trail­er types across the U.S. and Cana­da. Our dis­patch team will tell you—honestly—what trail­er your freight needs. We won’t upsell you. We’ll just get it there safe­ly.

Learn more or request a quote at The Amer­i­can Truck Inc..

For deep­er indus­try tips and trends, check out this excel­lent resource from DAT Freight & Ana­lyt­ics.