Pallet and trailer space calculator
How much of a 53-foot trailer will your pallets take, and should they move LTL or on their own truck? Enter the pallet count, size and weight to see linear feet, floor positions, payload used and a mode recommendation.
Short answer: A 53' dry van holds 26 standard 48 × 40 inch pallets loaded straight, two across and single-stacked, or 30 when turned so the 40-inch side runs along the trailer. Linear feet = rows of pallets × pallet length in feet, so 10 pallets loaded straight take 5 rows × 4 ft = 20 linear feet. As a rule of thumb, up to 6 pallets, under 10,000 lb and 12 linear feet ships LTL; up to about 14 pallet positions and under 20,000 lb is volume LTL or partial truckload; beyond that, a full truckload.
Your pallets
Assumes a 53′ dry van: 636 inches of floor, about 100 of its 102 inches of interior width usable, and roughly 44,000 lb of payload. Standard 48 × 40 pallets fit 26 straight or 30 turned on the floor.
Trailer space
Nose53′ van, top viewDoors
Volume LTL or partial truckload
Past most carriers' standard LTL size limits but well short of a full trailer. Price it as volume LTL and as a partial truckload, and take the cheaper one.
Rules of thumb only. Carriers’ volume and linear-foot rules vary, and actual fit depends on pallet overhang, load height, axle weights and the specific trailer.
How pallets turn into trailer space
Two across
A 53' van is about 102 inches wide inside. Two 48 × 40 pallets fit side by side either way: 80 inches loaded straight, 96 inches turned.
Rows and linear feet
Rows = floor positions ÷ 2, rounded up. Linear feet = rows × the pallet side that runs along the trailer: 4 ft straight, 3.33 ft turned for a 48 × 40.
Stacking
If the freight can be double-stacked, two pallets share one floor position, which roughly halves the linear feet. Weight per position doubles, so check payload.
Weight vs payload
A loaded 53' van typically carries around 44,000 lb of freight before hitting legal gross weight limits. Dense freight can max out weight long before it fills the floor.
Ten 48 × 40 pallets at 1,000 lb each
Loaded straight, not stackable
- Floor positions:
10(one pallet per position) - Rows:
10 ÷ 2 across = 5 rows - Linear feet:
5 rows × 48 in ÷ 12 = 20 ft, about 38% of a 53′ van - Weight:
10 × 1,000 lb = 10,000 lb, about 23% of a 44,000 lb payload
At 10 pallets and 20 linear feet the shipment is past typical standard LTL limits but far from a full trailer, so it lands in volume LTL or partial truckload territory. Price both.
If the same pallets could be double-stacked, they would take 5 floor positions, 3 rows and 12 linear feet. At exactly 10,000 lb it sits right on the usual LTL line, so it could price either way. Quote it both ways.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer?
26 standard 48 × 40 pallets loaded straight, two across and single-stacked, or 30 if they are turned so the 40-inch side runs along the trailer. Double-stacking can double either number if the freight and weight allow it.
What is a linear foot in freight?
A linear foot is one foot of trailer length, measured front to back, regardless of how much of the width is used. Carriers use it to price shipments that take up floor space out of proportion to their weight.
When does a shipment stop being LTL?
There is no single cutoff. Many LTL carriers apply volume or linear-foot rules once a shipment passes roughly 6 pallets, 10,000 lb or 12 linear feet, and price it as volume LTL. Each carrier sets its own thresholds, so treat this calculator's recommendation as a starting point.
What is volume LTL or a partial truckload?
Both cover the middle ground between a few pallets and a full trailer. Volume LTL is priced by an LTL carrier on a spot basis for larger shipments. A partial truckload shares a truck with other freight, usually with less handling than LTL. Pricing both is the best way to find the cheaper one.
Should I load pallets straight or turned?
Turning 48 × 40 pallets fits 30 on the floor instead of 26, but it depends on how the pallets are built and loaded. Pallets are usually forked from the 40-inch side, and turned loading may need a pallet jack or side entry. Ask your shipper or carrier what works at the dock.
Does a full truckload cost more than LTL?
For a few pallets, LTL is almost always cheaper because you share the trailer. As a shipment grows, a dedicated truck often costs less per pallet and skips terminal handling. Quoting both is the only way to know for a given lane and date.
More free shipping calculators
Price it as LTL and as truckload
Send the pallet count, weight and lane and an Armstrong Transport Group specialist will quote the mode that fits.
Shipping across several modes? Get a free multimodal shipping review covering parcel, LTL, truckload and international.