Any goods during transportation become cargo. Therefore, by the word "cargo," we mean goods of any volume, size, weight, and quantity of units. The size and weight of the cargo are the cornerstones of organizing the transport (just like the loading and unloading locations)! To start planning the transportation, precise data about the length, width, height, and weight of the cargo is required. It is important to understand that this refers to the size of the cargo when it is packed, ready for transportation, and occupies as little space as possible. For example, if the cargo units can be stacked on top of each other without the risk of damage, this is exactly how it should be done!
There are accepted standards (common in Europe; in other regions of the world, the standards may have different sizes) used in logistics to denote the volume of cargo, such as pallet sizes:
If the cargo cannot fit onto any of these pallets, it can be called non-standard size cargo. It is important to note that there are no standards for height, as it depends either on the size and packaging of the goods or on the chosen vehicle. For example, if the height of the cargo or pallet is known and is, say, 250 cm, it is clear that such transportation cannot be done in a minibus! Cargo up to 170 cm in height can fit in a minibus, up to 240 cm in various trucks, and over 240 cm in a truck with a semi-trailer. The maximum height is 300 cm, which can fit in mega trailers or jumbo trailers. If the height exceeds this value, the cargo can be transported on a platform for oversized cargo (but this will be covered in another article).
Once this data is known, it is necessary to understand how to load and position the cargo in the vehicle.
To calculate how much space the cargo takes up in the vehicle, the second most popular measurement after pallets is loading meters (LDM ). The LDM calculation is done using the following formula: the length of the cargo in meters is multiplied by its width in meters, and the sum is divided by 2.4 (meters), which is the standard width of a semi-trailer. The result is the number that shows how much space the cargo will occupy in loading meters or LDM.
Example: 1.2 x 0.8 / 2.4 = 0.4. Therefore, one European pallet occupies 0.4 LDM. 1 FIN = 0.5 LD, 1 IND = 0.6 LDM
This method can be used to calculate the LDM for any cargo, including non-standard size cargo!
However, there are nuances. For example, if the transporter is told that the cargo consists of FIN pallets and occupies 3.5 LDM, it will be understood that it is 7 pallets! But there is another option—if the cargo has a length of 7 meters and a width of 1.2 meters, and according to the formula, the result is also 3.5 LDM, then when planning the placement of this cargo in a semi-trailer, the difference will be very significant!
Conclusion: When ordering transportation or even calculating LDM independently, it is crucial to specify exactly how these meters will look in reality!
If you have information about the dimensions, volume, weight of the cargo, and, of course, the route, the quickest and most convenient way to get the price is on our website!
If you need any logistics consultation, feel free to contact us in a way that suits you best.
There are accepted standards (common in Europe; in other regions of the world, the standards may have different sizes) used in logistics to denote the volume of cargo, such as pallet sizes:
- EUR (European pallet) — length and width 120 x 80 cm.
- FIN (Finnish or Scandinavian pallet) — length and width 120 x 100 cm.
- IND (Industrial pallet) — 120 x 120 cm.
- Half-pallet — 60 x 80 cm.
If the cargo cannot fit onto any of these pallets, it can be called non-standard size cargo. It is important to note that there are no standards for height, as it depends either on the size and packaging of the goods or on the chosen vehicle. For example, if the height of the cargo or pallet is known and is, say, 250 cm, it is clear that such transportation cannot be done in a minibus! Cargo up to 170 cm in height can fit in a minibus, up to 240 cm in various trucks, and over 240 cm in a truck with a semi-trailer. The maximum height is 300 cm, which can fit in mega trailers or jumbo trailers. If the height exceeds this value, the cargo can be transported on a platform for oversized cargo (but this will be covered in another article).
Once this data is known, it is necessary to understand how to load and position the cargo in the vehicle.
To calculate how much space the cargo takes up in the vehicle, the second most popular measurement after pallets is loading meters (LDM ). The LDM calculation is done using the following formula: the length of the cargo in meters is multiplied by its width in meters, and the sum is divided by 2.4 (meters), which is the standard width of a semi-trailer. The result is the number that shows how much space the cargo will occupy in loading meters or LDM.
Example: 1.2 x 0.8 / 2.4 = 0.4. Therefore, one European pallet occupies 0.4 LDM. 1 FIN = 0.5 LD, 1 IND = 0.6 LDM
This method can be used to calculate the LDM for any cargo, including non-standard size cargo!
However, there are nuances. For example, if the transporter is told that the cargo consists of FIN pallets and occupies 3.5 LDM, it will be understood that it is 7 pallets! But there is another option—if the cargo has a length of 7 meters and a width of 1.2 meters, and according to the formula, the result is also 3.5 LDM, then when planning the placement of this cargo in a semi-trailer, the difference will be very significant!
Conclusion: When ordering transportation or even calculating LDM independently, it is crucial to specify exactly how these meters will look in reality!
If you have information about the dimensions, volume, weight of the cargo, and, of course, the route, the quickest and most convenient way to get the price is on our website!
If you need any logistics consultation, feel free to contact us in a way that suits you best.
