Blog · 56 guides

Load planning, explained

Guides for dispatchers, freight forwarders and warehouse teams: trailers, sea containers, air ULDs, weights and the work around them.

Two trailers in 3D: a full truckload of 33 pallets next to a part load for three customers coloured by stop

Load planning basics · 19 October 2026 · 5 min read

FTL vs LTL: Full Truckload, Part Load or Groupage?

FTL books a whole truck; LTL and groupage share it with other shippers. Compare cost, speed and handling, see how LDM drives LTL price and find your break-even.

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3D load plan of a 40' high cube reefer with stacked apple bins and pallets of lettuce crates

Industry guides · 6 October 2026 · 5 min read

Fresh Produce Transport: Planning Crates, Bins and Reefers

Fresh produce transport planning: crates and bins, temperature and ventilation in general terms, product compatibility, airflow and when produce weighs out.

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Side view of a trailer coloured by weight with heavy steel coil crates and lighter food pallets, with axle load estimates

Load planning basics · 25 September 2026 · 6 min read

Weight Distribution in a Trailer: Axle Loads Made Simple

Where you put heavy cargo decides the load on each axle. Learn how trailer weight distribution works, how to estimate axle loads and how to avoid overloading.

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Trailer in 3D with pallets coloured by delivery stop, later drops loaded deeper

Road freight · 21 September 2026 · 5 min read

Multi Drop Loading: How to Plan a Truck for Several Stops

Plan a multi-drop truck so every stop unloads without moving other cargo: LIFO order, lanes, stop numbers, axle loads after each drop and a worked example.

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Side view of a trailer load plan with pallets and crates numbered in loading order, as printed for drivers

Operations & software · 31 August 2026 · 5 min read

Loading Plan for Drivers: What the Paper and the Link Need

What drivers and the warehouse need in a loading plan: manifest, loading sequence, top/side/rear drawings, stop order and weights, on paper or a phone link.

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Rigid truck in 3D from above and behind with a machine on a skid, pallets and crates packed without gaps

Road freight · 26 August 2026 · 5 min read

Load Securing Basics: EN 12195-1, Friction, Lashing, Blocking

The principles of load securing under EN 12195-1: design forces, friction, blocking, lashing, body strength, and how a gap-free load plan cuts securing effort.

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Curtainsider trailer in 3D loaded with single-stacked Euro pallets of water and soft drinks

Industry guides · 13 August 2026 · 6 min read

Beverage Pallet Loading: Plan for Weight Before Volume

Beverage pallets run out of payload long before the trailer is full. How to work out the pallet count, spread the weight over the axles and decide on stacking.

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Trailer in 3D coloured by weight, with heavy machine crates, steel pallets and the load centre of gravity marker

Load planning basics · 28 July 2026 · 5 min read

Load Centre of Gravity: How to Calculate It for a Truck Load

The centre of gravity of a load is the weighted average of every item's position. Learn the formula, a worked truck example and checks for lateral offset.

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Rigid truck in 3D with order pallets and cartons labelled by order number

Operations & software · 14 July 2026 · 5 min read

Load Planning in Excel vs a 3D Planner: When to Switch

Where load planning in Excel works, where it breaks (stacking, mixed sizes, axles, sequence) and how to keep your spreadsheet as input for a 3D planner.

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Mega trailer load plan in 3D with mixed pallets and crates numbered in loading order

Operations & software · 9 July 2026 · 4 min read

Goodloading Alternative: What to Compare Before Switching

Looking for a Goodloading alternative? What to compare when switching load planners: trial, file import, sequence, multi-stop, axles, vehicles and cost.

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Two 20' containers in 3D: one floor loaded with loose cartons, one with palletised cartons

Sea containers · 22 June 2026 · 5 min read

Floor Loading Cartons in a Container vs Palletised Loads

When to floor load cartons instead of palletising, how to orient and stack them, how to check carton strength, and a worked 40ft high cube comparison.

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Mega trailer in 3D with 66 light pallets double stacked along the full length

Road freight · 10 June 2026 · 5 min read

Double Stacking Pallets in Trailers: Height, Weight, Stability

When you can double stack pallets in a trailer: maximum pallet heights in standard and mega trailers, weight on the bottom pallet, payload and stability.

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Sea containers · 25 May 2026 · 5 min read

Reefer Container Loading: Airflow, Red Line and Pallet Plans

How reefers move air, why the T-floor and red load line limit your plan, chilled vs frozen stowage, pre-cooling, and a worked 40ft reefer pallet plan.

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Rear view into a 20' container with wooden crates and blue drums, showing the gaps that need dunnage

Sea containers · 14 May 2026 · 6 min read

Container Dunnage: Airbags, Blocking, Bracing and Void Fill

How to secure container cargo with airbags, timber blocking, bracing, lashing and void fill, and how to plan the load so there are fewer gaps to fill.

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45' high cube shipping container in 3D on a ship deck with cartons and crates

Sea containers · 11 May 2026 · 6 min read

Shipping Container Dimensions: 20', 40', 40' HC and 45' HC

Internal size, door openings, tare, payload and cubic capacity of 20', 40', 40' high cube and 45' containers, with the limits that matter when you plan a load.

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Trailer in 3D coloured by weight with heavy steel plates and cement pallets, stats bar showing payload and axle loads

Road freight · 27 April 2026 · 5 min read

Overloaded Truck Fines: Checks to Make Before Dispatch

Avoid overloaded truck fines with a pre-dispatch routine: real cargo weights, payload margin, axle-load estimates, partial-load traps and weighbridge checks.

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Side-by-side 3D plans: express cartons in an LD3 air container and cartons with pallets in a 20' sea container

Air cargo · 14 April 2026 · 5 min read

Air vs Sea Freight: When to Switch Mode and How Planning Differs

Air vs sea freight compared for planners: how each mode charges, when air pays, density break-evens, ULDs vs containers, consolidation and a worked example.

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Trailer half loaded in 3D with outbound pallets numbered in loading order, partway through the sequence

Operations & software · 31 March 2026 · 5 min read

Loading Dock Efficiency: Plan, Stage and Load Faster

Improve loading dock efficiency with loads planned in advance, staging lanes in loading order, appointment slots sized by load and short door checklists.

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Removal truck in 3D loaded with wardrobes, a sofa, a fridge, a bed frame and moving boxes

Industry guides · 19 March 2026 · 5 min read

Removal Truck Loading: Survey, Size and Load a Household Move

Removal truck loading for movers: turning a volume survey into the right vehicle, loading order for furniture and boxes, protection, and shared-load moves.

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Three air containers side by side in 3D: LD2, LD3 and LD3-45, each filled with cartons

Air cargo · 4 March 2026 · 7 min read

ULD Types Explained: LD3, LD2, LD3-45, PMC and PAG Pallets

A practical guide to air cargo ULD types: LD3, LD3-45, LD2, LD6, PMC and PAG pallets, with typical dimensions, max gross weights and the aircraft that use them.

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Top view of a rigid truck with pallets coloured by store and numbered in loading order for a multi-drop run

Industry guides · 20 February 2026 · 5 min read

FMCG Distribution: Load Planning for Multi-Drop Retail Runs

Load planning for FMCG distribution: mixed pallets of uneven height, multi-drop store deliveries, delivery windows, axle loads that change as drops come off.

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Rear view of a mega trailer with stackable pallets carrying non-stackable top pallets

Load planning basics · 18 February 2026 · 6 min read

Pallet Stacking Rules: Stackability, Weight on Top and Support

Which pallets can be stacked, how much weight can go on top and how much support a top pallet needs. Practical pallet stacking rules for trucks and containers.

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Trailer load plan in 3D with volume, weight and loading metre utilisation in the stats bar

Operations & software · 28 January 2026 · 5 min read

Truck Fill Rate KPI: Formulas, LDM Utilisation, Cost per Pallet

How to measure truck fill rate: loading metre, pallet, weight and volume utilisation plus cost per pallet, with formulas, a worked example and reporting tips.

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40' high cube container stuffing plan in 3D, half loaded with machine crates, textile pallets and cartons

Sea containers · 20 January 2026 · 6 min read

How to Make a Container Stuffing Plan That Holds Up at Sea

A step-by-step method for planning container stuffing: heavy goods low and central, even weight along the length, door-end cargo last, securing and photos.

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LD3 air container in 3D packed with cartons in three sizes

Air cargo · 7 January 2026 · 6 min read

Air Freight Packaging: How to Pack Cargo That Flies Cheaper

Air freight packaging done right: carton strength, sizes that suit ULDs, pallets and ISPM 15, labelling, and practical ways to cut volumetric weight.

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40' high cube container in 3D packed with 400 cartons in three sizes for high volume utilisation

Sea containers · 26 December 2025 · 5 min read

Container Utilization: How to Measure and Improve Fill

Measure container utilization by volume, weight and floor area, see why 100% is unrealistic, and use rotation, mixed lanes and box choice to load more.

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Truck and trailer set in 3D loaded with pallets and pink cartons, seen from above

Operations & software · 11 December 2025 · 5 min read

Load Planner Training: Skills, Checklists and Common Mistakes

A practical load planner training plan: the skills a new planner needs, a four-week programme, checklists, common mistakes and teaching with 3D tools.

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Rear views of a standard trailer and a mega trailer, both with double-stacked pallets, showing the extra height

Road freight · 1 December 2025 · 5 min read

Mega Trailer vs Standard Trailer: When the Extra Height Pays

A mega trailer gives about 3 m of internal height on the same 13.6 m floor. Learn when that pays, what a low-deck tractor changes and how to plan double-stacks.

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Semi-trailer load plan in 3D with stacked grey GitterBoxes and blue bumper racks

Industry guides · 20 November 2025 · 5 min read

Automotive Parts Loading: Racks, GitterBoxes and JIT Sequence

Automotive parts loading in practice: returnable racks and GitterBoxes, mixed heights, rotating boxes to gain floor space, and loading in JIT sequence order.

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Trailer in 3D with paint pallets, insulation rolls, tiles and cartons, each labelled by name

Load planning basics · 14 November 2025 · 5 min read

Load Plan Template: The Fields Every Loading Plan Needs

A load plan template should cover the vehicle, manifest, sequence, drawings and weights. Here are the fields to include and why a 3D plan beats a spreadsheet.

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Van load plan in 3D with boxes and tubes labelled by SKU from a packing list

Operations & software · 3 November 2025 · 5 min read

Packing List for Load Planning: Fields, Formats and Clean-Up

What a packing list needs for load planning: size and weight per piece, quantity, stacking and stops. How to clean the data and paste it into a 3D planner.

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Side view of a loaded semi-trailer with heavy crates at the front and the kingpin and axle load estimate

Road freight · 21 October 2025 · 5 min read

Truck Axle Weight Limits in the EU: 96/53/EC Explained

EU axle weight limits under Directive 96/53/EC: 40 t gross, 11.5 t drive axle, tandem and tri-axle limits, national differences and what overloading costs you.

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Standard 13.6 m semi-trailer with tractor in 3D, a row of Euro pallets showing the inside length, width and height

Road freight · 6 October 2025 · 5 min read

Semi Trailer Dimensions: Curtainsider, Mega, Reefer and Box

Internal length, width, height and typical payload of the 13.6 m curtainsider, mega trailer, reefer and box trailer, with pallet counts and planning tips.

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Top view of a part-loaded trailer with Euro and industrial pallets and the loading metres shown in the stats bar

Load planning basics · 29 September 2025 · 6 min read

Loading Metres (LDM) Explained: Formula, Examples and Pricing

A loading metre is one metre of trailer floor length at full width. See the LDM formula, worked pallet examples and how carriers turn LDM into a freight price.

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Van load plan in 3D with yellow roll cages and orange parcels of two sizes

Industry guides · 10 September 2025 · 5 min read

E-commerce Freight Consolidation: Cartons, Cages and Trailers

How e-commerce freight consolidation works in practice: mixed carton sizes, roll cages and pallets, filling line-haul trailers and planning multi-drop runs.

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Two 3D load plans side by side: 9 industrial pallets in a 20' container and 20 in a 40' container

Sea containers · 1 September 2025 · 5 min read

20ft vs 40ft Container: How to Choose for Your Shipment

Choose between a 20ft and 40ft container by cargo density, payload, floor space and cost per cubic metre. Includes break-even logic and worked examples.

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LD2 air container in 3D with one large engine part crate and small cartons around it

Air cargo · 14 August 2025 · 6 min read

Air Cargo Size Limits: Maximum Piece Size by Aircraft and Deck

How big can air cargo be? Typical piece heights and door sizes for narrow-body, wide-body lower deck and freighter main deck, and how to plan oversized cargo.

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LD3-45 air container being built up in 3D, parcels numbered in loading order, partway through the sequence

Air cargo · 5 August 2025 · 6 min read

ULD Build-Up: How Ground Handlers Build Air Cargo Pallets

How a ULD build-up works: checking the unit, layering, floor loading, building to the contour, netting, weighing and tagging, with a worked PMC pallet example.

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LD3 air container in 3D filled with cartons of two sizes up to its sloped contour

Air cargo · 29 July 2025 · 6 min read

LD3 Container Dimensions, Volume and Weight Limits Explained

LD3 (AKE) dimensions in cm and inches, the contour shape, usable volume, max gross weight, what fits inside, and how the LD3 differs from the lower LD3-45.

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Trailer in 3D packed with pallets, cartons and long crates to leave little empty space

Road freight · 18 July 2025 · 5 min read

Truck Fill Rate: How to Reduce Empty Space in Trucks

Why trucks leave half empty and how to raise truck fill rate: measure floor, volume and weight use, fix mixed pallet heights, rotate items, combine part loads.

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40' high cube container load plan in 3D with pallets, crates and cartons

Operations & software · 4 July 2025 · 6 min read

Load Planning Software: What to Look For Before You Buy

A buyer’s checklist for load planning software: 3D views, stacking and weight rules, Excel import, sequence, multi-stop, PDFs, price and vendor questions.

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20' reefer container in 3D with teal pharma cartons and purple vaccine shippers

Industry guides · 16 June 2025 · 5 min read

Pharma Transport: Planning Temperature-Controlled Loads

Load planning for temperature-controlled pharma transport: GDP basics, reefer airflow, load lines, multi-temperature compartments and a worked trailer example.

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Rigid truck load plan in 3D with pallets, crates and cartons numbered in loading order

Operations & software · 6 June 2025 · 5 min read

How to Make a Load Plan: From Packing List to Sign-Off

How to make a load plan step by step: check the packing list, choose the vehicle, set stacking rules, optimise, check weight and axles, hand it to the dock.

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Trailer in 3D coloured by weight with a heavy CNC machine crate, a press crate and spare parts pallets

Industry guides · 2 June 2025 · 6 min read

Machinery Transport: Heavy Crates, Point Loads and Balance

Planning machinery transport: heavy crates on a short length, point loads on the trailer floor, centre of gravity, lashing heavy units and when permits apply.

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20' container in 3D coloured by weight with steel drums and IBCs, gross weight shown in the stats bar

Sea containers · 12 May 2025 · 5 min read

VGM Under SOLAS: How to Get Container Weight Right

What the SOLAS verified gross mass rule requires, how Methods 1 and 2 work, what the weight includes, and how planning with real weights avoids rolled boxes.

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Semi-trailer in 3D loaded with white 1000 litre IBCs and rows of blue 200 litre drums

Industry guides · 2 May 2025 · 5 min read

IBC Transport: Planning Drums and IBC Loads on a Trailer

IBC transport planning: how many IBCs and 200 L drums fit, weight by product density, stacking from the UN marking, and ADR points to check before dispatch.

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Trailer load plan in 3D with long steel pipes, brick pallets and plasterboard bundles

Industry guides · 23 April 2025 · 6 min read

Building Materials Transport: Planning Long, Heavy Site Loads

How to plan building materials transport: long profiles and timber, heavy bagged and block pallets, flatbed or curtainsider, unloading on site and securing.

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Mega trailer in 3D loaded with sofas, wardrobes, tables and chair boxes

Industry guides · 7 April 2025 · 5 min read

Furniture Transport Planning: Bulky, Light and Easily Damaged

Furniture fills a trailer long before it reaches payload. How to plan bulky, fragile, non-stackable items, choose orientations and protect surfaces in transit.

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Operations & software · 24 March 2025 · 5 min read

Reduce Freight Emissions With Better Loading: How to Estimate

Better load planning cuts freight emissions by avoiding truck trips. A step-by-step method to estimate the CO2e saving from higher fill rates and report it.

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Semi-trailer load plan in 3D with drinks pallets, industrial pallets, cartons and oil drums

Load planning basics · 24 March 2025 · 6 min read

What Is Load Planning? A Practical Guide for Freight Teams

Load planning decides where every pallet and carton goes before loading starts. Learn who does it, what a good plan contains and when software beats a sketch.

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20' container filled with three sizes of cartons in 3D, used to explain cubic metre (CBM) calculation

Load planning basics · 11 March 2025 · 5 min read

CBM Calculation: Cubic Metres for Cartons, Pallets and Containers

Calculate CBM by multiplying length × width × height in metres. Worked carton and pallet examples, and how to go from total CBM to the right container or truck.

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Top view of a 13.6 m semi-trailer holding 33 Euro pallets, numbered in loading order

Load planning basics · 18 February 2025 · 5 min read

How Many Euro Pallets Fit in a Trailer? 33, 66 or Fewer

A 13.6 m trailer takes 33 Euro pallets single-stacked and 66 double-stacked if height and payload allow. See the orientations, mixed loads and the maths.

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Side views of a rigid truck with 18 pallets and an articulated lorry with 33 pallets

Road freight · 10 February 2025 · 5 min read

Rigid Truck vs Articulated Lorry: Capacity and When to Use Each

Rigid truck vs articulated lorry: body lengths, Euro pallet counts, typical payloads, access and cost logic, with worked examples to pick the right vehicle.

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LD3 air container in 3D with bulky and dense cartons labelled by name, showing volume against weight

Air cargo · 3 February 2025 · 5 min read

Air Cargo Chargeable Weight: How to Calculate It Step by Step

How airlines calculate chargeable weight: volumetric weight with the IATA 6,000 divisor, rounding rules, worked carton and pallet examples, and density.

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Rigid truck in 3D with EUR 1, EUR 2, US 48×40, half and Asian 110×110 pallets, each labelled by size

Load planning basics · 22 January 2025 · 6 min read

Pallet Sizes Guide: Euro, Industrial, US and Asian Pallets

Standard pallet sizes compared: EUR/EPAL 1200×800, industrial 1200×1000, half and quarter pallets, US 48×40 and Asian 1100×1100, with loads and truck counts.

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Top view of a 40' container floor loaded with 20 industrial pallets, numbered in loading order

Sea containers · 10 January 2025 · 6 min read

How Many Pallets Fit in a 40ft Container (and a 20ft)?

Euro and industrial pallet counts for 20', 40', 40' HC, 45' and reefer containers, the mixed-lane layout that gets the most in, and when to double-stack.

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