Dry van, flatbed or chassis: each cargo needs its own.

• Design gross weight (GVWR) of 68,000 lb (≈ 30,844 kg) at Hyundai Translead, Wabash and Premier; Utility publishes 65,000 lb (≈ 29,484 kg) and is the only spec sheet with a load capacity: 55,000 lb (≈ 24,948 kg). The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• Dimensions with swing doors; the figure published is the low end across spec sheets (interior width of 2.54 to 2.58 m; height of 2.79 to 2.83 m). The volume is the one from Hyundai Translead, the only spec sheet that publishes it.
• With a roll-up door: 15.89 m of interior length, an opening of 2.37 × 2.67 m and a tare of 14,200 lb (≈ 6,441 kg).
• Exterior of 16.15 × 2.60 × 4.11 m: it uses the full maximum width of the Central American Agreement (2.60 m) and stands about 4 cm below the maximum height of the Central American Agreement (4.15 m). The length of the tractor plus dry van combination was not verified against the 22.40 m maximum.

• Costa Rica, T3-S2 combination: 39,000 kg − tractor − dry van 6,060 kg (one manufacturer’s spec sheet). The range corresponds to tractors of 12,000 kg and of 7,000 kg; with one of 8,500 kg it gives ≈24,400 kg. The total length of the combination must be checked against 21.00 m. Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the limit of each axle group governs, and it is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
• Central American Agreement, T3-S2 combination: 37,000 kg − tractor − dry van 6,060 kg (one manufacturer’s spec sheet). The range corresponds to tractors of 12,000 kg and of 7,000 kg; with one of 8,500 kg it gives ≈22,400 kg. In Guatemala the total length of the combination must be checked against 22.00 m (according to the DGC, 2012). Applies to Guatemala (international cargo), El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the limit of each axle group governs, and it is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
• Guatemala (domestic dry cargo), T3-S2 combination: 37,960 kg (domestic limit according to the DGC, 2012; indicative figure) − tractor 8,500 kg − dry van 6,060 kg. Low confidence. The total length of the combination must be checked against 22.00 m (according to the DGC, 2012). Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the limit of each axle group governs, and it is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.

Limits by country and by axle: Weights and dimensions by country. Pallets, cubic volume and weight of your cargo: Load calculator.

• Design gross weight (GVWR) of 68,000 lb (≈ 30,844 kg) at Hyundai Translead and Premier; Utility publishes 65,000 lb (≈ 29,484 kg) and is the only spec sheet with a load capacity: 55,000 lb (≈ 24,948 kg). The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• Tare: the low end (5,420 kg) is the factory weight without the refrigeration unit (Hyundai Translead; Great Dane publishes a base weight of 5,443 kg). For planning, the leasing company’s spec sheet is used: 6,641 kg ±3%, or 15,540 lb (≈ 7,049 kg) with a roll-up door.
• Dimensions with swing doors; the figure published is the low end across spec sheets (interior 15.90 × 2.47–2.48 × 2.63–2.68 m; volume 102.4 to 105.4 m³). With a roll-up door: 15.85 m of interior length and an opening of 2.35 × 2.43 m.
• Compared with the 53’ dry van it loses 9 to 10 cm of width, 11 to 17 cm of height and 9 to 11% of volume.
• Temperature range and pallet positions: no verified data. There is no verified data for the 48’ reefer trailer either.

• Deck of 14.63 × 2.59 m, ≈ 1.51 m off the ground at the front (Utility). The spec sheet does not publish tare or load capacity.
• Design gross weight (GVWR) of 73,000 lb (≈ 33,112 kg) and a beam with a structural capacity of 80,000 lb (≈ 36,287 kg) of uniformly spread load (Utility). The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• Height on the road (indicative calculation): a High Cube container on a standard flatbed stands at ≈ 4.41 m and exceeds the 4.15 m maximum of the Central American Agreement; an 8’6” one stands at ≈ 4.10 m.
• Step deck (drop deck) variant: front deck of 3.35 m and rear deck ≈ 1.02 m off the ground (Utility).
• Design concentrated load on Hyundai Translead flatbeds of 32’ to 53’: 60,000 lb (≈ 27,216 kg) over 3.05 m and 55,000 lb (≈ 24,948 kg) over 1.22 m.

• Deck of 16.15 × 2.60 m: it uses the full maximum width of the Central American Agreement. Tare of 12,200 lb (≈ 5,534 kg) ±3% according to the leasing company’s spec sheet (Premier), which does not publish gross weight or deck height.
• Structural capacity of 80,000 lb (≈ 36,287 kg) of uniform load and of 50,000 lb (≈ 22,680 kg) concentrated over 3.05 m (Premier). The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• 53’ step deck (single drop) variant: lower deck of 12.98 m, ≈ 1.02 m off the ground when loaded; tare of 10,750 lb (≈ 4,876 kg) ±3%.
• Extendable variant, 48’ to 80’ (14.63 to 24.38 m): tare of 16,700 lb (≈ 7,575 kg) ±3%.
• Rear deck height of up to ≈ 1.38 m on Hyundai Translead flatbeds of 32’ to 53’.

• Reference model (Premier, 3 axles and a hydraulic removable neck): center deck 7.92 m long, ≈ 0.56 m off the ground when loaded and with 15 cm of ground clearance; 2.59 m wide (3.20 m with side extensions).
• Capacity of 50 short tons (≈ 45.4 t) with 3 axles and of 55 (≈ 49.9 t) with a fourth axle, concentrated over 3.66 m of length. The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• Tare of 21,640 lb (≈ 9,816 kg) with 3 axles and of 24,755 lb (≈ 11,229 kg) with the fourth axle, ±3%. Length of 16.15 m, or 20.45 m with the fourth axle.
• Leasing company’s double drop variant: tare of 15,300 lb (≈ 6,940 kg) ±3% and 2.44 m wide.

• Partial data: the spec sheets come from manufacturers in the US and Canada and from a regional shipping line; the equipment assigned may differ and it is worth confirming its actual tare.
• Tare: 2.9 to 3.4 t on the spec sheets (40’ gooseneck, 2,903 to 3,084 kg; 20’, 2,858 to 2,926 kg; 20’/40’ combo, 3,357 kg). Maersk uses 3.8 to 6 t to calculate the legal weight in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
• Design gross weight (GVWR) depending on the model: 67,200 to 73,900 lb (≈ 30,481 to 33,520 kg) on the 40’ gooseneck, 75,000 lb (≈ 34,019 kg) on the 20’/40’ combo and 54,000 lb (≈ 24,494 kg) on the 20’ slider. There is no single representative value. The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• In international transit under the Central American Agreement, the T3-S2 combination takes 37 t of gross weight; that is not Costa Rica’s domestic limit, and each country’s limit is in the weights table.
• 40’ gooseneck chassis: ≈ 12.4 m long, 2.44 to 2.59 m wide and 1.22 m of rear height. A 40’ HC stands at ≈ 4.115 m, 3.5 cm below the 4.15 m maximum; the factory tolerance of the chassis (±2.5 cm) takes up almost all of that margin.
• The undermount genset is installed under the chassis; some models come factory-ready to carry it.

• Partial data: the spec sheets come from manufacturers in the US and Canada; the equipment assigned may differ and it is worth confirming its actual tare.
• Tare: 3,719 to 3,856 kg on the 40’ gooseneck, 4,259 to 4,899 kg on 20’/40’ combos and 5,035 kg on the 20’ extendable for heavy cargo. Maersk uses 3.9 to 8 t to calculate the legal weight in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
• Design gross weight (GVWR) depending on the model: 85,000 lb (≈ 38,555 kg) on the 40’ gooseneck, up to 90,000 lb (≈ 40,823 kg) on combos and 65,000 lb (≈ 29,484 kg) on the 20’ extendable. There is no single representative value. The gross weight (GVWR) and the load capacities are design values under US standards; they are not legal limits in Central America.
• In international transit under the Central American Agreement, the T3-S3 combination takes 41 t of gross weight, 4 t more than with a 2-axle chassis; that is not Costa Rica’s domestic limit, and each country’s limit is in the weights table.
• 40’ gooseneck chassis: ≈ 12.3 to 12.4 m long and 2.44 to 2.59 m wide. Some combos also carry 45’ containers.

According to US manufacturers’ spec sheets, 16.00 m long, 2.54 m wide and 2.79 m high, with about 115.2 m³ of volume and a door of 2.50 × 2.79 m. These are indicative dimensions: those of the assigned unit are confirmed with the quote.

26 US pallets, not stacked, according to a US secondary source. For the Euro pallet there is no verified figure. It is an indicative figure that depends on the arrangement: try your pallet in the Load calculator.

It depends on the gross weight each country allows and on the tare of the tractor and the dry van. As an indicative reference for a 3-axle tractor with a 2-axle dry van: ≈ 18,900–23,900 kg in Central American transit, depending on the weight of the tractor, and ≈ 20,900–25,900 kg within Costa Rica. The limit of each axle group governs, and it is usually reached before the total; the limits are in Weights and dimensions by country.

The number is the nominal exterior length, in feet. For the 53’ dry van there are manufacturer spec sheets with dimensions, volume and tare. For the 48’ only the nominal length was verified: its interior dimensions, volume, tare and pallet positions are confirmed with the assigned unit.

When the loaded container does not fit within the gross weight the route allows with a 2-axle chassis. In Central American transit, the combination with a 2-axle chassis allows 37 t and with a 3-axle chassis, 41 t; within Costa Rica, 39 t and 45.5 t. The table in Which chassis does my container need? shows the estimated payload by container.

The flatbed is for cargo that is loaded from the side or from above, long or irregular in shape, and that does not need protection from the weather. The lowboy has its deck lowered between the neck and the axles: it is for heavy machinery and tall cargo. A High Cube container does not travel on a standard flatbed, because it exceeds the maximum height: it travels on a gooseneck chassis or on a lowboy.

Not necessarily. They are typical specifications from manufacturers and leasing companies in the US and Canada, and the assigned equipment may differ. The dimensions and tare of the actual unit are confirmed with the quote; if your cargo is at the limit of height, width or weight, say so when you ask for the quote.