Shipping Container vs Semi-Trailer: Which is Better for Freight Shipping?

Resources > Shipping Container vs Semi-Trailer: Which is Better for Freight Shipping?
Shipping containers and semi-trailers are essential for freight transport. We’re going to compare their dimensions, capacity, costs, and best use cases to help you choose the right option.
Published: February 3, 2022
Last Modified: March 11, 2025
Author: Jacob Lee

Shipping containers and semi-trailers are among the most recognizable equipment in the transportation industry. Both are used to carry the goods over long distances. However, there are plenty of differences between the two that make it difficult for shippers to decide which one they require.     

Key takeaways: 

  • Semi-trailers are between 28 and 53 feet in length, with a width and height of 8.2 feet.
  • Shipping containers have a length between 10 and 40 feet, a height between 8.6 and 9.6 feet, and a width of 7.9 feet. 
  • Shipping containers can be used as a trailer if they’re secured to a trailer chassis or if trailer components are attached to it. 
  • Container shipping expenses are between $1,000 and $5,000 and transit times can take between one and two months by vessel. 
  • Trailer shipping costs can vary based on various factors, but transit times usually take between one and six business days.

We’re going to teach you more about the variations between shipping containers and trailers to show you why they’re needed and in what circumstances you’ll use them.

What are the Dimensions of a Semi-Trailer?

Semi-trailers come in different sizes that allow them to transport various amounts of freight. We’ve provided a list that shows the many lengths they can come in.

  • 28 feet
  • 32 feet 
  • 34 feet
  • 36 feet
  • 40 feet
  • 48 feet
  • 53 feet

There are no federal regulations regarding the maximum length of semi-trailers. Instead, each state sets their own requirements for semi-trailer length. Some allow for trailers to be 57 feet and longer. 

However, the most common type of semi-trailer used in the U.S. is the 53-foot dry van. This particular semi-trailer also has a height and width of about 8.2 feet.  

Maximum Load Capacity for Semi-Trailer

The maximum load capacity of a trailer varies by size. Typically, the longer a semi-trailer is, the more weight, pallets, and loose packages it will be able to transport. 

The 53-foot dry van trailer can carry between 42,000 and 45,000 pounds of weight. In terms of floor space, that comes out to about 26 standard 48”x40” pallets. However, you could double the number of pallets by double stacking them. 

This would bring the total amount of standard pallets a 53-foot dry van can haul up to 52. When you double-stack pallets, you make sure that they do not exceed nine feet, since that is the height of most dry vans. 

If anything, leave a few inches of space between the ceiling of the trailer and the top of the second palletized load to make unloading with a fork lift easier. You’ll also need to make sure that double stacking pallets won’t cause your shipment to exceed the trailer's weight limit. 

You’ll find plenty of storage space for non-palletized freight in 53-foot dry van trailers. Depending on the size of the packages, you can fit around 1,000 to 2,000 packages depending on the size of each box.    

What are the Dimensions of a Shipping Container?

Like semi-trailers, there is a wide range of shipping containers that are used for different purposes. The most common version is the dry container.

There are three length variations of the standard container:

  • 10-foot container
  • 20-foot container
  • 40-foot container

All three container types usually have a height of 8.6 feet. However, some 20 and 40 foot containers come in a high cube configurations. A high cube container is 9.6 feet in height. This give shippers more room to stack their freight.  

Maximum Load Capacity for Shipping Containers

Dry containers can carry weight similar to that of semi-trailers. The maximum weight they’re able to hold is between 44,000 and 44,500 pounds. 

Dry containers and cubes carry a smaller amount of pallets than the common 53-foot dry van trailers. We’ve provided a graphic that shows how many single stacked pallets, double stacked pallets, and packages 20 foot and 40 foot containers can carry.

The graphic shows the amount of boxes can be held on single stacked and double stacked pallets in a 20 foot or 40 foot dry container.  A 20 foot dry container with 10 single stacked pallets can hold 600 boxes. A 40 foot dry container with 20 single stacked pallets can hold 1200 boxes. A 20 foot dry container with 20 double stacked pallets can hold 1200 boxes. A 40 foot dry container with 40 double stacked pallets can hold 2400 boxes.

Keep in mind, this table is a rough estimate of how many boxes can fit inside shipping containers. Boxes can vary in size, which will determine the amount you can stack on a pallet. 

Can a Shipping Container Be Turned Into a Trailer?

Shipping containers can be utilized as trailers if the circumstances call for it. There are two ways this can be done. 

  1. Secure the container to a trailer chassis
  2. Attach trailer components to the trailer

Using a trailer chassis is the most common way of converting a container into a trailer. In fact, this is often done to transport containers from an ocean port to a warehouse. This service is referred to as drayage. Chassis’ come in different sizes that accommodate for 20 and 40 foot cargo boxes.

A more time-consuming option is to attach different trailer components to the container. This includes:

  • Axles
  • Wheels
  • A towing hitch
  • Suspension systems

This conversion transforms the container into a mobile unit that can be towed without the need for a separate chassis. It’s also a more permanent way of using a container as a trailer.  

If you’re in need of drayage services, USA Truckload Shipping has you covered. Many of our warehouses are located near major ports in the United States. We can easily pick up your freight, and bring it back to our warehouses for unloading. 

You can learn more about drayage in our article: The Full Breakdown of Port Drayage.

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Shipping Container vs Semi-Trailer: Shipping, Storage, and More

Now that you know the differences between shipping containers and semi-trailers, let’s look at how they stack up against one another in regard to shipping costs and transit times.

Cost 

Shipping costs for containers are much more expensive than shipping expenses for semi-trailers. Transporting containers overseas can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000. Most containers are shipped overseas, rather than domestically. That’s why their shipping costs are so much more expensive. 

Securing a shipping container to a trailer creates additional costs. Despite how expensive shipping by the container can be, it’s the standard when shipping goods overseas.

The cost to ship using a semi-trailer is cheaper. While expenses can fluctuate depending on what you're shipping, you will pay much less than you would be for a shipping container.

Delivery Time

Delivery times for shipping containers coming overseas will logically take more time than domestic transport within the country or even cross-border shipments. For perspective, consider some average shipping times we’ve provided. 

The graphic shows transit times for containers. From China to the U.S. West Coast will take 40-62 days. From Europe to the U.S. will 12-30 days. From Australia to the U.S. will take 41 days. From Africa to the U.S. will take 15-50 days. From South America to the U.S. will take 20-50 days. From Central America to the U.S. will take 15-50 days.

There’s also port congestion to think about. Port congestion can take a few forms. 

  • Overly busy terminals can result in vessels being stuck out at sea unable to offload containers. 
  • A shortage of container chassis can result in slow movement of shipping containers moving out of ports to local warehouses. 

If you’re worried about potential wait times, you can check with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the status of different ports. 

Delivery times for freight transported within a trailer are much shorter. That’s because trailers are often used to move domestic LTL and FTL shipments. We’ve provided some data that shows transit times for these loads. 

The graphic shows transit times for intrastate and cross-country shipments. Intrastate shipments take between 1-2 business days. Cross-country shipments take 4-6 business days.

Remember, transit times for trailers carrying LTL or FTL freight will vary based on your chosen carrier, distance, and route. Be sure to adjust your expectations based on these factors.

Related: LTL Freight Class vs NMFC

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One comment on “Shipping Container vs Semi-Trailer: Which is Better for Freight Shipping?”

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