Cargo Van Freight Guide

What Cargo Vans Actually Carry

A cargo van in the Warp network handles up to 3,500 lbs and 450 cubic feet of freight, roughly 1 to 4 standard pallets depending on height and density. That capacity sits below box truck territory but well above what a parcel carrier can handle efficiently. The right question isn't whether a cargo van is big enough. It's whether the shipment actually needs a larger vehicle, or whether you're paying for unused capacity.

Cargo vans don't need a liftgate and don't need a loading dock. That single fact opens up a large set of delivery points: small-format retail stores, pharmacies, pop-up locations, construction sites, and any facility built for floor-level receiving that LTL carriers either can't serve or charge heavily to access.

Cargo Van vs. Box Truck vs. LTL: The Decision Framework

The mode decision comes down to three variables: shipment size, destination type, and time sensitivity. Here's how cargo vans stack up:

Cargo van: 1-4 pallets, under 3,500 lbs, direct point-to-point, no dock required, same day or next day urgency
Box truck: 5-12 pallets, up to 10,000 lbs, store delivery routes, regional distribution with multiple stops
LTL: 1-6 pallets moving on a shared trailer through the carrier network, best for non-urgent freight with dock access at both ends

LTL often touches two or three terminals before delivery, each adding transit days and handling risk. Take a 2-pallet shipment that needs to be at a retail store by Tuesday opening: LTL's economics may look attractive, but reliability at that service level often doesn't hold. A cargo van moving the same freight direct eliminates every transfer point.

See a full breakdown at cargo van vs. box truck.

Cargo Vans for Retail Replenishment

Retail replenishment is the highest-frequency use case for cargo vans in the Warp network. Retail shippers running weekly or bi-weekly store fills, especially to small-format locations, find that LTL service windows don't align with store receiving hours, and the accessorial charges for residential or limited-access delivery erode any rate advantage.

Cargo vans solve this by delivering to the door on a scheduled basis without requiring dock infrastructure. For store replenishment programs, this means predictable delivery windows, fewer missed appointments, and no liftgate surcharges. The driver handles the freight to the point of receipt, not to a terminal for a second carrier to pick up later.

Urgent and Expedited Freight

When a shipment misses a planned LTL pickup or a store runs out of stock on a high-velocity SKU, the cargo van is the fastest recoverable mode. Warp's network includes 9,000+ cargo vans and box trucks with real-time availability, so coverage in most major markets allows same day dispatch without the premium pricing of hotshot or air freight.

One important distinction: a cargo van move is only truly "expedited" if the shipment would have moved on a slower mode otherwise. If you're routing 1-2 pallets to a destination with no dock, a cargo van isn't an expedited decision. It's the correct base mode. Treating it as an upgrade inflates your freight cost baseline.

Per-Pallet Pricing for Cargo Van Moves

Warp prices cargo van shipments on a per-pallet basis, all-inclusive, with no accessorial charges for liftgate, residential delivery, or limited access. This matters operationally because it makes the cost predictable before dispatch. You're not reconciling invoices against a tariff after the fact.

For operations directors managing store replenishment at scale, per-pallet pricing also makes mode comparison straightforward: you can evaluate a cargo van move against LTL or box truck on equal terms without adjusting for hidden fees on either side.

When a Cargo Van Is Not the Right Mode

Cargo vans are the wrong choice when the shipment exceeds 4 pallets or 3,500 lbs. At that point you're splitting freight across two vans or paying for a partial box truck at van pricing. They're also a poor fit for freight that benefits from consolidation across multiple origins, where inbound vendor consolidation through a cross-dock is the more cost-efficient path.