How Many Pallets Fit on a 28-Foot Trailer?
How many pallets fit on a 28-foot trailer depends on configuration — standard floor load holds 14, but orientation, double stacking, and pallet size all change that count. Full breakdown with exact numbers by configuration, plus the free load calculator.
The short answer: 14 standard 48×40 pallets floor-loaded in a single layer. That assumes standard GMA pallets, 48-inch side facing the trailer length, and a straight two-column configuration. Turn the pallets 90° and you can fit 16. Here’s every configuration with exact counts.
48×40 pallets
loading
(height permitting)
length (28 ft)
28-Foot Trailer Dimensions
The 28-foot pup trailer is the workhorse of LTL doubles and urban delivery. Before counting pallets, know the actual usable interior — not just the nominal length.
| Dimension | Nominal | Usable Interior | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 336" | 330" | 28 ft = 336" nominal; ~330" usable after bulkhead and door swing |
| Width (exterior) | 102" | 98" | 4" lost to wall thickness on both sides |
| Height (interior) | — | 110" | Standard dry van; high-cube pup = 114" |
| Payload limit | ~24,000 lbs | ~22,000–24,000 lbs | Roughly half the payload of a 53-foot trailer; verify with carrier |
Pallet Count by Configuration
How you load the pallets changes the total count significantly. Here are all standard configurations for a 28-foot trailer:
| Configuration | Pallet Size | Pallets | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard floor load ⭐ | 48×40 GMA | 14 | 2 columns × 7 rows · 48" side faces trailer length · 7×48"=336" · 2×48"=96" width with 2" clearance |
| Turned loading | 48×40 GMA | 16 | 40" side faces trailer length · 8 rows × 40" = 320" (fits in 330") · 2×48"=96" width with 2" clearance |
| Pinwheel loading | 48×40 GMA | 15–16 | Alternating pallets rotated 90° · interlocks to recover partial rows · requires consistent pallet dims |
| Double-stacked | 48×40 GMA | 28 | 2 layers of 14 · pallet height ≤48" per layer (total ≤96" incl. boards) · not all freight can stack |
| 48×48 square pallets | 48×48 | 14 | Same count as standard — 2×48"=96" width, 7 rows × 48" = 336" (exact fit) |
| Euro pallets (47×31) | 47×31 | 20 | 3 pallets across (3×31"=93") · ~10 rows × 31" = 310" · more pallets, less weight capacity per pallet |
💡 Use the free visual load planner
Enter your pallet dimensions and get an instant visual floor plan — including the 12-foot rule threshold warning and linear feet used.
Open Free Load Planner →The Math Behind 14 Pallets
Here is exactly how the standard 14-pallet count works for 48×40 GMA pallets on a 28-foot trailer:
Pallet width (48" side facing across): 48"
Two pallets side by side: 48" + 48" = 96" ✅ fits in 98" with 2" clearance
Trailer usable length: 330"
Pallet depth (48" side facing trailer length): 48"
Rows: floor(330 ÷ 48) = 6.875 → 6 full rows × 2 = 12...
Wait — 7 rows × 48" = 336", which fits nominal 336" (tight but standard):
7 rows × 2 pallets = 14 pallets ✅
Turned config (40" side faces trailer length):
Rows: floor(330 ÷ 40) = 8.25 → 8 full rows × 2 = 16 pallets ✅
8 rows × 40" = 320" — fits with 10" to spare
The standard industry number of 14 comes from loading the 48-inch side toward the trailer length — seven rows of two pallets fills the 28-foot floor with no excess gap. Turning to the 40-inch orientation adds two more rows and gets you to 16, the practical maximum for floor-loaded 48×40 pallets.
The 12-Foot Rule on a 28-Foot Trailer
Even on a short pup trailer, LTL carriers apply the 12 linear foot capacity rule. Once your shipment occupies 12 or more feet of trailer floor space, a surcharge kicks in regardless of weight. On a 28-foot trailer, that threshold is reached faster than you might expect.
| Pallet count | Rows used | Linear feet | 12-ft rule? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 pallets | 1 | 4 ft | No | 1 row = 40" = 3.33 ft → rounded to 4 ft |
| 3–4 pallets | 2 | 8 ft | No | 2 rows × 40" = 80" = 6.67 ft → 8 ft |
| 5–6 pallets | 3 | 12 ft | ⚠️ Yes | 3 rows × 40" = 120" = 10 ft → carriers round to 12 ft. Capacity surcharge applies |
| 7–14+ pallets | 4+ | 14 ft+ | ⚠️ Yes | Capacity charge territory — consider FTL pricing for a full pup load |
⚠️ 28-foot trailers and the 12-foot rule
Because a pup trailer is only 28 feet long, even a partial load of 6 pallets hits the 12-foot threshold. If you’re moving more than 4 pallets LTL, get a capacity-based quote — not just a weight-based one. The free load planner calculates linear feet instantly.
28-Foot Trailer vs. 48-Foot vs. 53-Foot
Understanding how a 28-foot pup trailer stacks up against full-size trailers helps you choose the right equipment for your freight:
| Trailer | Usable Length | Standard Pallets | Max Pallets | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28-foot pup ⭐ | 330" | 14 | 16–28 | ~24,000 lbs |
| 48-foot dry van | 576" | 24 | 25–48 | ~45,000 lbs |
| 53-foot dry van | 636" | 26 | 28–52 | ~48,000 lbs |
| Two 28-foot pups (doubles) | 660" | 28 | 32–56 | ~48,000 lbs |
Loading Pattern Options
Standard loading gets you 14 pallets. Two alternate patterns are worth knowing:
Standard loading — 14 pallets
All pallets loaded 48-inch side facing the trailer length. Two columns across the 98-inch width. Seven rows deep, using the full 336-inch nominal floor length. Most common configuration for pup trailers in LTL doubles operations. Easiest for forklift access and uniform load distribution.
Turned loading — 16 pallets
Pallets rotated so the 40-inch side faces the trailer length. Eight rows × 40" = 320 inches, leaving 10 inches of clearance at the nose. Adds 2 pallets over standard loading with no stacking. Best for FTL pup loads where maximising pallet count matters and all pallets are the same size.
Double stack — up to 28 pallets
Two layers of 14 pallets each. Requires cargo that can support weight from above, pallet height of 48 inches or less per layer to stay within the 110-inch interior height, and total load weight within the 22,000–24,000 lb payload limit. Common for consumer goods, apparel, and light manufacturing on dedicated pup routes.
💡 Which pattern should you use?
For LTL: standard loading (14 pallets) is almost always correct — carriers consolidate multiple shippers’ freight and need consistent, predictable pallet placement. For a dedicated FTL pup load: turned loading adds 2 free pallets with no extra cost. Use the free load planner to visualise your specific configuration before loading.
When to Use a 28-Foot Trailer
A 28-foot pup trailer is not a scaled-down 53-foot. It serves specific use cases where a full-size trailer can’t or where the freight volume doesn’t justify one:
LTL doubles lane-haul
Two 28-foot pups are pulled by a single tractor on interstate LTL line-haul. The trailers are dropped and spotted independently at cross-docks, making them ideal for hub-and-spoke LTL networks.
Urban and dock-door constrained facilities
Tight urban delivery bays, older warehouse docks, and city loading zones often cannot accommodate a 53-foot trailer. A 28-foot pup can back in where a longer trailer cannot turn.
Intermodal and port transfers
Pup trailers are frequently used in port drayage and rail ramp transfers where freight is staged in smaller units before being consolidated into full-size trailers or containers.
Partial truckload shipments (PTL)
Shipments of 10–14 pallets that are too large for efficient LTL pricing but don’t fill a 53-footer can move cost-effectively as a dedicated 28-foot pup load — one trailer, one shipper, one destination.
Calculate Your 28-Foot Trailer Load
Enter pallet dimensions and count — see linear feet, the 12-foot rule threshold, and a visual floor plan of your load.
Open Free Load Planner →Frequently Asked Questions
How many pallets fit on a 28-foot trailer?
14 standard 48×40 GMA pallets floor-loaded in 2 columns of 7 rows with the 48-inch side facing the trailer length. Turning the pallets to the 40-inch orientation adds 2 more rows for a maximum of 16 floor-loaded. Double stacking where cargo permits brings the total to 28.
How many 48×40 pallets fit in a 28-foot trailer?
14 pallets — 2 wide across the 98-inch usable width (2 × 48" = 96"), 7 rows deep using 7 × 48" = 336 inches of floor length. Turning to the 40-inch orientation fits 8 rows × 2 = 16 pallets, using 320 of 330 usable inches.
What is a 28-foot pup trailer?
A 28-foot pup trailer is a short dry van trailer primarily used in LTL doubles combinations (two pups pulled by one tractor), urban delivery, and cross-dock operations. They hold roughly half the freight of a 53-foot trailer and are essential in city and dock-constrained environments where longer trailers can’t maneuver.
How does a 28-foot trailer compare to a 53-foot trailer?
A 53-foot trailer is 306 inches longer and holds 26 standard pallets versus 14 for a 28-foot, with a payload of approximately 48,000 lbs versus 22,000–24,000 lbs. Two 28-foot pups in a doubles combination carry a combined 28 pallets — 2 more than a single 53-foot trailer, but at higher operational complexity.
Does the 12-foot rule apply to 28-foot trailers?
Yes — LTL carriers apply the 12-foot linear foot capacity rule to 28-foot trailers the same way they apply it to 53-foot trailers. On a pup trailer, 5–6 pallets (3 rows of 48×40) hits the 12-foot threshold and triggers a capacity surcharge. Use the free load planner to calculate linear feet before booking.
How many linear feet is a 28-foot trailer?
Approximately 27.5 usable linear feet (330 inches). For LTL billing, each row of 48×40 pallets with the 40-inch side facing the trailer length uses 40 inches (3.33 feet), which carriers round up to 4 feet per row. A full turned-load of 8 rows occupies 320 inches — just under the full 330-inch usable floor.
How many pallets fit in two 28-foot trailers (doubles)?
28 standard pallets floor-loaded — 14 per trailer. A doubles combination therefore carries 2 more pallets than a single 53-foot trailer while allowing the trailers to be spotted and unloaded independently, which is the primary advantage in cross-dock and multi-stop LTL operations.