Flatbed vs Dry Van: Which Trailer Puts More Money in Your Pocket in 2025
You’ve heard the chatter a thousand times: flatbed pays more, dry van is steadier. Real talk? Each one taxes you in different ways — sweat, time, gear, patience — and the best earner is the one you can run hard without breaking your body or your budget. Let’s line up what drivers say (verbatim), then stack the facts so you can pick a lane and stay profitable.
What drivers actually say (not brochure fluff)
A thread on r/Truckers echoed the same point: rates depend on the market—when lanes like LAX–CHI get crowded with flatbeds, posted rates drop fast.
Two real-world takes from r/Truckers:
“I’m kinda new as well … flatbed the whole time. I don’t find the workload to be too hard … you will spend your time securing and tarping vs sitting at dock for longer so be prepared …” Reddit
“Don’t waste your time with flatbed. Not enough pay for all the extra headaches … Keep swinging doors and bumping docks until you get into fuel hauling.” Reddit
Point is, flatbed’s upside is real, but so is the effort and volatility. Dry van won’t make headlines, but it pays the mortgage with fewer surprises.
If you’re earlier in your journey, start with fundamentals in the used truck buying guide — it’ll save you from chasing “high RPM” while bleeding money elsewhere.
Workload & lifestyle: sweat vs waiting
A veteran summed up the day-to-day difference like this:
“Flatbed is different insofar as more manual labor for the driver. You’ll be required to secure … tarp and untarp … Folding the tarps alone in the windy weather is frustrating at best.” Reddit
And on the learning curve:
“You’ll suck and be exhausted for the first few months, but after about 6 months you’ll be in and out of most places without issue.” Reddit
Flatbed keeps you moving (straps, chains, tarps). Dry van keeps you waiting (docks, live loads), but spares your back. If you like the hands-on satisfaction — and you’re okay earning your dollars in sleet and wind — flatbed fits. If you prefer warmer cabs and steadier rhythm, van life fits.
For new day-cab setups and city turns that pair nicely with either trailer, the guide to getting your first day cab helps you spec the tractor before you pick the box.
Pay & volatility (and why your ZIP code matters)
Flatbed can post better rates — until it doesn’t:
“Overall flatbed has better rates, followed by reefer and dry van in that order. There are times when reefer can do better …” Reddit
Rates swing by lane and season. One driver even spelled out their progression:
“My first job … OTR flatbed (Melton) pay 52 cpm, after 1 year 60 cpm.” Reddit
On the other hand, a Swift Conestoga driver laid out a decent weekly norm:
“I do Conestoga flatbed for Swift and usually pull anywhere from $1100 to $1500 per week. Home every other day sometimes and off on the …” Reddit
Translation: Flatbed’s ceiling is higher but more sensitive to crowding and seasonality. Dry van’s floor is thicker — not as sexy, but smoother cash flow.
When construction pops (Midwest/South in spring–summer), flatbed shines. When consumer freight rules (coastal retail corridors, import hubs), dry van keeps you rolling. And yeah, local realities matter: a lane slammed with “hundreds of flatbeds” means ugly rates, fast. Reddit
Gear, startup costs & the “Conestoga question”
Flatbed costs more to outfit: tarps ($300–$600+ each), straps/chains/binders, edge protectors, a headache rack, PPE. You’ll rip tarps, lose bungees, and replace straps — it’s part of the job. One flatbed vet put a finer point on pricing discipline:
“Flatbed should be at $3/mile … Broker is offering $1000 for this lane with 45k lbs and 4-foot tarps … Hold the line at $3 for flatbed.” Reddit
Conestoga (sliding tarp) setups save your back and time — shippers love them — but the trailer costs more. Still, for the right freight, it widens your lane options. A driver comparing van, flat, and Conestoga said the day-to-day gap isn’t massive, but you’ll need more creative load planning with Conestoga/flat. Reddit
Dry van startup is simpler: tight seals/doors, a few load locks, maybe a pallet jack. Less cash up front, less gear to babysit.
If vocational pivots are on your radar (dirt, gravel, site work), look at how seasonality and pricing play out in dump truck hustle — same idea: hot months pay; cold snaps test patience.
Safety, inspections & headaches (different ones)
Flatbed has more securement exposure — more inspection attention, more chances to miss a strap, more risk of damage if you rush. A flatbed/heavy-haul tip that never gets old:
“No shortcuts! Double triple Quadruple check everything’s securely tied down …” Reddit
You’ll also get reminders from old hands:
“All in all, I’d say stick to dry vans unless they’re willing to pay you more for flatbed work.” Reddit
Dry van’s headaches are different: detention at docks, appointment windows, lumpers, and the occasional maddening yard. Rates are lower on average, but so are gear costs and exposure to weather risk.
Either way, your body’s the limiting factor. If you’re slinging tarps this year, protect the shoulders, knees, and eyes (bungee snaps are not a joke). If you’re doing long dock sits, fight the “seat-stiffness” with routine movement and some of the habits in stay healthy while on the road.
Maneuvering & handling quirks you actually feel
Drivers debating “easier to pull” were blunt: it depends on the trailer. Flatbeds with spreads don’t pivot like tandems; dry vans have their own quirks. One solid reminder:
“Swing slightly wider and backing is a bit different. Not easier, but it’s not difficult at all.” Reddit
A small but true comfort: an empty skateboard (flatbed) isn’t the windsail a tall, empty van can be. Reddit
Career paths: where each trailer can take you
Flatbed is the classic stepping stone to specialized/heavy haul — machinery, steel, oversize, even blades. The skills you sharpen (securement, route planning, situational awareness) compound into better-paying freight.
Dry van funnels you toward dedicated retail/DC lanes, LTL linehaul, terminal-to-terminal work. Less physical, more predictable schedules — life trade-offs that keep drivers in the seat longer.
If you’re financing the next move, mind the total cost per mile — not just RPM. Owning the tractor and picking the right trailer is a math problem you should run in a notebook before you run it on the interstate. A clean primer on the money side is in lease vs buy a truck.
The money math, plain and simple
Profit isn’t rate-per-mile; it’s revenue minus fuel, time, insurance, maintenance, gear, risk, and downtime. Flatbed pushes the revenue line higher — and the risk/time lines higher. Dry van pulls those cost lines down — and caps the revenue ceiling a bit lower.
A balanced fleet runs both: flatbeds where construction/manufacturing is hot, vans to smooth cash flow in shoulder seasons. Owner-ops do a version of the same by choosing lanes and months wisely (some even switch trailer types seasonally where contracts allow).
Bottom line (choose the grind you can live with)
If you’ve got the back, the grit, and the patience to learn securement right, flatbed can put more money in your pocket — when the market is there and you price your labor correctly. If you’d rather keep your joints happy and your checks consistent, dry van will do what it’s always done: pay the bills while you rack clean miles.
Ready to shop?
Browse trucks on ShareRig. If you don’t see the right unit today, keep an eye out — verified sellers add fresh trailers regularly, and good ones move fast.
