Enter cargo dimensions
Add the length and width of the pallet, crate or cargo footprint together with the number of units.
Trailer space planning
LDM Calculator for Loading Metres
Use the LDM calculator as a loading meter calculator for pallets, crates and non-stackable freight. Convert occupied cargo floor area into loading metres, compare trailer space and keep the result connected to the transport route.
Pallet planning
Floor space
Multiple items
Route workspace
Loading metre method
How to calculate LDM and loading metres
One loading metre represents one metre of trailer length across the usable trailer width. For non-stackable cargo, the occupied floor area is divided by the internal width used for the calculation.
Review stackability
Non-stackable items normally consume floor space individually, while stackable items may use less floor length depending on the loading plan.
Use the LDM result
Compare total loading metres with the available trailer length and keep the cargo result beside route, weight and axle information.
Standard loading metre formula
Loading metres = cargo length × cargo width × quantity ÷ 2.4 metres
Cargo inputs
What changes the loading metre result?
LDM is based on occupied floor space, not only pallet count. Dimensions, quantity, orientation and stackability all affect the trailer length required.
Cargo length
Measure the floor length of one cargo unit in metres using the planned loading orientation.
Cargo width
Use the width of the pallet, crate or cargo footprint that will occupy the trailer floor.
Quantity
Multiply the footprint by the number of equal units included in the shipment.
Stackability
Consider whether units can be safely stacked without changing the floor space used by the loading plan.
Usable width
The common simplified formula uses 2.4 metres as the trailer floor width assumption.
Weight and balance
LDM shows space use, but cargo weight and axle distribution must still be checked separately.
Worked examples
Example loading metre calculations
A standard Euro pallet measuring 1.20 by 0.80 metres occupies 0.96 square metres of floor area. Dividing by 2.4 metres gives 0.40 LDM for one non-stackable pallet.
Ten identical non-stackable Euro pallets therefore use approximately 4.00 LDM. The practical loading plan can still change because of orientation, gaps, securing equipment and mixed cargo.
A Euro pallet has a 1.20 × 0.80 m footprint, or 0.96 m². Ten pallets therefore represent 9.6 m² of footprint. With a working trailer width of about 2.4 m, that is roughly 4.0 loading metres before allowing for gaps, orientation or loading constraints.
- Confirm the actual pallet and cargo footprint; overhang or non-standard packaging changes the space demand.
- Allow for gaps, orientation, load-securing equipment and unusable trailer areas instead of treating every square metre as perfectly packable.
- Do not use floor-space fit as proof that payload, axle loads or cargo-securing requirements are satisfied.
| Cargo example | Calculated LDM |
|---|---|
| 1 Euro pallet 1.20 × 0.80 m | 0.40 LDM |
| 10 Euro pallets | 4.00 LDM |
| 1 industrial pallet 1.20 × 1.00 m | 0.50 LDM |
| 6 industrial pallets | 3.00 LDM |
| Crate 2.00 × 1.20 m | 1.00 LDM |
The examples assume non-stackable cargo and a 2.4 metre usable trailer width. Always confirm the real loading arrangement.
Loading advantages
Why use an LDM calculator?
Quote floor space consistently
Convert different pallet and crate sizes into one comparable measure for trailer space.
Spot capacity problems early
Compare the calculated loading metres with the selected trailer before confirming the transport.
Plan mixed cargo
Add several cargo items instead of estimating the entire shipment from one pallet type.
Keep space and weight together
Review LDM beside total weight, centre of gravity and axle-balance information in the same workspace.
Frequently asked questions
LDM and loading meter calculator FAQ
What does LDM mean in transport?
LDM means loading metre. It expresses how much trailer floor length cargo occupies across the usable internal width.
How many LDM is one Euro pallet?
Using the simplified 2.4 metre width formula, one non-stackable 1.20 by 0.80 metre Euro pallet equals 0.40 LDM.
Does stacking reduce LDM?
It can reduce the floor space needed when stacking is safe and permitted, but the actual result depends on cargo strength, height, weight and the loading plan.
Is LDM enough to confirm trailer capacity?
No. Loading metres describe floor space. Weight, dimensions, height, axle loads, securing requirements and legal limits must also be checked.
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Open LogicCalc →Truck Load Planner
Truck Load Planner brings cargo dimensions, weight, quantity and loading position into the same LogicCalc workspace as route, timing and transport economics. Review loading-space use, payload use, center of gravity and balance warnings before quoting or dispatching.
cargo dimensions, weight, quantity and loading position
loading-space use, payload use, center of gravity and balance warnings
- Trailer loading
- Heavy cargo positioning
- Capacity utilisation
Build one load plan that brings together cargo dimensions, weight, quantity and loading position. Instead of checking floor space, payload and balance in isolation, use the planner to see which constraint becomes critical for the actual mix of freight.
- Add the cargo you intend to carry
Enter pallets or custom cargo with realistic dimensions, quantities and weights. Keep separate items separate when their position or weight concentration matters.
- Arrange the freight in the trailer
Set the loading positions and review how much floor space and capacity the items consume. Place heavy cargo deliberately rather than letting it become an afterthought.
- Review all limiting factors together
Check loading-space use, payload use, center of gravity and balance warnings. A plan is not ready simply because every item geometrically fits inside the trailer.
Example: pallets plus two heavy machines
A trailer may have enough nominal floor space for 18 pallets and two machines, yet the two machines can still dominate the payload and axle balance. In the load planner, placing those heavy pieces first and then fitting the pallets around them can expose a balance problem that a simple pallet-count calculation would miss.
What to verify before loading
The planner combines several useful checks, but it cannot know every physical and legal detail of the real loading operation.
- Use actual cargo dimensions, weights and stackability; packaging and overhang can change the usable arrangement.
- Verify the real vehicle payload, axle limits and equipment configuration before loading.
- Treat load securing, dangerous goods, temperature control and site-specific loading rules as separate operational requirements.
Is the load planner just a pallet calculator?
No. It is intended to combine pallets and custom cargo while also considering weight and loading position. A pallet-space calculator answers a narrower floor-space question.
What if everything fits by dimensions but the payload warning is red?
The load is not acceptable just because it physically fits. Reduce the weight, split the load or use a more suitable vehicle before dispatch.
Why should heavy items be positioned before lighter freight?
Because concentrated weight can drive the center of gravity and axle reactions. Establishing a sensible position for the heavy items first makes the remaining space easier to plan.
Does the planner replace a professional loading or securing plan?
No. It supports dispatch and pre-loading decisions. Actual load securing, dangerous-goods rules, stacking limits and legal axle compliance must still be verified for the shipment.
CBM Calculator for Freight
CBM Calculator for Freight brings cargo length, width, height and quantity into the same LogicCalc workspace as route, timing and transport economics. Review total CBM and trailer volume utilisation before quoting or dispatching.
cargo length, width, height and quantity
total CBM and trailer volume utilisation
- Bulky freight quoting
- Trailer capacity checks
- Mixed cargo planning
Calculate freight volume from the dimensions and quantity of each cargo line, then read the total in cubic metres. CBM describes occupied volume; it does not by itself tell you how much trailer floor length or payload the load needs.
- Enter dimensions per cargo line
Add length, width, height and quantity for each crate, carton, machine or other cargo item. Keep units consistent.
- Calculate volume line by line
LogicCalc multiplies length × width × height × quantity for each line and adds the results into one total CBM figure.
- Read CBM with loading constraints
Use the volume result alongside weight, floor space and loading information. Two loads with the same CBM can still require very different trailer layouts.
Practical example
Ten crates measuring 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.5 m each equal 14.4 m³. Entering dimensions for every cargo line lets LogicCalc total the volume alongside weight and floor-space use.
What to verify before using the result
Treat CBM as a volume calculation, not as proof that a particular trailer can physically or legally carry the load.
- Use the real outer dimensions of packed cargo; packaging, frames or pallets can increase occupied volume.
- Check floor space and stackability separately because equal cubic volume can be arranged very differently inside a trailer.
- Check payload and loading limits separately; cubic metres do not describe cargo weight or axle distribution.
How is CBM calculated?
For rectangular cargo, multiply length × width × height in metres and then by quantity. The cubic metres from all cargo lines are added together.
Is CBM the same as LDM?
No. CBM measures three-dimensional volume, while LDM represents trailer floor length. Stacking, width and cargo shape can make the relationship very different.
Does a low CBM guarantee that the cargo fits?
No. Weight, floor dimensions, stackability and the shape of individual pieces still matter. CBM is one capacity indicator, not a complete loading plan.
Can I combine different cargo sizes?
Yes. Enter each size as a separate cargo line with its own quantity; the calculator totals their cubic volume.
Truck Payload Calculator
Truck Payload Calculator brings selected fleet profile and cargo weight into the same LogicCalc workspace as route, timing and transport economics. Review payload used, payload remaining and overload warnings before quoting or dispatching.
selected fleet profile and cargo weight
payload used, payload remaining and overload warnings
- Payload utilisation
- Truck selection
- Overload prevention
Check how much of the selected vehicle’s payload is already consumed by the cargo and how much nominal capacity remains. This is a weight-capacity check; it is intentionally separate from floor space and axle-load distribution.
- Select the correct fleet profile
Use the truck or combination that will actually carry the load. The payload limit in the profile is the reference against which the cargo weight is compared.
- Enter or review total cargo weight
Add the cargo items or total freight weight. LogicCalc compares the planned load with the selected payload capacity and calculates used and remaining payload.
- Treat overload warnings as a stop signal
If the planned cargo exceeds the configured payload, change the load or vehicle before dispatch. Even below the total payload limit, continue with axle and balance checks where relevant.
Example: 18,000 kg on a 24,000 kg payload
An 18,000 kg cargo weight against a 24,000 kg payload limit uses 75% of the available payload and leaves 6,000 kg nominally remaining. That remaining figure is useful for planning, but it does not prove that every axle is within its legal limit.
What to verify before loading
Payload is one part of legal and operational loading. The actual vehicle documentation and axle limits remain authoritative.
- Verify the payload and permitted masses for the actual tractor-trailer combination, not only a generic vehicle type.
- Remember that axle or axle-group limits can be exceeded before the total payload limit is reached.
- Account for equipment, fuel, driver and other carried mass if those are not already reflected in the configured fleet profile.
Is payload the same as gross vehicle weight?
No. Payload is the cargo capacity available after the vehicle’s own weight and other configured assumptions. Gross vehicle weight is a different vehicle-level limit.
Can a truck be overloaded on an axle while total payload is still below 100%?
Yes. Cargo position can overload an axle or axle group even when total cargo weight is below the nominal payload. Use the center-of-gravity and axle-related checks for distribution.
Should I use the payload printed in a generic trailer specification?
Use the actual vehicle or fleet-profile value whenever possible. Real permitted payload depends on the tractor, trailer, equipment, fuel and legal configuration.
What should I do if the calculator shows an overload?
Reduce the cargo, split the shipment or select a vehicle with sufficient capacity. Do not treat a routing or commercial calculation as a reason to ignore the overload.
Live product preview
See LogicCalc in action
This is a real LogicCalc workspace view. Use your own route, cargo, fleet and commercial settings for the actual calculation.
Open LogicCalc →LogicCalc calculators
Choose the right calculator for the route.
Explore route planning, transport pricing, cargo, driver-time and sustainability tools in one connected workspace.
Check trailer space before accepting the load
Add the cargo dimensions and quantities in LogicCalc, calculate total loading metres and review space, weight and axle distribution together.
LDM is a planning measure. Actual trailer use can differ because of pallet orientation, gaps, securing materials, overhang, cargo compatibility, stackability and vehicle dimensions.