How many pallets fit in a truck? 53 ft and 48 ft trailer counts

A standard 53 ft dry van trailer holds 26 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) pallets loaded straight or 30 loaded turned, on the floor in a single tier. Everything else follows from the trailer's inside dimensions and the pallet footprint. This guide shows the math so you can work out any pallet size or trailer, and explains when weight, not space, sets the limit. The pallets per truck calculator runs the same math for any footprint.

#Quick answer: pallets per trailer

"Straight" means the 48 in side runs along the trailer, two pallets across (80 in). "Turned" means the 48 in side runs across the trailer, two across (96 in), which saves 8 in per row.

#Trailer inside dimensions

These are typical ranges from trailer manufacturers and lessors. Inside dimensions vary by builder, wall type (sheet and post or composite plate), and age. Reefers lose width and length to insulation and the refrigeration unit. Measure the equipment if a load is tight.

#The math: how pallets fit in a trailer

Pallets are loaded in rows across the trailer. The count is rows × pallets per row.

Straight (48 in along the trailer):

• Across: 98 in ÷ 40 in = 2 pallets (80 in used, 18 in spare)
• Rows: 630 in ÷ 48 in = 13.1, so 13 rows
• Total: 13 × 2 = 26

Turned (40 in along the trailer):

• Across: 98 in ÷ 48 in = 2 pallets (96 in used, 2 in spare)
• Rows: 630 in ÷ 40 in = 15.75, so 15 rows
• Total: 15 × 2 = 30

Turned loading only works if the trailer is at least 96 in wide inside with enough clearance to drop the pallets in, and if the forklift can pick the pallet from its 48 in side. That needs a four-way pallet or a notched stringer pallet. A two-way pallet can only be loaded straight from a dock.

#Pallets per 53 ft trailer by pallet size

Single tier, assuming 630 × 98 in of usable floor.

The metric rows are tight: two 1200 mm pallets side by side are 94.5 in wide, and 16 rows of 1000 mm are 629.9 in long. Real counts depend on the trailer. See the size pages for each footprint.

#Weight: the limit you hit first with dense loads

Space is not the only limit. US federal rules cap a tractor-trailer at 80,000 lb gross vehicle weight on the Interstate system, with axle limits of 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem, plus the bridge formula. A typical tractor and 53 ft van weigh about 35,000 to 38,000 lb together, leaving roughly 42,000 to 45,000 lb of cargo. The exact number depends on the equipment, so ask the carrier.

If your loads weigh more than these figures, you will "weigh out" before you "cube out". Bottled water, concrete, paper and many chemicals weigh out. Light, bulky products such as snacks, insulation or empty containers cube out.

Distribute weight evenly. A trailer can be under the gross limit and still overload the tandem axles if the heavy pallets are all at one end.

#Double stacking

Double stacking puts one pallet on top of another. It doubles the pallet count only when:

• each loaded pallet is short enough for two tiers to clear the door and roof (about 50 in or less each in a 53 ft dry van);
• the bottom load can carry the top load without crushing (flat tops, strong cases, often a tier sheet or top cap);
• the total stays under the weight limit;
• the receiver can unload stacked pallets safely.

Mark loads "do not stack" when they cannot take weight on top. See pallet height and unit load design.

#Reefer and other trailers

Refrigerated trailers have thicker insulated walls and a refrigeration unit at the nose. Many are too narrow to turn 48 × 40 pallets two across with clearance, and airflow needs space at the walls, floor channels and ceiling. Plan on 26 straight unless the carrier confirms the inside width.

Flatbeds are usually 102 in wide, so 48 × 40 pallets fit two across in either orientation: 26 straight or 30 turned on a 53 ft deck, but the loads must be secured and protected from weather. 26 ft box trucks (straight trucks) typically take 12 pallets straight, or 14 turned if the box is wide enough.

#Empty pallets per truckload

Empty pallets ship in stacks. A 53 ft trailer typically carries about 480 to 680 empty 48 × 40 wood pallets depending on pallet height, grade and how they are stacked. Nestable plastic and presswood pallets carry many more per load. CHEP publishes a figure of 19 empty pallets per stack for its 48 × 40 block pallet in a trailer.

#Loading tips

• Load bars or straps between rows stop pallets shifting when the trailer is not full. See load bar.
• No overhang. Loads that overhang the pallet rub against the walls and the next row. See pallet overhang.
• Leave the door clear. The last row must not lean on the doors.
• Heavy at the bottom, heavy forward-center. Keeps the axles balanced and the center of gravity low.

#Specifying pallets for full truckloads

If you ship full truckloads, the pallet footprint and height are part of your freight cost. A pallet that is 1 in too long can drop a row. When you specify a custom pallet, state the trailer type, the loading orientation (straight or turned), and the maximum loaded height. The pallets per truck calculator and the designer help you test a footprint before you buy.