Flatbed, reefer or dry van — which one really pays more? Reefer usually offers the highest rates per mile, due to temperature control, tighter schedules, and higher risk. Flatbed can pay well on specific lanes, but it comes with tarps, manual work, weather exposure, and downtime. Dry van is the easiest to operate, lower maintenance and simpler freight — but usually lower rates and more competition. There’s no perfect trailer type. What really matters is your cost structure, your lanes, and your