Loading Meter Calculator 2026: How a Freight Forwarder Calculates

What LDM is and when you need it

LDM stands for loading meter. In German it is Lademeter. In Italian metro di carico.

Typically when a shipper writes to a forwarder "what will I pay for 18 pallets from Rotterdam to Milan", the forwarder has no idea of the cost until LDM is calculated. Freight pricing does not depend on the number of pallets. It depends on how much trailer space the pallets occupy.

A standard trailer measures 13.6 m internal length and 2.48 m internal width. LDM calculations use 2.4 m width because that is what a pallet row actually occupies. The space between the walls leaves some clearance for manoeuvring and securing. The full trailer equals 13.6 LDM.

LDM matters to three roles:

• Forwarder prices mixed cargo (groupage), formulates quotes, or splits cargo across multiple shippers on the same trailer
• Dispatcher plans what goes where on the trailer to maximise space usage
• Shipper should understand LDM to avoid surprise invoices for "only 18 pallets" that look like half a trailer

The shipper usually does not understand LDM. They write "only 5 pallets" and expect a low rate. The forwarder knows that 5 pallets at 200 cm non-stackable equal 2 LDM, or 15% of the trailer. Rate? 15-20% of FTL plus surcharges.

LDM formula step by step

In my forwarding practice LDM is calculated as follows:

Step 1. Measure cargo length in metres.
Most errors start here. Shippers measure the pallet, not the cargo. Ask if the pallet overhangs the cargo. Example: cargo 110 cm long, EUR pallet 120 cm. We use 120 cm because the pallet occupies trailer space.

Step 2. Measure cargo width in metres.
For EUR pallets (120 x 80 cm) the width is typically 0.8 m when the pallet stands with the long side facing the trailer axis. Or 1.2 m crosswise. In a standard trailer one row holds 3 EUR pallets crosswise (3 x 80 = 240 cm) or 2 lengthwise (2 x 120 = 240 cm) plus one in the middle.

Step 3. Check stackability.
Stackable means a second pallet can sit on the first. Example: pallet with cartons supports another pallet with cartons. Non-stackable covers everything that cannot bear a stack: glass, tall white goods, sensitive equipment, pallets reaching the trailer ceiling. If stackable, divide the result by 2.

Step 4. Apply the formula:

LDM = (length x width) / 2.4

For 1 EUR pallet crosswise:
LDM = (0.8 x 1.2) / 2.4 = 0.4

So 1 EUR pallet equals 0.4 LDM. This number will serve you through your entire forwarding career.

Step 5. Round up for non-standard cargo.
Machine on a frame, irregular shape, securing space needed? The forwarder always rounds up to the nearest full LDM or 0.5 LDM. The shipper does not need to know this, but it is industry standard.

Standard vs Mega trailer: LDM capacity

Not every trailer has 13.6 LDM. In practice there are three main types:

Standard trailer (curtainsider, tautliner):
13.62 m length x 2.48 m width x 2.7 m internal height, around 90-95 m³, payload around 24 tonnes, 33 EUR pallets arranged (3 x 11). That equals 13.6 LDM. Most common type on routes between Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France.

Mega trailer (Schmitz S.CS MEGA, Kögel Mega):
Same base dimensions as standard (13.62 m x 2.48 m), but internal height up to 3.0 m (paired with low deck tractor unit). Volume 100-105 m³, payload around 24 tonnes. Holds 33 EUR pallets, but the increased height allows better stacking (high cargo up to 295 cm). Some double-deck Schmitz Mega configurations hold up to 34 EUR pallets.

Truck and trailer combination (rigid plus centre-axle trailer):
120 m³, holds up to 38 EUR pallets. Found in domestic transport and at shippers with narrow loading windows (one combination instead of two).

All of Europe operates under Directive 96/53/EC: max 13.6 m trailer length, max 4.0 m total combination height, max 2.55 m external width. Above these limits we enter abnormal load territory.

For the shipper the conclusion is simple. The same cargo can fit one way in a standard trailer and another way in a Mega. The forwarder asks about cargo height BEFORE booking the vehicle. A mistake here means an extra day of transport and reloading mid-route.

Table: pallet types x LDM

LDM values for common pallet types in European transport

Pallet type	Dimensions (cm)	LDM/unit crosswise	LDM/unit lengthwise	Trailer 13.6 m capacity
EUR (EPAL)	120 x 80	0.4	0.4	33 EUR pallets (3 x 11)
FIN (industrial)	120 x 100	0.5	0.5	26 FIN pallets
Half-pallet	80 x 60	0.2	0.3	66 pallets (with stacking)
UK pallet	120 x 100	0.5	0.5	26 pallets
CP1	120 x 100	0.5	0.5	26 pallets
CP3	114 x 114	0.45	0.45	26-30 pallets
CP5	114 x 76	0.36	0.4	33-36 pallets
CP9	114 x 114	0.45	0.45	26-30 pallets
Gitterbox	124 x 83.5	0.41	0.41	32 gitterboxes

CP pallets (Chemical Pallets, also known as industrial pallets) are used in the chemical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Dimensions are non-standard but heavily normalised. A forwarder working with a chemical wholesaler will encounter CP3 or CP9 several times a week.

Practical rule I teach new forwarders: 33 EUR pallets = 13.2 LDM (33 x 0.4) and fits in a 13.6 m trailer with a small margin. That is a full FTL. Anything above 33 EUR pallets requires two combinations or a Mega with full stacking.

5 examples from my forwarding practice

Numbers from actual orders. Client names changed but figures and logic are real. Rates indicated as forwarder approximations, dependent on market, season, client, and carrier.

CASE 1: 10 EUR pallets stackable, FMCG client

Route: Rotterdam to Milan. Cargo: 10 EUR pallets, cosmetics in cartons, each pallet 120 cm high, stackable to 2 layers. Weight around 500 kg per pallet, 5 tonnes total.

Calculation:
10 stackable pallets, 5 rows of 2 layers
5 rows x 0.4 LDM = 2.0 LDM

Rate: around 25-30% of FTL on this route. The shipper pays for 2 LDM. The rest of the trailer goes into groupage with other shippers.

Lesson: Stackability halves the LDM. Always ask the shipper if the pallet supports stacking. It holds for cosmetics and dry products with sturdy packaging. It does not hold for white goods, glass, electronics, fresh food.

CASE 2: 18 EUR pallets non-stackable, construction glass

Route: Antwerp to Munich. Cargo: 18 EUR pallets, glass panels, each pallet 180 cm high, non-stackable. Weight 250 kg per pallet, 4.5 tonnes total.

Calculation:
18 x 0.4 LDM = 7.2 LDM

That is 53% of the trailer. The shipper pays 53% of FTL.

Trap: The shipper called asking "give me a rate for 18 pallets, small portion of the trailer". At first glance it looks like 1/3 of the trailer (18 of 33). In reality over half, because non-stackable.

Lesson: If the same cargo were stackable, it would be 9 x 0.4 = 3.6 LDM = 26% of the trailer. Half the price. The stackability question is the forwarder's first question after the route.

CASE 3: Industrial CNC machine, abnormal load

Route: Hamburg to Lyon. Cargo: CNC machine 240 cm length x 180 cm width x 220 cm height, on a wooden frame (skid), no pallet. Weight 2.5 tonnes.

Calculation:
LDM = (2.4 x 1.8) / 2.4 = 1.8 LDM

The cargo does not occupy the full trailer width (only 1.8 m of 2.4 m), and only 2.4 m length.

In practice we round up to 2.0 LDM. Machine securing occupies space, ratchet straps need room. Plus surcharge for non-standard cargo (crosswise securing, straps, possible chocks).

Lesson: When cargo occupies full trailer width, cargo length equals LDM directly. When cargo is narrower, we apply the classic formula. And ALWAYS round up for securing.

CASE 4: Steel coil 22 tonnes on coil bed

Route: Gdansk to Hamburg. Cargo: steel coil with 2.4 m diameter, 1.8 m length. Weight 22 tonnes.

Here LDM is not the right measure.

A coil requires a specialised trailer (coil bed or flatbed with specific securing). A standard curtainsider will not accept it. Rate is calculated per tonne-km or flat rate for the entire vehicle, plus a heavy transport permit (22 tonnes is still within the 24 tonne payload limit, but a permit covers axle distribution).

Lesson: When the shipper asks "how many LDM for 1 coil 22 tonnes", the answer is "LDM does not apply here, you need a different trailer". Edge case showing the LDM boundary. A forwarder who does not know this distinction will get into trouble.

CASE 5: Mixed load (5 tall + 8 short pallets)

Route: Brussels to Frankfurt. Mixed cargo from a tool wholesaler:

• 5 EUR pallets with metal racks, 200 cm high, non-stackable, 400 kg per pallet
• 8 EUR pallets with tool cartons, 100 cm high, stackable, 300 kg per pallet

Total weight: 5 x 400 + 8 x 300 = 4400 kg.

Calculation:
5 non-stackable pallets: 5 x 0.4 = 2.0 LDM
8 stackable pallets: (8 / 2) x 0.4 = 1.6 LDM
Total: 3.6 LDM

Trap: The shipper calculated "13 pallets x 0.4 = 5.2 LDM" and was surprised by the forwarder's 3.6 LDM offer. "You calculated less than I did". 3.6 LDM is correct. Mixed loads are calculated separately per group.

Lesson: Mixed load means each group separately by stackability, summed at the end. The shipper will not do this themselves. The forwarder asks and explains. Sometimes this conversation is a 30% price difference.

Stackable vs non-stackable: when to divide by 2

The stackability question is second after the route. If the cargo supports a second pallet on top, we divide LDM by 2. If not, we multiply without dividing.

What supports stacking:

• Cartons with cosmetics, dry food, cleaning supplies on pallets
• Drums with chemical liquid (if the pallet is prepared for stacking)
• Tyres on pallets
• Bulk building materials in bags

What does not support stacking:

• Glass, mirrors, glass panels
• Tall white goods (refrigerators, washing machines in cartons)
• Sensitive electronics
• Tall pallets above 180 cm (too little space left under the trailer roof)
• Fresh food and dairy (also for hygiene reasons)
• Anything the shipper declares non-stackable, even if it looks stackable to you

Do not take the last point lightly. The shipper knows their product better. If they say non-stackable, treat it as non-stackable, even if it appears stackable. A claim for a damaged glass panel costs more than double LDM.

LDM vs CBM vs volumetric weight: when to use what

LDM is not the only freight measure. Depending on transport type and cargo we use three main units:

LDM (loading meter):
Road transport. Measures trailer length occupied by cargo. Standard for groupage, partial FTL on European land routes.

CBM (cubic metre, m³):
Air and sea transport. Measures cargo volume in cubic metres. Also used in warehousing and for some road cargo where volume matters more than length (light and tall).

Volumetric weight (dimensional weight):
Air and courier. Compares actual weight against "volumetric weight" calculated by formula. The formula varies by carrier:

• Air IATA cargo: m³ x 167 kg/m³ (divisor /6000)
• Air express (DHL, UPS Express): m³ x 200 kg/m³ (divisor /5000)
• Road general cargo: m³ x 333 kg/m³ (divisor /3000, most common)
• Road LTL/groupage: m³ x 250 kg/m³ (divisor /4000, some carriers)

The international forwarder usually works with LDM (road) and CBM (sea/air). Volumetric weight appears in courier and air rate calculations. A shipper with light, tall cargo (example: polystyrene insulation, foam, insulating materials) will be surprised when the forwarder gives 13.2 LDM (full trailer) for a 5 tonne load. Volume, not weight.

For the forwarder this is a standard conversation: "Shipper, this cargo is light but bulky, you pay for the space not for the weight".

Check your LDM with the CalCargo calculator

Manual LDM calculation becomes fluent after two weeks of forwarding practice. But when the question is "how much for 32 EUR pallets, 12 stackable and the rest non-stackable, plus 4 gitterboxes", the calculator helps.

Check your LDM with the CalCargo calculator →

The calculator asks for pallet type, quantity, stackability. Returns the result in LDM, m³, and approximate volumetric weight. Free for up to 5 calculations without email signup.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How much is 1 LDM?

1 LDM equals 1 metre of trailer length with 2.4 m width. That is 2.4 m² of cargo floor area. A standard 13.6 m trailer holds exactly 13.6 LDM.

How many EUR pallets in 1 LDM?

1 LDM holds 2.5 EUR pallets in one row crosswise (3 EUR pallets occupy 1.2 LDM, 1 EUR pallet occupies 0.4 LDM). In practice 1 LDM holds either 2 pallets lengthwise (2 x 1.2 m x 0.8 m / 2.4 = 0.8 LDM) or 3 pallets crosswise (3 x 0.8 m x 1.2 m / 2.4 = 1.2 LDM). So 1.2 LDM holds 3 EUR pallets. 2.4 LDM holds 6 EUR pallets. 13.6 LDM (full trailer) holds 33 EUR pallets.

13.6 LDM equals how many m³?

13.6 LDM x 2.4 m width x 2.7 m height (standard trailer) = 88 m³. For a Mega trailer with 3.0 m internal height: 13.6 x 2.4 x 3.0 = 98 m³ (manufacturers cite 100-105 m³ with small geometry differences).

How many LDM does a standard trailer have?

A standard curtainsider (13.62 m internal length) has 13.6 LDM. It holds 33 EUR pallets in a single layer. Practical working capacity is 13.2 LDM when pallets fit fully tight (33 x 0.4 = 13.2).

What does LDM mean?

LDM stands for loading meter (English). In German Lademeter, in Italian metro di carico. Used by forwarders for road freight pricing. Counts the trailer length occupied by cargo, not weight and not pallet count. Freight rate scales with LDM because it is a division of trailer space.

How many pallets fit in a 13.6 m trailer?

A trailer with 13.62 m internal length holds 33 EUR pallets (3 across x 11 rows lengthwise). For FIN/UK pallets 120 x 100 cm, 26 pallets (2 x 13). For CP3/CP9 114 x 114 cm, 26-30 pallets depending on configuration.

Does stackability halve the LDM?

Yes, if the pallet supports a second pallet on top and the trailer internal height allows it. In practice stackability halves the LDM only when both pallets are low (up to 100 cm each) and the trailer is standard (270 cm internal height). For Mega (300 cm internal) stacking up to 3 pallets at 100 cm each is possible.

What does non-stackable mean in cargo specification?

Non-stackable means no second pallet can be placed on top of the indicated one. The reason is usually sensitive cargo (glass, white goods, electronics), pallet height (above 180 cm leaves too little space), or manufacturer specification. LDM for non-stackable cargo is calculated 1 to 1 with pallet count x 0.4 (for EUR).

How many EUR pallets fit in a 13.6 m trailer?

33 EUR pallets. Specifically 11 rows of 3 pallets crosswise (3 x 80 cm = 240 cm width x 11 x 120 cm = 1320 cm length). Full standard trailer capacity in a single layer. With stacking the layout can hold up to 66 low EUR pallets (up to 100 cm height each).

What is the difference between LDM and CBM?

LDM measures trailer length occupied by cargo (2D dimension, length x width / 2.4). CBM measures cargo volume (3D dimension, length x width x height). LDM applies to European road transport, CBM to air and sea freight. For the same cargo numbers differ. Example: 33 low EUR pallets at 100 cm height = 13.2 LDM but 31.7 CBM. The same 33 tall pallets at 200 cm still = 13.2 LDM but 63.4 CBM.

Summary

LDM is not rocket science, but shippers often do not understand it and this causes quoting errors. A forwarder who knows LDM intuitively responds faster and more precisely.

Three rules to close:

1. Always ask about stackability BEFORE quoting. First question after route and weight.
2. Mixed loads calculate separately per group. The shipper will not do this. Your calculator or notepad.
3. LDM does not always fit. For heavy loads on flatbed, air cargo, express courier, other measures apply. Know when LDM stops working.

The rest comes with experience.

Check your LDM with the CalCargo calculator →

Related articles

• How to calculate loading meters (LDM)
• Trailer dimensions: what fits inside?
• How many euro pallets fit in a truck?
• Loading meters for Gitterbox
• FTL vs LTL: when is full truck worth it?
• Weight vs volume: when do you pay for what?
• Pallet types in European transport