If you want to ship your possessions or you businesses inventory, the type of truck and van will you need will depend on a great number of factors. If the items can be packed into dry shipping trailers this is the best way to transport because these vehicles are protected from the weather and even, to some extent, the heat and cold. Consumer electronics are an excellent example of this for instance. Most of these products must be protected from moisture and extremes of heat and cold or tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage can occur, resulting in huge losses for the shipper.
But many items not only have to be protected, the shipper must also consider the weight of the item. Each axle is rated to carry a certain amount of weight and if this weight is exceeded the shipper has two choices: They must use a truck with more axles or use more than one truck, which can be considerably more expensive. The type of van really makes
little difference in this respect. Dry vans, vented vans, even refrigerated vans, can be multi-axle vans and these trailers are used to transport heavier cargo.
The America’s Independent Truckers’ Association, Inc tells us that the number of axles determines the maximum amount of weight that the van can carry. A truck with a simple steering axle for instance ranges from 600 lbs per square inch to as much as 30,000 lbs total weight, depending on the state that the truck is operating in. Single axles have a maximum weight of 22,000 lbs and tandem axles cannot pull more than 34,000 lbs. The above weight limits give a general overview of the maximum allowed across the United States. Each state has its own regulations however and other nations in North America, such as Canada and Mexico.
This essentially means that shippers must calculate the dry weight of cargo before shipping and determine the size and type of van that will be needed. In most cases the drivers will know what the weight limits are and will not take a load that exceeds them because they have to regularly pass through weight scales and can be heavily fined for exceeding these limits.