11 Questions to Ask about Purchasing a Dry Van

27 May.,2024

 

11 Questions to Ask about Purchasing a Dry Van

1

How many dry vans will do the job?

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One or two units should do the trick for a specific application or new contract. Or it could be 5, 10, 20, 50 or more as part of a fleet acquisition program for a large contract or replacement program. Dealers will stock some quantities of common dry vans but if the quantity gets over 10 or 20 units you will likely not find these quantities in stock. Lead times for new factory orders can range from a low of 3 months to a high of 9 months with 4 to 5 months being fairly typical. The lead time is driven by how much of a backlog the factory has along with lead times for components needed to build the trailer, such as suspensions. 2

What applications can a dry van be used for?


Long haul freight, local P&D work, concentrated loads (ie. liquids) or other special applications that might require a specific type of trailer build or options such as lift gates, side doors, etc. 3

What is the length of a dry van?


Dry vans can be built from 28&#; to 57&#; long and overall heights from 12&#; 6&#; to 14&#; are normal. Typical North American Highway dimensions limit the overall length to 53&#; and the overall height to 13&#; 6&#;. There are also drop floor vans which allow for significant increase in interior space. Drop vans are not normally used for typical dry freight applications. 4

How are dry vans manufactured?


There are several methods by which dry vans can be built but there are basically two main types which are commonplace today. These two styles are called sheet and post construction and composite plate construction. Each style has advantages and disadvantages. The sheet and post style has been around for a very long time and consists of fastening vertical specially formed posts to a horizontal bottom rail then adding a sheet of metal over the posts to finish the construction of the walls. It is the most common and least expensive to repair. The composite plate style dry van first entered the market in with its walls constructed of galvanized steel sheets with plastic sandwiched in between. While the composite plate trailer is tougher to damage it is more expensive to repair. Composite plate trailer designs also offer the greatest interior width within a dry van but are also slightly heavier than sheet and post construction. 5

Does it matter what kind of doors I have?


The rear doors can be either two side hinged doors that swing to the sides and are tied back against the side walls, generally called barn doors. Barn doors are by far the most typical style of rear door system on a dry van. The other style is a rollup door which is much like a typical garage door which opens upwards. The rollup doors are more commonly used with local P&D trailers and are necessary when a rail style lift gate is installed.

It&#;s important to get the right type of rear opening for the type of deliveries you&#;re doing. If you&#;re using loading docks, there will be enough room for swing doors. But if you don&#;t have as much space, you&#;ll probably need a roll-up door. It&#;s all about knowing your business. 6

What about the roof?


The roof is commonly made of a single sheet of aluminum which is installed under tension. The other option is a fiberglass roof sheet which is commonly called a translucent roof since it allows abundant ambient light into the trailer. While the translucent roof is great for forklift operators and drivers to see within the trailer, the fiberglass roof skin is easier to damage and more expensive to repair. A translucent roof may also be rejected by some shippers who have photosensitive loads. 7

And the floor?


The floor of a dry van is commonly made of laminated hardwood although aluminum floors are available too. The laminated hardwood needs to be of excellent quality as it must keep moisture from intruding into the trailer while it is in transit. There are options for coating the top and bottom of the wood floor with coatings which will greatly enhance the longevity and strength of the floor. 8

Do suspensions vary between dry vans?


Suspensions can range from single axle spring ride to tridem air rides or some other more elaborate setups to take advantage of regional permits or regulations to carry more weight. There are many options on how to specify the running gear of the trailer however tandem air ride is the majority. 9

What brakes do most dry vans have?


The basic brakes are 16.5&#; by 7&#; cast steel drums with options for higher quality and lighter weight brake packages are available on special order along with air disc brake systems. Along with brakes the wheel hubs are also cast steel as standard with options for lightweight hubs of steel or aluminum are available along with the opportunity to special order parallel spindles instead of tapered spindles. While the parallel spindle system adds some weight to the trailer it is offset by being more robust and providing longer life for the bearings and seals with possibly some additional benefits to tire life. 10

What's the size of the rims and tires?


Rims are standard as steel 8.25&#; by 22.5&#; duals and tires are low profile 22.5&#;. Regionally we see that different tire and even rim sizes are considered more common, such as 11R22.5&#;, low profile 24.5&#; or even 11R24.5&#; may be stocked on new equipment. There is also the option of going to a super single rim and tire package but these are not normally stocked. Aluminum rims are another item which is popular on custom orders as they save weight, reduce heat at the wheel ends and look great for long periods of time regardless of the conditions they are subjected to. 11

How can I protect my trailer from corrosion?


Corrosion protection is built into standard dry van construction however there are options which can help provide greater corrosion protection. Such options include using stainless steel, galvanizing, elastopolymer coatings and other types of finishes.

A Complete Guide to Customizing Your Semi-Truck

Your truck is your workplace. It&#;s also your home away from home. Why not make it reflect you? Custom graphics show off your interests and personality. At Prime, you can turn a simple idea into the truck of your dreams.

Stripes & Stuff specializes in fleet graphics and detailing, offering custom wraps and decals for semi-trucks. The best part? They&#;re located right down the road from our Springfield, MO terminal. We&#;ve worked with Stripes & Stuff for over three decades to help our independent contractors make their trucks unique.

Medieval castles. An ocean wave. The American flag. Whether you want to highlight your favorite cause, singer or TV show, Stripes & Stuff can bring your vision to life.

Who Can Customize Their Truck?

Custom semi-truck decals, wraps and lettering are reserved for independent contractors at Prime Inc. It&#;s one of the benefits of becoming an independent contractor. Once you lease for at least 3 months with Success Leasing, you can order a custom truck and choose the model and color of your truck, as well as the display graphics that express your personality.

Semi-Truck Lease Purchase Program

The Success Leasing program offers standard lease and lease purchase options for those looking to become owner-operators. Being an independent contractor at Prime gives you more say in which loads you run, the time you take off, and the truck you drive.

What Decals & Graphics Can I Put on my Truck?

From design to application, Stripes & Stuff has got you covered. You can start with a simple sketch, artwork or an idea.

With competitive price and timely delivery, Haiheyuan sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Want to put your grandchildren&#;s artwork on your truck? No problem. Need a graphic that matches your tattoo? Done. The designers at Stripes & Stuff will work with you to fine tune and finalize your design.

A mythical Kraken with tentacles wrapping around the truck. A dedication to the 9/11 firefighters who lost their lives. A tribute to singer Bob Marley. These are just a few of the designs Prime drivers have created.

Keep in mind that each custom design must be approved by Prime prior to Stripes & Stuff applying the graphics. Prime wants to ensure that graphics and themes are professional as each truck represents the company while crisscrossing the country hauling freight.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of custom decals and graphics depends on the size of the project. Those that require more design work and cover a larger portion of the truck will be more expensive.

A simple door name costs only $10. If you want to add the name and logo of your LLC, that&#;s going to be around $140 to $180.

How much does it cost to wrap a semi-truck? You may be looking at $3,000 to $4,000 depending on the design and style.

Stripes & Stuff offers a few payment options, so you can set up an arrangement that works for you. They collect half down to start the process, and the other half before your truck is delivered to Prime.

You can order graphics through Stripes & Stuff and install them on your own if you wish. This may help cut down on cost.

How Do I Start the Process?

Once you order your truck, Stripes & Stuff can start helping you with your concept. Depending on how complex your idea is, you may need to contact them a few months before your truck&#;s arrival.

  1. Call for a quote. You&#;ve ordered your truck. Now you&#;re ready to dress it up. If your idea is complicated, call a few months before your truck will be ready to ensure you get the right materials and colors. Just want something simple like stripes? In that case, you can call a few weeks ahead.
  2. Create your design. The designers at Stripes & Stuff will work with you until your design is exactly how you want it. They&#;ll make sure it works with your truck model.
  3. Print and cut your graphics. After getting the materials, Stripes & Stuff prints and cuts your graphics, so they are ready when your truck comes to town.
  4. Application. Stripes & Stuff works with Freightliner and Peterbilt dealerships to ensure your truck comes to them first. Your decals, vinyl wraps, and more will be applied to the truck.
  5. Meet your new truck. Give your new truck a wave! It&#;s bound to stand out on the lot. Be sure to snap some pictures of your finished truck to share with friends and family.

Ready to get graphics on your truck? Call Stripes & Stuff at 417-869- to start exploring your options.

Interested in driving for Prime? We&#;re one of the largest trucking companies in North America and are proud to say that we train and employ the best drivers in the industry. Apply to Prime today!

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For more Custom Semi Trailersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.