If you have ever wondered how store shelves stay stocked or how manufacturers move products across the country without spoilage or damage, the answer often comes down to one dependable method: dry van shipping. This freight solution is the backbone of the American supply chain, and understanding how it works can help you make smarter decisions about your own shipping needs.

The freight market has changed considerably since the beginning of the year, but not in one simple direction. Overall shipment volume remains soft. At the same time, truckload capacity has contracted enough to push rates higher and give carriers more leverage on certain lanes. In less-than-truckload shipping, carriers continue to protect pricing even though freight volumes vary considerably across networks.

If you've ever shipped a partial truckload and wondered why you paid full freight rates for half-empty space, you're not alone. This is exactly the problem that consolidated shipping was built to solve. Understanding what consolidated shipping is can save your business real money, especially if you regularly move smaller loads that don't fill an entire trailer.