Quick answer
Choose a dry van for freight that needs enclosure, a reefer for loads that require temperature control, and a flatbed when loading access or cargo dimensions call for an open deck. Then verify that the exact trailer fits the load, loading site, tractor and route. Compare the financing on the unit you can dispatch, including the equipment and repairs it needs before its first load.
Key takeaways
- Get the shipper's loading, dimensions, payload and freight protection requirements before comparing quotes.
- Review the refrigeration unit separately on a reefer and the deck, structure and securement equipment on a flatbed.
- Test how many eligible loads you need to cover the extra cost of a more specialized trailer.
Start with the freight you intend to haul
List the loads your business regularly runs and the lanes you expect the new trailer to cover. Record the cargo's dimensions and weight, how it is loaded, where it unloads and any temperature or securement requirements. If the trailer is meant to add a new customer, ask that customer for its equipment acceptance criteria. Include the requirements for the return leg if the purchase depends on backhaul revenue.
Check the tractor and the trailer together. Ask for actual trailer empty weight and axle and suspension details, plus the loaded configuration you expect to run. Confirm payload and legal weights and dimensions for the route and equipment combination. Check dock access, loading clearance and any site-specific restrictions with dispatch and the customer. A catalogue rating describes the equipment. The amount you can carry on a particular route also depends on the combination, load placement and applicable rules.
Compare the three configurations
| Trailer | Common use | Before accepting the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Dry van | Enclosed general freight, often palletized or boxed. | Check interior dimensions, door opening, floor loading and dock or liftgate fit. |
| Reefer | Freight needing specified temperature control. | Check unit serial and hours, insulated box condition, service records and required reporting. |
| Flatbed | Freight needing side or overhead access, or an open deck. | Check deck dimensions and height, structure, axle layout, securement and weather protection. |
Dry van: verify the dimensions that affect loading
Compare clear door height and width, usable interior space, dock height and floor capacity. Ask whether the customer loads with a forklift and where the weight will be concentrated. Check whether swing doors or a roll-up door suit the site and cargo. If the customer requires load bars, a liftgate or other equipment, put those items on the quote. Ask how any added equipment affects tare weight and maintenance.
On a used van, ask a qualified shop to inspect the floor, roof, doors, seals and structural areas as well as brakes, tires and running gear. A floor repair can matter to a forklift-loaded route even if the trailer appears usable for another customer. Have the seller identify which repairs are included and when the unit can be inspected and accepted. See the dry van trailer financing guide for a unit-specific review.
Reefer: review the box and refrigeration unit as separate assets
Get the trailer VIN and the unit's model, serial number, year, operating hours and service history. They can have different replacement histories and warranties. Ask a qualified shop to check the refrigeration system, insulation, doors, seals and floor and to report on performance for your planned use. If a lane requires multiple temperature zones, tracking or standby power, confirm the configuration and price before treating the trailer as ready.
Ask the shipper for its temperature and record requirements. For food, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's preventive control guidance explains that conveyance requirements can depend on the activity and the food, with monitoring equipment where necessary. Use the requirements applicable to the load and operation. Budget for cleaning, fuel or power, monitoring, scheduled maintenance and a plan if the unit fails. The new and used reefer guide covers the asset-specific inspection decision.
Flatbed: verify deck, loading method and route
Confirm how a crane or forklift will access the deck and how the freight is supported. Compare standard and lowered deck configurations by the actual load dimensions, deck height and payload you need. Ask the seller for the unit's equipment specifications, including the deck, axle arrangement and anchor locations. If the contract requires tarps, dunnage, racks or other gear, include the price and loading time. Have a qualified shop check the frame, deck, welds, running gear and securement hardware on a used unit.
Ontario's truck handbook identifies National Safety Code Standard 10 as its cargo securement standard. For other routes, verify applicable securement, dimension and weight requirements and ask whether any permit is necessary. Have the carrier's qualified staff assess the actual load and equipment. Review the flatbed financing guide for purchase checks.
Worked example: will a reefer lane cover the extra cost?
A carrier can buy a dry van to serve its existing general freight lane. It is also considering a reefer for a temperature-controlled lane. Assume the reefer adds $2,100 a month in fixed payments and related fixed costs. Each reefer run is forecast to contribute $510 more than the alternative dry van work before $160 of extra variable costs for refrigeration, cleaning and monitoring. That leaves $350 in additional contribution per completed run. These figures are hypothetical and depend on the carrier having either job available.
At six completed reefer runs, the extra contribution covers $2,100. At eight, the monthly surplus is $700 after the additional fixed costs. At four, the shortfall is $700. If the route requires a more expensive unit, change the fixed cost. If dispatch expects empty return miles or the customer pays for only part of a cleaning charge, change the per-run contribution. Ask when the customer is expected to pay and put the deposit dates next to the trailer payments.
Apply the same check to a flatbed proposal. If a lane pays more for open-deck freight, include tarping labour, additional time and empty repositioning in the comparison. For a dry van, check whether the quoted trailer can actually carry the proposed pallet count and weight. A configuration that reduces the number of trips or prevents a rejected load can change the route economics.
Check whether the trailer can cover both legs
Have dispatch test a full round trip using the proposed unit. On a reefer lane, allow time to clean or change the setup before taking a different load. On a flatbed lane, ask whether the return freight requires equipment you did not include in the first quote. For a van used with multiple customers, verify that the door and floor work at the most restrictive dock. A suitable outbound trailer may have fewer useful return loads.
Identify who can service the equipment along the route and what you would use while it is down. If a repair requires a distant specialist, price the days of substitute capacity and ask whether the customer will accept it. Include those costs in the downside forecast when comparing new and used units.
Present a dispatch-ready quote for financing
Ask the seller to itemize the trailer, options, delivery and work needed before acceptance. Give the finance provider the VIN, seller details, equipment records, inspection and written intended use. If buying a reefer, include the refrigeration unit's records. For used equipment, confirm the owner and what is needed to clear any existing security registration. Ask which costs the proposed loan or lease includes and which are due from the carrier at pickup.
Compare the due-at-signing amount, scheduled payments, term and end conditions using the same equipment package. If you expect to replace the trailer before the term ends, ask how to obtain a dated payout. If a used unit needs repairs, set the repair and delivery date beside the date the first payment would fall due. A carrier may need additional cash to run a substitute unit while the trailer is waiting for parts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a reefer for dry freight on the return trip?
Ask the shipper whether the trailer is accepted and check interior dimensions, usable payload, cleaning and scheduling. Include any additional cost from carrying and maintaining refrigeration equipment when you compare the return leg.
What if the refrigeration unit is newer than the trailer?
Check the identifiers, installation records, hours and warranty for the unit separately. Ask the inspector and provider to review both components using the same list of included equipment.
Should I price the flatbed before getting the load details?
Get the likely dimensions, loading method and securement requirements first. Then ask the seller to specify a trailer and quote the equipment you will need to put it into service.
Tools and next steps
Use the cash-flow calculator to compare low and high load volumes. For a commercial trailer review, see truck and trailer financing, contact Mehmi Financial Group or call 1-833-863-4644. Bring the equipment quote, freight requirements and route forecast.
Reviewed November 12, 2026. Mehmi Financial Group. See Jodhbir Mehmi’s author profile and our editorial standards.
Sources
- Canada Border Services Agency, container chassis statement of reasons. Technical trailer descriptions.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, preventive controls for food businesses. Food conveyance requirements.
- Ontario Ministry of Transportation, truck handbook. Cargo securement and vehicle safety.