Reefer vs Dry Van: Which Is More Profitable for Owner Operators?

You're choosing a trailer. The decision: reefer or dry van?

Everyone has opinions. Your buddy makes good money with reefers during produce season. Your uncle says dry vans are simpler and cheaper. The dealer says "reefers always pay more."

Let me show you the real numbers. Not sales pitches, but actual rates, costs, and profitability in 2026.

The Rate Difference: What You Actually Earn

Here's what freight pays in 2026:

Dry Van Rates

National average spot rates:

• Low season: $1.80-$2.00/mile
• Decent rates: $2.00-$2.20/mile
• Good rates: $2.20-$2.50/mile
• Peak rates: $2.50-$2.80/mile (rare)

Contract rates:

• Typically $1.70-$2.10/mile
• More stable, less volatile

Reefer Rates

National average spot rates:

• Low season: $2.00-$2.20/mile
• Decent rates: $2.20-$2.60/mile
• Good rates: $2.60-$3.00/mile
• Peak produce season: $3.00-$4.38/mile

Contract rates:

• Typically $2.10-$2.50/mile
• Seasonal variation impacts contracts less

The difference: Reefer pays $0.20-$0.40/mile more on average.

That's $200-$400 more per 1,000-mile load.

Sources: DAT Reefer vs Dry Van, Fortune Carriers: Reefer vs Dry Van Differences

Equipment Cost Comparison

Dry Van Trailer

New dry van:

• Cost: $30,000-$50,000
• Lifespan: 10-15 years
• Maintenance: $1,000-$2,000/year
• Insurance: $1,200-$2,000/year

Used dry van:

• 2-5 years old: $15,000-$30,000
• 5-10 years old: $8,000-$18,000
• Older than 10 years: $5,000-$12,000

Total annual operating cost: $2,200-$4,000/year

Reefer Trailer

New reefer:

• Cost: $65,000-$120,000 (2026 prices up from $94K in 2023)
• Refrigeration unit: $15,000-$25,000 (included)
• Lifespan: 10-12 years
• Reefer unit rebuild: Every 15,000-20,000 engine hours

Used reefer:

• 2-5 years old: $40,000-$70,000
• 5-10 years old: $20,000-$45,000
• Older than 10 years: $15,000-$30,000

Annual operating costs:

• Refrigeration maintenance: $3,000-$6,000/year
• Trailer maintenance: $1,500-$2,500/year
• Insurance: $1,800-$3,500/year
• Total annual operating cost: $6,300-$12,000/year

The difference: Reefer costs $4,100-$8,000/year more to operate.

Sources: JJT Transportation: Reefer Trailer Costs, TruckersReport: New Reefer Trailer Costs

Fuel Costs: The Hidden Reefer Expense

Dry Van Fuel Cost

Just the truck:

• 7 MPG average: $0.43/mile (at $3.00/gallon diesel)
• 100,000 miles: $43,000/year in fuel

Trailer fuel cost: $0

Reefer Fuel Cost

The truck:

• Same 7 MPG: $0.43/mile
• 100,000 miles: $43,000/year

The reefer unit:

• Fuel consumption: 0.5-1.5 gallons/hour
• Average: 1 gallon/hour
• Hours running per year: 4,000-6,000 hours (not always full-time)

Reefer unit annual fuel cost:

• Conservative (4,000 hours @ 0.5 gal/hour): $6,000
• Average (5,000 hours @ 1 gal/hour): $15,000
• Heavy use (6,000 hours @ 1.5 gal/hour): $27,000

The difference: Reefer units add $6,000-$27,000/year in fuel costs.

Most owner operators report $12,000-$18,000/year in reefer fuel.

Sources: Hale Trailer: Reefer Fuel Usage, Cargostore: Reefer Unit Fuel Consumption

Load Availability: Can You Actually Find Freight?

Dry Van Load Availability

Fleet size: 1.7 million dry vans on the road

Load-to-truck ratio:

• Recent average: 5.4-6.9 loads per truck
• Means: For every truck, 5-7 loads available

Pros:

• Loads everywhere
• Haul almost anything (non-perishable)
• Consistent year-round

Cons:

• More competition (1.7M trucks fighting for loads)
• Lower rates due to oversupply
• Rate pressure from large fleets

Reefer Load Availability

Fleet size: 400,000 reefers on the road (4x fewer than dry vans)

Load-to-truck ratio:

• Recent average: 9.1-12.0 loads per truck
• Means: For every reefer, 9-12 loads available

Pros:

• Less competition
• Higher load-to-truck ratio = more negotiating power
• Can haul dry van freight too (in a pinch)
• People always need food and medicine

Cons:

• More specialized freight (food, pharma, flowers)
• Seasonal swings (produce season vs off-season)
• Geographic concentration (ag regions)

Verdict: Easier to find reefer freight than dry van freight, but reefer loads are more concentrated in specific regions and seasons.

Sources: DAT Reefer vs Dry Van, Trucking Dive: Load-to-Truck Ratios

Seasonal Rate Swings: When Each Type Pays Best

Dry Van Seasonal Patterns

Peak season (September-December):

• Holiday shipping demand
• Rates: $2.20-$2.80/mile
• Consistent across most lanes

Slow season (January-March):

• Post-holiday slump
• Rates: $1.80-$2.10/mile
• Deadhead increases

Shoulder seasons (April-August):

• Moderate demand
• Rates: $2.00-$2.40/mile
• Relatively stable

Annual swing: $0.40-$1.00/mile difference peak vs low

Reefer Seasonal Patterns

Peak produce season (June-August):

• California Central Valley harvest
• Midwest to major cities
• Rates: $3.00-$4.38/mile
• Demand outpaces capacity

Off-season (Late August-October):

• Southern produce slows
• Rates drop: $2.00-$2.40/mile
• Capacity floods market

Winter season (November-February):

• Holiday food demand
• Florida citrus season
• Rates: $2.40-$2.80/mile
• Moderate demand

Annual swing: $1.00-$2.38/mile difference peak vs low

Reefer rates are more volatile. You make great money June-August, then struggle in fall.

Sources: Truckstop: 5 Factors Impacting Reefer Rates, ATS: How Location and Time Impact Refrigerated Freight

Real Owner Operator Perspectives from TruckersReport

Mev (Road Train Member): "People always need food, that's why reefer is busy year round."

• Downside: "Wait times at shpr/rcvr" (shipper/receiver)

shovel98 (Light Load Member): "More dry van loads than reefer. Dry van costs less to buy and maintain."

Allow Me (Staff): Reefers have "a bit of a price difference when buying. Plus the cost of maintaining your unit" compared to dry vans.

General consensus:

• Reefer pays $0.05-$0.20 more per mile
• "Reefer drivers make more money and runs are usually longer"
• "Reefers have many more options for loads"
• "During slow freight times, reefer drivers keep moving and can also haul dry van freight"

Challenges mentioned:

• "Refrigerated isn't as good for money because of longer wait time taking away from driving miles"
• "The reefer trailer costs about 3 times more than a van and the units burn diesel"

Sources: TruckersReport: O/O Reefer vs Dry Van Profitability

The Wait Time Problem with Reefers

Nobody talks about this enough:

Dry van wait times:

• Average loading: 1-2 hours
• Average unloading: 1-2 hours
• Detention pay kicks in: After 2 hours
• Total wasted time: 2-4 hours per load

Reefer wait times:

• Average loading: 2-4 hours (temp checks, inspection)
• Average unloading: 3-6 hours (warehouses slower with perishables)
• Detention pay kicks in: After 2 hours (same as dry van)
• Total wasted time: 5-10 hours per load

Example:

1,000-mile load paying $2.50/mile:

• Revenue: $2,500
• Drive time (50 MPH average): 20 hours
• Dry van wait time: 4 hours
• Total time: 24 hours
• Hourly rate: $104/hour

Same 1,000-mile load with reefer paying $2.70/mile:

• Revenue: $2,700 (+$200)
• Drive time: 20 hours
• Reefer wait time: 8 hours
• Total time: 28 hours
• Hourly rate: $96/hour

The reefer pays more total but less per hour because of wait times.

Detention pay helps, but most shippers delay just under the 2-hour threshold.

Profitability Breakdown: Real Math

Let's compare two owner operators running 100,000 miles/year.

Dry Van Owner Operator (100,000 miles/year)

Revenue:

• Average rate: $2.20/mile
• Annual gross: $220,000

Expenses:

• Fuel (truck only): $43,000
• Truck maintenance: $18,000
• Trailer maintenance: $1,500
• Trailer insurance: $1,500
• Permits/licenses: $3,500
• Total variable costs: $67,500

Net operating income: $152,500

Cost per mile: $0.68 Profit per mile: $1.52

Reefer Owner Operator (100,000 miles/year)

Revenue:

• Average rate: $2.50/mile (including seasonal highs/lows)
• Annual gross: $250,000

Expenses:

• Fuel (truck): $43,000
• Fuel (reefer unit @ 5,000 hours): $15,000
• Truck maintenance: $18,000
• Reefer trailer maintenance: $4,500
• Reefer unit maintenance: $3,500
• Trailer insurance: $2,500
• Permits/licenses: $3,500
• Total variable costs: $90,000

Net operating income: $160,000

Cost per mile: $0.90 Profit per mile: $1.60

The Comparison

Annual income difference:

• Reefer: $160,000
• Dry van: $152,500
• Reefer advantage: $7,500/year

That's $625/month more with a reefer.

But you paid $40,000-$70,000 more upfront for the trailer.

Payback period: 5-9 years to recoup the extra equipment cost through higher profits.

The Unexpected Costs of Reefer

Beyond the obvious (fuel, maintenance), here's what bites reefer operators:

1. Reefer unit breakdowns

• Happens on the road, in the middle of a $25,000 load
• Emergency repair: $2,000-$5,000
• Might have to transfer load to another truck (your cost)
• Spoiled load = claim against you

2. Temperature failures

• Receiver rejects load due to temp being 2°F too high
• You eat the loss or fight it (lawyers = expensive)
• Insurance might not cover it

3. Lumper fees

• Dry van: $100-$200 to unload
• Reefer: $200-$400 to unload (product is perishable, handlers charge more)
• Annual difference: $2,000-$4,000

4. Cleaning requirements

• Dry van: Sweep out, maybe wash occasionally
• Reefer: Must be sanitized between certain loads
• Food-grade wash: $150-$300 each time
• Some loads require USDA inspection: $200-$500

5. Pre-cooling costs

• Running reefer unit 2-4 hours before loading
• Fuel cost: $6-$12 per load
• 100 loads/year: $600-$1,200

Annual unexpected reefer costs: $5,000-$12,000

When Dry Van Is More Profitable

Choose dry van if:

1. You Run Short Hauls (Under 500 Miles)

Reefer advantages disappear on short runs:

• 300-mile load @ $2.70/mile = $810
• Wait time (8 hours) kills your hourly rate
• Better to do two 300-mile dry van loads @ $2.10/mile = $1,260

2. You Operate in Non-Ag Regions

Reefer freight concentrates in:

• California (Central Valley produce)
• Florida (citrus, vegetables)
• Texas (border crossings, produce)
• Midwest (grain, dairy)

If you run freight in:

• New England industrial
• Southeast manufacturing
• Mountain West mining/energy

Dry van gives you more local options.

3. You Want Predictable Income

Dry van rates are more stable:

• $1.90-$2.30/mile year-round
• Easier to budget

Reefer swings wildly:

• $4.00/mile in July (California strawberries)
• $2.00/mile in September (post-harvest slump)

If you hate volatility, dry van is safer.

4. You're Just Starting Out

Less capital needed:

• Used dry van: $15,000-$25,000
• Used reefer: $40,000-$60,000

Lower learning curve:

• Hook up, haul, unhook
• No temperature management
• No reefer unit troubleshooting

Fewer things to break:

• Trailer is just a box
• Reefer unit is a complex machine (compressor, evaporator, controls)

Start with dry van, upgrade to reefer once you're profitable.

When Reefer Is More Profitable

Choose reefer if:

1. You Can Handle Seasonal Volatility

Produce season strategy:

• Run hard June-August ($3.00-$4.38/mile)
• Gross $40,000-$60,000 in 2-3 months
• Coast through fall at lower rates
• Resume in winter (holiday food demand)

Annual gross is higher IF you maximize peak season.

2. You Position Near Ag Regions

Best reefer lanes:

• California Central Valley → Chicago ($3.00-$3.50/mile in season)
• Florida → Northeast (citrus, vegetables)
• Texas border → Major cities (imports)
• Idaho/Washington → Nationwide (potatoes, apples)

Live near these and you'll stay busy.

3. You Want Load Flexibility

Reefer can haul:

• Temperature-controlled (primary)
• Dry van freight (when needed)
• High-value freight (electronics, pharma)

Dry van can ONLY haul dry van freight.

12 loads per reefer available vs 6 loads per dry van (recent load-to-truck ratios)

4. You're Mechanically Skilled

Can you troubleshoot a reefer unit?

• Fix minor issues on the road
• Avoid $500 service calls

If yes: Reefer saves you $2,000-$4,000/year in repairs.

If no: Every breakdown costs you $500-$2,000.

The Middle Ground: Running Both

Some owner operators run:

• Reefer trailer as primary
• Haul dry van freight when reefer is slow

This works if:

• You can afford the reefer upfront cost
• You're flexible on load types
• You maximize the reefer's versatility

Strategy:

• June-August: Only reefer loads ($3.00+ /mile)
• September-October: Dry van freight in the reefer ($2.20/mile, no reefer fuel cost)
• November-February: Reefer food/holiday demand ($2.60/mile)
• March-May: Mix of both

Annual results:

• Best of both worlds
• Higher average rate than dry van only
• More load options than reefer-only haulers

Profitability by Region

California

Reefer dominates:

• Produce capital of America
• Rates: $3.00-$4.00/mile outbound in season
• Year-round demand (different crops)
• Reefer wins

Midwest

Balanced market:

• Manufacturing (dry van)
• Agriculture (reefer)
• Food processing (reefer)
• Both viable, depends on your lanes
• Toss-up

Southeast

Dry van slight edge:

• Heavy manufacturing
• Distribution centers
• Florida reefer freight (citrus)
• Dry van 60%, reefer 40%

Northeast

Dry van wins:

• Consumer goods
• Retail distribution
• Less ag production
• Dry van 70%, reefer 30%

Texas

Reefer advantage:

• Border crossings (Mexican produce)
• Livestock, meat processing
• Houston/Dallas distribution
• Reefer 60%, dry van 40%

The Financing Math

Dry van loan:

• Purchase price: $35,000 (used)
• Down payment (20%): $7,000
• Amount financed: $28,000
• Interest rate: 8%
• Term: 3 years
• Monthly payment: $879

Reefer loan:

• Purchase price: $70,000 (used)
• Down payment (20%): $14,000
• Amount financed: $56,000
• Interest rate: 8%
• Term: 4 years
• Monthly payment: $1,368

Monthly payment difference: $489

Plus reefer operating costs: $350-$700/month more

Total monthly reefer premium: $839-$1,189

You need to earn $839-$1,189 more PER MONTH to break even.

At $0.30/mile reefer advantage, you need:

• $1,000/month ÷ $0.30/mile = 3,333 miles/month minimum
• 40,000 miles/year to justify the reefer

If you run under 40,000 miles/year, dry van is more profitable financially.

Decision Framework: Which One for You?

Choose Dry Van If:

• Starting capital under $25,000
• Running under 60,000 miles/year
• Operating in non-ag regions (Northeast, Midwest industrial)
• You want predictable income
• You're new to owner operator life
• You hate waiting at docks
• You prefer simple equipment
• You run mostly short haul (under 500 miles)

Choose Reefer If:

• Starting capital $40,000+
• Running 80,000+ miles/year
• Positioned near ag regions (CA, FL, TX, ID)
• You can handle income volatility
• You're mechanically skilled
• You're willing to wait for better-paying loads
• You want maximum load options
• You can maximize produce season earnings

Consider Starting with Dry Van, Adding Reefer Later:

• Build operating capital first
• Learn the business with lower risk
• Upgrade to reefer once profitable
• Keep dry van as backup equipment

The Bottom Line

Higher revenue doesn't always mean higher profit.

Reefer:

• Earns $0.20-$0.40/mile more
• Costs $0.10-$0.25/mile more to operate
• Net advantage: $0.10-$0.20/mile

On 100,000 miles/year:

• Extra revenue: $20,000-$40,000
• Extra costs: $10,000-$25,000
• Net extra profit: $7,500-$15,000/year

But:

• Equipment costs $35,000-$70,000 more upfront
• Payback period: 5-7 years
• Higher risk (unit failures, spoiled loads, volatile rates)

Dry van:

• Lower rates
• Lower costs
• Lower risk
• Easier to operate
• More predictable income

For most new owner operators: Start with dry van.

For experienced operators in ag regions: Reefer can be worth it.

The real key: Get loads at good rates, whatever trailer you have.

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How FF Dispatch Helps Owner Operators Get Better Rates (Dry Van or Reefer)

Here's what matters more than your trailer type: What rate are you getting per load?

A reefer hauling at $2.20/mile makes less than a dry van hauling at $2.50/mile.

The problem: Most owner operators take whatever rate the broker offers first.

Broker posts $2.40/mile. You call. Broker says "best I can do is $2.20." You take it because you need the freight.

You just lost $200 on a 1,000-mile load.

How We Get You Better Rates

We negotiate every single load. Not just find freight – actual rate negotiation.

Example:

• Broker posts: $2.40/mile
• You call yourself: Broker drops to $2.20/mile (you take it)
• We call for you: We negotiate to $2.65/mile
• Difference: $450 on a 1,000-mile load

That $450 covers:

• Your reefer fuel for that load
• Your monthly reefer maintenance reserve
• Your trailer payment

We know:

• What lanes should pay (historical data)
• Which brokers negotiate (and which don't)
• When to push and when to walk away
• How to get detention pay and accessorials

Real Results

Our dry van operators average $2.40/mile vs $2.10 booking themselves. Our reefer operators average $2.80/mile vs $2.50 booking themselves.

That $0.30/mile difference on 100,000 miles = $30,000 more annual revenue.

Whether you run dry van or reefer, better rates solve your profitability problem.

Simple Pricing

• 6% of gross revenue
• You pay us after you get paid
• No hidden fees
• No long-term contracts
• Cancel anytime

Example: $3,000 load = $150 to us, $2,850 to you

But we got you $300 more than you would've gotten yourself, so you're still $150 ahead.

"I run a reefer and was stressing about fuel costs eating my profit. FF Dispatch helped me average $2.85/mile instead of the $2.45/mile I was getting on my own. That extra $0.40/mile ($400 per load) more than covers my reefer fuel and their fee. I'm actually netting more even after paying them." – FF Dispatch client

Ready to maximize your rates with the trailer you already have?

Call/Text: (302) 608-0609 Email: gia@dispatchff.com Website: new.dispatchff.com

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Sources

• DAT: Reefer vs Dry Van Comparison
• Fortune Carriers: Reefer Truck vs Dry Van Differences 2025
• Trucking42: What Loads Pay the Most for Owner-Operators
• Hale Trailer: Understanding Reefer Fuel Usage
• Cargostore: Reefer Unit Fuel Consumption Guide
• JJT Transportation: Reefer Trailer Costs
• TruckersReport: Cost of New Reefer Trailers
• TruckersReport: O/O Reefer vs Dry Van Profitability
• Trucking Dive: Load-to-Truck Ratios
• Truckstop: 5 Factors Impacting Reefer Rates
• ATS: How Location and Time of Year Impact Refrigerated Freight
• DAT: National Reefer Rates