You can calculate a loading meter using the formula: length × width / 2.4, where the length and width of the shipment are given in meters. A Euro pallet thus occupies 0.4 loading meters, and an industrial pallet occupies 0.5 loading meters. This article explains what a loading meter is, how to calculate it for different shipments, and why freight carriers use it as a basis for billing.
What is a charge meter?
A loading meter (abbreviated LDM) is one meter of a truck’s loading area, measured across its entire width. The width is defined as 2.4 m. A loading meter therefore corresponds to an area of 1 m × 2.4 m, or 2.4 m².
The width of 2.4 m is no coincidence. The interior width of a standard semi-trailer is about 2.45 m. This accommodates exactly three Euro pallets side by side (3 × 80 cm) or two industrial pallets (2 × 120 cm). The loading meter converts the base area of a shipment into the length it occupies on the loading area.
A standard semi-trailer has a loading length of 13.6 m, which is equivalent to 13.6 loading meters. This figure serves as the benchmark for a full load.
The Charge Meter Formula
The formula is:
Loading meter = Length (m) × Width (m) / 2.4
So, measure the base area of your shipment and divide it by the width of the truck. There are three important points to keep in mind:
- Measure external dimensions: The widest and longest points, including any protruding parts, are what matter.
- Calculating in meters: 120 cm equals 1.2 m, and 80 cm equals 0.8 m.
- Consider stackability: If pallets can be stacked on top of each other, divide the result by the number of layers.
With the stacking factor, the formula looks like this:
Loading meter = Length × Width / 2.4 / Stacking factor
The stacking factor is 1 for non-stackable goods, 2 for two layers stacked on top of each other, and so on.
Calculate the charge meter in five steps
- Count the packages: Note how many pallets or boxes of each size you are shipping.
- Measure the external dimensions: the length and width of each package at its widest point, in meters.
- Calculate the area per package: length × width, then divide by 2.4.
- Check for stackability: Divide the loading meters of stackable packages by the number of layers.
- Calculate the total: Add up the loading meters of all packages. The result is the amount of space your shipment occupies on the loading area.
Next, check the result against the actual situation on the loading area. The formula assumes that the space is used completely. If packages do not fit neatly next to one another, the shipment will actually take up more space than the calculation indicates.
Calculating Loading Meters: Examples Using Euro Pallets
The Euro pallet measures 120 × 80 cm. You can find detailed information about its dimensions, weight, and load capacity in the article "Euro Pallet Dimensions, Weight, and Load Capacity."
Example 1: a Euro pallet
1.2 m × 0.8 m / 2.4 = 0.96 / 2.4 = 0.4 LDM.
Example 2: Ten Euro pallets, non-stackable
10 × 0.4 LDM = 4.0 LDM. The ten pallets therefore occupy about 4 m of loading space when they are placed crosswise, three abreast.
Example 3: Ten Euro pallets, stackable two high
4.0 LDM / 2 = 2.0 LDM. Five pallets are on the floor, with five more stacked on top of them. This is possible provided that the height, weight, and load capacity of the goods allow for stacking.
Example 4: Seven Euro pallets, some of which are stackable
Four pallets containing sturdy goods may be stacked two high, but three pallets containing fragile goods may not. The four stackable pallets occupy 4 × 0.4 / 2 = 0.8 LDM, while the three non-stackable pallets occupy 3 × 0.4 = 1.2 LDM. Together , this totals 2.0 LDM. For mixed shipments, always separate stackable and non-stackable packages.
Rule of thumb for Euro pallets
One loading meter is equivalent to 2.5 Euro pallets on a single level. Theoretically, this means 34 Euro pallets fit into 13.6 meters. In practice, the number is 33 because the pallets are arranged in rows, each 1.2 meters deep: 11 rows, each containing three pallets, occupy 13.2 meters; there isn’t enough space left over for a twelfth row.
Examples involving industrial pallets and mixed shipments
The industrial pallet measures 120 × 100 cm and takes up more space than the Euro pallet.
Example 5: An industrial pallet
1.2 m × 1.0 m / 2.4 = 1.2 / 2.4 = 0.5 LDM.
Example 6: Eight industrial pallets, not stackable
8 × 0.5 LDM = 4.0 LDM. A full 13.6-meter semi-trailer can hold 26 industrial pallets: 13 rows of two pallets each, with each row 1 meter deep.
Example 7: Mixed Shipment
Six Euro pallets and four industrial pallets, none of which are stackable: 6 × 0.4 + 4 × 0.5 = 2.4 + 2.0 = 4.4 LDM.
Example 8: Wide, one-of-a-kind piece
A machine crate measures 4.0 × 1.8 m. According to the formula, that equals 4.0 × 1.8 / 2.4 = 3.0 LDM. However, only about 0.6 m of width remains free next to the crate, and there is barely enough room for another shipment. Many freight forwarders therefore charge for the full occupied length in such cases—in this instance, 4.0 LDM. For bulky or unusually shaped goods, you should clarify the occupied space in advance.
Stackable or non-stackable: the biggest factor
Stackability affects the loading meter more than any other factor. Two stackable pallets take up only the space of a single pallet. Whether pallets can be stacked depends on several conditions:
- Height: Both pallets combined must fit within the truck's interior height. For a standard semi-trailer, this is approximately 2.70 m.
- Load-bearing capacity of the goods: The bottom pallet must support the weight of the top pallet without the boxes being crushed.
- Flat surface: A pallet with a pointed or uneven structure cannot support any weight.
- Information to Provide When Booking: The carrier will only assume that the cargo is stackable if you specify this. However, please only specify this if it is actually true.
Providing incorrect information can be costly: If a non-stackable pallet is booked as stackable and is still loaded, damage will result. If the error is caught beforehand, the charges will be adjusted.
Why Freight Forwarders Charge by Loading Meter
A truck has two limits: its payload capacity and its cargo area. Heavy, compact cargo reaches the weight limit first. Light, bulky cargo, on the other hand, fills the cargo area long before the truck reaches its maximum allowable weight. If the carrier charged solely by weight, bulky shipments would be far too inexpensive, even though they take up space that could be used by other customers.
For this reason, many rate schedules use loading meters as a secondary basis for calculation. Often, the rate schedule converts the loading meters into chargeable weight using a fixed conversion factor and compares it to the actual weight. The higher value is billed. Each carrier specifies the conversion factor in its rate schedule terms; it varies depending on the provider and mode of transport.
Loading meters are also important when choosing a shipping method. Small shipments of just a few tenths of a loading meter are shipped as general cargo; for shipments of several loading meters or more, a less-than-truckload shipment is often a good option; and for shipments of nearly 13.6 loading meters, a full truckload is recommended. Our article “General Cargo, Less-than-Truckload, or Full Truckload” explains the differences. To learn how total freight costs are calculated, see “Calculate Freight Costs.”
Common Mistakes When Calculating Loading Meters
- Forget about overhang: If the goods extend beyond the pallet, the outer dimensions of the goods count, not those of the pallet.
- Centimeters instead of meters: 120 × 80 / 2.4 equals 4,000, not 0.4. Always do your calculations in meters.
- Stackability is overestimated: Only pallets that can actually withstand the height and load may be included in the stacking factor calculation.
- Overlooking the remaining width: For wide individual items, the carrier may charge for the full length because the remaining width goes unused.
- Rounding not applied: Some rates are rounded up to specific increments. The rules governing this are set forth in the carrier's terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula for the charge meter?
Loading meter = length (m) × width (m) / 2.4. For stackable goods, divide the result by the number of layers.
How many loading meters is a Euro pallet?
A Euro pallet measuring 120 × 80 cm takes up 0.4 loading meters. An industrial pallet measuring 120 × 100 cm takes up 0.5 loading meters.
Why is it divided by 2.4?
The width typically assumed for a truck's cargo area is 2.4 meters. Three Euro pallets or two industrial pallets can fit side by side within this width.
How many loading meters does a truck have?
A standard semi-trailer has a loading length of 13.6 m, or 13.6 loading meters. It can hold 33 Euro pallets on a single level.
What is the difference between a loading bay and a pallet storage space?
A pallet space is the space occupied by a single pallet on the loading area. A loading meter, on the other hand, measures the occupied length regardless of the shape of the shipment. This allows for the comparison of boxes, mesh crates, or loose goods that do not fit on a standard pallet.
Do you know the dimensions and number of your pallets? In the price calculator, you can see the fixed price for your shipment right away—no account required. You can find an overview of all shipping options on the Freight and Shipping page.