Truckload operations
Truckload Services: Dry Van, Reefer, Flatbed
Trans99 runs full-truckload freight on its own tractors and trailers: dry van, refrigerated, heated, flatbed, step deck and open board FTL — plus expedited, just-in-time, line haul and dedicated service. Every load is dispatched from Guelph, Ontario, across Canada, the US and into Mexico.
Dry Van
Dry van trucking across Ontario, Canada and the US
Enclosed 53′ trailers for the bulk of North American freight — palletized or floor-loaded, protected from weather and secured with seals for cross-border moves.
Quote dry van →| Trailer | 53′ enclosed van (48′ available on request) |
|---|---|
| Interior | ≈ 101″ wide × 110″ high, varies by trailer |
| Capacity | Up to 26 standard 48″×40″ pallets single-stacked |
| Typical payload | ≈ 43,000–45,000 lb, depending on axle configuration and jurisdiction |
| Loading | Dock-high, swing doors; load locks and straps |
Best-fit freight
- Packaged consumer goods
- Auto parts
- Paper & packaging
- Retail replenishment
- Non-perishable food
- Building products
How many pallets fit in a 53′ dry van?
Up to 26 standard 48″×40″ pallets single-stacked, or more if freight can be double-stacked safely. Tell us your pallet count and dimensions on the quote form.
Can Trans99 dry vans cross the border?
Yes. Dry van is Trans99's most common cross-border equipment, moving under C-TPAT, PIP, CSA and FAST programs with ACI and ACE eManifests filed before arrival.
Do you offer drop trailers?
Drop trailer and pre-loading programs are available on qualifying lanes — ask dispatch at (519) 265-5161.
Refrigerated
Refrigerated reefer transport in Canada and the US
Temperature-controlled reefer trailers for fresh, chilled and frozen freight, with the unit set and checked before pickup and held through delivery.
Quote refrigerated →| Trailer | 53′ refrigerated (reefer) van |
|---|---|
| Temperature range | ≈ −20°F to +70°F (−29°C to +21°C) typical unit range |
| Unit modes | Continuous or start/stop (cycle) |
| Capacity | Up to 26 pallets; slightly narrower interior than dry van |
| Monitoring | Temperature logs on request telematics |
Best-fit freight
- Fresh produce
- Meat & poultry
- Dairy
- Frozen food
- Pharmaceuticals
- Floral
What temperature range can a reefer hold?
A typical reefer unit holds roughly −20°F to +70°F (−29°C to +21°C). Give us your set point on the quote form and we confirm it at booking.
Continuous or cycle mode — which should I choose?
Continuous mode runs the unit non-stop for sensitive product like produce; cycle (start/stop) mode saves fuel for frozen or less sensitive freight. Your shipping instructions decide.
Can I get a temperature record for my load?
Yes — ask for a temperature download when you book so it can be sent with your proof of delivery.
Heated
Heated freight service for Canadian winters
Protect-from-freeze service that keeps liquids, coatings, beverages and other freeze-sensitive freight above zero from pickup to dock — the Canadian-winter problem dry vans can't solve.
Quote heated →| Equipment | Heated van / reefer unit run in heat mode |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Protect from freeze — hold product above 0°C |
| Season | Late fall through spring on Canadian and northern US lanes |
| Set point | Per shipper instruction |
Best-fit freight
- Beverages
- Paints & coatings
- Adhesives
- Liquid chemicals (non-hazmat)
- Cosmetics
- Pharmaceuticals
What freight needs heated service?
Anything that is damaged by freezing — beverages, paints, adhesives, latex products, some chemicals and cosmetics. If your product label says 'protect from freeze', book heated.
Is heated service the same as a reefer?
The equipment is often the same: a reefer unit can heat as well as cool. Heated service means the unit is set and monitored to keep freight above freezing.
When should I switch to heated service?
Once overnight lows along the lane drop near freezing — usually late fall in Ontario and Quebec. Dispatch can advise lane by lane.
Flatbed
Flatbed trucking for steel, lumber and machinery
Open-deck trailers for freight that loads from the side or top — by forklift or crane — secured to North American cargo securement standards.
Quote flatbed →| Trailer | 48′ or 53′ flatbed, 8′6″ wide deck |
|---|---|
| Legal freight height | ≈ 8′6″ on a standard ≈ 5′ deck |
| Typical payload | ≈ 45,000–48,000 lb |
| Securement | Chains, straps, edge protection; tarps on request |
| Loading | Side, top or end — forklift or crane |
Best-fit freight
- Steel coil & plate
- Lumber
- Building materials
- Pipe
- Machinery
- Precast
Do you tarp flatbed loads?
Yes — tarping is available. Note it on the quote form so the right tarps and securement are dispatched with the truck.
What's the maximum height on a flatbed?
With a standard deck height of about 5′, legal freight height is roughly 8′6″. Taller freight usually moves on a step deck.
How is flatbed cargo secured?
With chains, straps and edge protection applied to Canadian (NSC Standard 10) and US (FMCSA) cargo securement rules.
Step Deck
Step deck trailers for taller freight
A two-level open deck: the lower main deck carries freight that is too tall for a flatbed, without the permits an over-height load would need.
Quote step deck →| Trailer | 48′ or 53′ step deck (drop deck) |
|---|---|
| Lower deck height | ≈ 3′6″ off the ground |
| Legal freight height | ≈ 10′ on the lower deck |
| Typical payload | ≈ 43,000–46,000 lb |
| Loading | Side or crane; ramps on request |
Best-fit freight
- Tall machinery
- Agricultural equipment
- HVAC units
- Industrial tanks
- Construction equipment
- Modular components
When should I choose a step deck over a flatbed?
When your freight is taller than about 8′6″. The step deck's lower main deck allows roughly 10′ of freight height while staying within legal limits.
Can step decks haul equipment that drives on?
Some can, using ramps. Tell us the equipment and its dimensions and weight so we dispatch the right trailer.
Do step deck loads need permits?
Not usually — that's the point of a step deck. Freight over legal width, height or weight needs permits, which we arrange per jurisdiction.
Open Board FTL
Open board full-truckload capacity
Full-truckload open-deck service: the whole deck for one shipper's freight, loaded from the sides or top and secured for the run.
Quote open board ftl →| Equipment | Flatbed or step deck, dedicated to your load |
|---|---|
| Service | Full truckload — no consolidation |
| Loading | Side or top — forklift or crane |
Best-fit freight
- Project freight
- Construction materials
- Industrial equipment
- Bundled lumber & steel
What is open board FTL?
A full-truckload move on an open-deck trailer. Your freight gets the whole deck, so there are no extra stops or handling.
Which open-deck trailer will I get?
Flatbed or step deck, chosen from your freight's dimensions and weight.
Can open board loads cross the border?
Yes, under the same cross-border programs and eManifest process as enclosed freight.
Service modes
How the load moves.
Any trailer type above can run in these modes. Need it faster, on a schedule, or every week? Tell us on the quote form.
Expedited Services
Time-critical freight moved with priority dispatch, direct routing and team drivers when the clock demands it.
- Line-down parts
- Product launches
- Missed-production recovery
Just in Time
Appointment-driven deliveries timed to production schedules, so inventory arrives when the line needs it — not before.
- Automotive suppliers
- Manufacturing inputs
- Retail DC appointments
Line Haul
Long-distance, terminal-to-terminal highway moves across Canada and into the US — the backbone between regional pickups and final delivery.
- Ontario ↔ Quebec
- Ontario ↔ Western Canada
- Canada ↔ US Midwest
Dedicated Operations
Trucks and drivers assigned to your freight on a recurring schedule — capacity that's there every week, run as part of your operation.
- Recurring weekly lanes
- Plant-to-DC shuttles
- Private-fleet replacement
Capacity
Need a truck this week?
Send the lane, equipment and pickup date — Trans99 quotes from its own fleet.