Dry van (53' enclosed trailer) freight rate per mile
$2.00 - $2.75/mile
National-average reference range (DAT 2026 basis, all-in including fuel surcharge). Reference ranges only, your lane, season, and fuel will move these. Always price your own load. Price your load with the calculator below.
Low end
$2.00/mi
High end
$2.75/mi
Typical fuel economy
7 mpg
What drives the Dry Van rate
- Load-to-truck ratio on DAT and Truckstop spot boards shifts rates daily.
- Head-haul vs. back-haul: outbound corridors pay materially more than return legs.
- Diesel swings: a $0.20/gal move shifts all-in rates by roughly 5-8 cents/mile.
- Seasonality: retail Q4 and harvest peaks push demand; post-holiday Q1 softens rates.
How to price your Dry Van load
Check the DAT rate index for your specific origin-destination pair, then adjust for load type and head-haul vs. back-haul. Use the calculator below to confirm you cover your cost-per-mile before accepting.
Open load profit calculatorFrequently asked questions
Dry van (53' enclosed trailer) is $2.00-$2.75/mile all-in (DAT 2026 national average). Your specific lane, season, and fuel costs will move these numbers significantly in either direction, so always price from your actual lane data before accepting a load.
