What affects the rate per mile for dry van, reefer, flatbed and power only loads?
Rate per mile depends on the lane, season, distance, how much equipment is available in the pickup market, and the extra work or cost the load involves. Flatbed and step deck usually pay more for securement and tarping, reefer pays more for temperature control, and dry van and power only face the most competition. All rates vary and are not guaranteed.
Every trailer type has its own freight, its own customers and its own pricing logic. A dispatcher for semi trucks who books good reefer loads needs a different playbook from one who books flatbed. This guide covers how dry van loads, reefer loads, flatbed loads, step deck and power only loads are found, and what moves the rate per mile for each.
If you are still choosing a trailer, start with dry van vs reefer vs flatbed: which trailer pays best. This article focuses on finding and pricing the freight once you have the equipment.
Rough rates by freight type
These are rough figures from our dispatch desk. They vary by lane and season and are not guaranteed.
| Freight type | Rough rate per mile |
|---|---|
| Flatbed / step deck | $5 - $7 |
| Reefer | $4 - $6 |
| Dry van | $3 - $5 |
| Power only | $3 - $5 |
What affects rate per mile for every freight type
Some factors apply to all trailers:
- Lane balance. A market that ships out more freight than it receives tends to pay more on outbound loads. The opposite market often pays less.
- Season. Produce, holidays, construction and weather all shift demand.
- Distance. Short loads often pay more per mile because the fixed time at pickup and delivery is spread over fewer miles.
- Lead time. A load that needs a truck today may pay more than one booked a week out.
- Extra work. Tarps, temperature control, multiple stops and driver assist all add value.
For context on what a good number looks like against your costs, read what is a good rate per mile in trucking.
Dry van loads
Dry van freight is the largest and most common segment: packaged goods, retail, paper, beverages and general freight.
Where it comes from: load boards, broker networks, retail and distribution center freight, and platforms such as Amazon Relay.
What moves the rate:
- Huge competition, because many carriers run vans
- Retail and holiday seasons
- Live load vs drop-and-hook (live loads can mean long waits)
- Multiple stops, which should pay extra per stop
Tip: with so many trucks chasing the same posts, the real edge is planning the next load before delivery to keep deadhead low. See our dry van dispatch page.
Reefer loads
Reefer freight includes produce, meat, dairy, frozen food, beverages and some pharmaceuticals.
Where it comes from: produce and food brokers, cold storage warehouses, grocery distribution and load boards.
What moves the rate:
- Produce seasons in growing regions
- Temperature requirements (frozen often stricter than chilled)
- Reefer fuel cost on top of truck fuel
- Strict appointment times and the risk of claims if temperatures drift
Tip: reefer drivers can often haul dry freight too, which helps with backhauls when reefer freight is thin. See reefer dispatch.
Flatbed loads
Flatbed carries building materials, steel, lumber, machinery and other freight loaded from the side or top.
Where it comes from: open-deck brokers, steel and building supply customers, and load boards with open-deck filters.
What moves the rate:
- Construction season and regional building activity
- Tarping requirements, which usually pay extra
- Securement time and gear (straps, chains, edge protection)
- Oversize or overweight freight, which needs permits and planning
Tip: always confirm tarp needs, piece count and dimensions before booking. See flatbed dispatch.
Step deck loads
A step deck has a lower rear deck, so it can carry taller freight without going over legal height. Common loads include machinery, equipment and tall building materials.
Where it comes from: the same open-deck brokers as flatbed, with fewer trucks competing for freight that needs the extra height.
What moves the rate: freight height, ramps or loading needs, and the smaller pool of step decks available in a market. Step deck dispatch services work best when the dispatcher knows which brokers regularly move tall freight. Step deck is covered on our flatbed dispatch page.
Power only loads
With power only, you supply the tractor and pull someone else's trailer, often a preloaded trailer from a shipper, broker trailer pool or Amazon Relay.
Where it comes from: brokers with trailer pools, drop-and-hook programs, platforms like Amazon Relay and load board power only filters.
What moves the rate:
- No trailer cost for you, which lets some carriers accept lower rates
- Drop-and-hook speed, which can mean more loads per week
- Empty trailer repositioning moves, which often pay less
- Requirements set by the trailer owner, such as insurance for non-owned trailers
See power only dispatch.
Worked example: comparing a week across freight types
The figures below are assumptions for illustration, using midpoints of our rough ranges.
- Assumption: 2,000 paid miles and 200 deadhead miles in the week
- Dry van at $3.75 a mile: 2,000 x $3.75 = $7,500 gross
- Flatbed at $5.50 a mile: 2,000 x $5.50 = $11,000 gross
Rate per total mile:
- Dry van: $7,500 / 2,200 = $3.41
- Flatbed: $11,000 / 2,200 = $5.00
The flatbed gross looks far higher, but flatbed also brings more time on securement and tarping, more gear, and often fewer paid miles in the same week. That could cut the paid miles below 2,000. Compare loads on the same basis with the load profitability calculator and your own cost per mile.
How a dispatcher for semi trucks helps
The right dispatcher knows which brokers move each freight type, which lanes pay, and where you can reload. Texas Solutions dispatches dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck and power only semi trucks nationwide, with 24/7 remote dispatchers. The fee for OTR semi trucks is 5% of weekly gross, with no flat rate, no setup fee and no long-term contract. You approve every load, and your first load is dispatched free.
See our owner-operator dispatch service, compare truck dispatch rates, or get a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Which pays more, dry van or reefer?
Reefer loads usually pay more per mile than dry van because of the cost of running the refrigeration unit and the risk of temperature-sensitive cargo. On our desk, rough reefer rates run about $4 to $6 a mile and dry van about $3 to $5, varying by lane and season.
What are power only loads?
Power only loads are loads where the carrier supplies only the tractor and pulls a trailer owned by the shipper, broker or another company. Many are drop-and-hook moves.
Is step deck the same as flatbed?
Step deck is a type of open-deck trailer with a lower rear deck, used for taller freight that would be over height on a standard flatbed. It is booked through many of the same open-deck brokers.
Do you dispatch all of these trailer types?
Yes. Texas Solutions dispatches dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck and power only semi trucks, plus hotshot, box truck and straight truck, at 5% of weekly gross for OTR semi trucks.
