Short answer
Most rentals are 53 ft dry vans (boxed freight), reefers (temperature control) and 48 ft flatbeds (side or crane loading). Tall freight goes on a step deck, heavy equipment on a lowboy. Typical legal loads run 44,000 to 48,000 lb (ILS chart).
Side by side
Typical figures from the ILS dimensions chart; every trailer differs, so check the unit's spec sheet
| Trailer | Deck or inside | Typical max load | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry van (53 ft) | 52.5 ft x 100 in wide x 110 in high inside; door about 102 in high | 45,000 lb | Palletized and boxed freight that must stay dry |
| Reefer (53 ft) | 53 ft outside; insulated walls make the inside narrower and lower than a dry van | 44,000 lb | Food, produce, pharma, anything that needs a set temperature |
| Flatbed (48 ft) | 48 ft x 102 in deck, deck 60 to 62 in off the ground; freight up to about 8.5 ft high | 48,000 lb | Steel, lumber, pipe, machinery loaded from the side or top |
| Step deck (single drop) | 37 ft lower deck plus about 11 ft upper deck; freight up to about 10 ft high on the lower deck | 48,000 lb | Freight too tall for a flatbed but not heavy enough for a lowboy |
| Lowboy / double drop / RGN | 29 ft well; freight up to about 11.5 ft (double drop) or 12 ft (RGN) | 44,000 to 45,000 lb on a standard unit; more with extra axles and permits | Excavators, dozers and other tall, heavy equipment |
The limits every trailer works inside
- Width: 102 inches on the National Network (FHWA).
- Length: states must allow semitrailers of at least 48 ft on the National Network, and most allow 53 ft (FHWA). Check the kingpin-to-axle rule in states such as California before you rent a 53.
- Height: no federal limit; states set it, commonly 13 ft 6 in (FHWA). That is why tall freight moves to a step deck or lowboy.
- Weight: 80,000 lb gross, 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem on the Interstate (23 U.S.C. 127). Your tractor's weight comes out of that 80,000, which is why the payload figures above sit near 45,000 lb.
Which one to rent
- Freight on pallets, no temperature need: dry van. Cheapest and the easiest to find.
- Freight that spoils or freezes: reefer. Ask who pays reefer fuel.
- Loaded by forklift from the side or by crane: flatbed.
- Over about 8.5 ft tall: step deck.
- Over about 10 ft tall or very heavy machinery: lowboy.
- Parked at your dock for extra space: storage trailer.
Questions people ask
What is the most common semi trailer to rent?
The 53 ft dry van. It carries about 26 standard pallets on the floor and is what most lessors stock in the largest numbers.
Do I need a CDL to pull a rented semi trailer?
Yes, for almost every semi trailer. A tractor and trailer with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lb or more, where the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb, is a Class A vehicle under 49 CFR 383.91, so the driver needs a Class A CDL.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Rates, branches and terms change; confirm with the lessor before you book.