Load Metre Calculator

Calculate LDM & find logistics offers

 

 

 

How Are the Loading Meters of Your Freight Calculated?

Our loading meter calculator helps you to quickly determine the LDM of your cargo. In order to be able to provide you with the result, we only need the following information about your cargo.

By default, the dimensions of a EURO pallet (80cm x 120cm) are given. However, for you loading meter calculation, you can adapt them to the dimensions of your pallets, cartons, etc.

  • Length
  • Width
  • Quantity
  Calculate LDM

How to Get a Cheap Transport With Your Loading Meter Calculation

Once your loading meters have been calculated, you have the option to ask for a transport price with this measure in order to benefit from our network of forwarders and low prices.

In order to get a transport price for your route quickly and easily, we need a few more information

  • Place of Loading and Unloading
  • Earliest Loading Date and Latest Unloading Date
  • Weight of the Freight
  • Charge Carrier
  Calculate LDM

 

 

 

What exactly Are Loading Meters (LDM)?

Loading metre, or LDM for short, is a standardized measure that is used for calculating loading volume or calculating the required space in the truck. However, loading meters are used to calculate not only the loading volume, but often also the freight price. There are several cases of how the loading meter is calculated. In this article, you will find not only the simple calculation, but also the formulas for exceptional cases.
 

The Freight-Tools at a glance

 


 

How to Calculate Loading Meters and What Is the Formula?

 

To calculate the loading meters, you first need to know how much 1 LDM is. As a rule, 1 LDM describes 1m length of the truck times its width, which in most cases is 2.40m. However, if a truck is used that has a different width, the 2.4m of the formula for calculating the loading meters with the actual width. Hence the formula for sending a standard truck is:

(Length x Width) : 2,4 = LDM
 

 

Extension of the LDM formual - The Footprint

If you want to ship several goods with the same footprint / floor space (e.g. pallet) you also need the number of pieces for the loading meter calculation. If you have load carriers of different dimensions, the individual loading meters are calculated first. These are then simply aggregated. For example, if you ship a few stackable pallets with 2.4 LDM and a few boxes with 1.6 LDM, then this results in a sum of 4.0 loading meters.

Quantity x (Length x Width) : 2,4 = LDM


 

Extension of the LDM Formula: The Stacking Factor

This loading meter formula only calculates the area used in the truck. However, it is also important to note whether your cargo is stackable to determine the loading volume. If this is the case, the so-called stacking-factor is added to the loading meter calculation formula. So, if two pallets fit on top of each other, your stacking- factor is 2.
 

Quantity x (Length x Width) : 2,4 : Stacking Factor = LDM



 

Your advantages of a transport & insurance with Freightfinders:

✓ 

Cheap & need oriented transport insurances

✓ 

Compare forwarders and means of transports for cheap offers

✓ 

EU promoted network of experienced freight forwarders

✓ 

Full Service: customs, loading, load restraint, insurance, packaging

 


 

Calculating loading meters - examples from logistics

 

In logistics, ldm are usually calculated in order to standardize and simplify pricing. Here are some examples from logistics to get a rough idea.

 

Loading Meter EURO-Pallet

 

You want to ship 12 EURO pallets in their standard size of 0.8m x 1.2m. Two pallets can be stacked on top of each other. This means that there are 6 pallets at the bottom of the truck area. Your charging meter calculation formula therefore looks like this:

12 x (0,8 x 1,2) : 2,4 : 2 = 2,4 LDM


In der Regel passen in der Breite zwei EURO-Paletten quer oder drei EURO-Paletten längs in einen LKW.
 

Exception

However, if you take away two pallets, the loading meters of your cargo will be reduced by 0.4. However, this is only the loading volume, as only two stacked pallets are omitted, and the area remains the same. When calculating the loading metre, the area counts above all, which is why this example would remain at 2.4 LDM.

 

Loading Metre Industrial Pallet

 

An industrial palette has the dimensions 1.2m x 1m.
This results in a loading meter calculation of
 

(1.2 x 1): 2.4 = 0.5 LDM

 

Would you like to learn more about pallet transports? Then click here, to get to our article on this topic.

 
Read More  

 

Did you know?
With our LDM calculator you can obtain transport offers directly!

Are you still looking for logisticians? Then you can get free transport offers that match the loading meter information.
 

directions_boat

Sea freight calculator

Our sea freight calculator can calculate pre- and post-carriage prices directly and allows you to compare offers quickly!
More Information
flight

Air freight calculator

Do you have a little time pressure? Compare the results of the sea freight calculator against the offers of the air freight calculator.
More information
local_shipping

Truck transport calculator

Use our land freight calculator to calculate spot prices for road transport.
More information
train

Rail freight calculator

Find shipping companies with their own rail terminal and calculate the costs beforehand with our land freight calculator.
More information