If you’re booking freight in South Florida, two terms come up constantly: box truck and dry van. They look similar but solve different problems. Here’s the plain-English difference — and how to pick the right one.
What is a box truck?
A box truck (or “straight truck”) is a single-unit vehicle where the cargo box is mounted on the same chassis as the cab — no detachable trailer. They typically run 10–26 feet, often with a lift gate, and are ideal for last-mile, local, and residential deliveries where you need to get into tight streets and dock-less locations.
What is a dry van?
A dry van is an enclosed semi-trailer pulled by a separate tractor. At ~53 feet it carries far more — roughly 26 standard pallets — and is the workhorse of long-haul and full-truckload (FTL) freight between distribution centers.
Box truck vs. dry van — key differences
- Size/capacity: box truck 10–26 ft (single unit) vs. dry van ~53 ft trailer.
- Best for: box truck = local/last-mile, lift-gate, no-dock deliveries; dry van = regional/long-haul FTL between docks.
- Access: box trucks reach tight urban and residential spots; dry vans need a loading dock or forklift.
- Cost: box trucks are cheaper for small local loads; dry vans win on cost-per-pallet over distance.
When to use each in Miami
Moving a few pallets across Miami-Dade or doing white-glove residential delivery? Box truck. Shipping a full load from a PortMiami warehouse to Atlanta? Dry van (or LTL if you’re under a full load). A good 3PL runs both and routes your freight to whichever is cheaper and faster.
Frequently asked questions
Is a box truck the same as a straight truck?
Yes — “box truck” and “straight truck” refer to the same single-unit vehicle with the cargo box on the cab’s chassis.
How many pallets fit in a 26-ft box truck vs a dry van?
A 26-ft box truck holds roughly 12 pallets; a 53-ft dry van holds about 26.
Do box trucks have lift gates?
Many do — a hydraulic lift gate is what makes box trucks ideal for deliveries to locations without a loading dock.
Need the right equipment for your Miami freight? Go Freight runs box trucks, vans and dry-van capacity in-house. Get an instant quote or call (786) 445-0150.