Equipment economics · 6 min read
Dry Van Owner-Operator: Costs & Pay Explained
Dry van is the most common entry point for new owner-operators: the most freight, the simplest handling, and the lowest equipment complexity. Here is how the economics tend to work.
Why new carriers start in dry van
Dry van has the largest volume of loads on the spot market and the simplest loading, which makes it forgiving while you learn broker relationships and rate discipline.
Cost drivers to model
- Truck payment and insurance (your largest fixed costs)
- Fuel — the biggest variable cost
- Maintenance and tires per mile
- No specialized equipment cost, which keeps startup lower
Run your own numbers
Rates move constantly, so plug your truck payment, insurance, fuel, and realistic miles into a cost-per-mile calculation and price loads against that break-even.
Frequently asked questions
- Is dry van good for a new owner-operator?
- Dry van is a common starting point because of high load volume and simple handling, letting you focus on rate discipline and broker relationships.
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