Optimizing Load Patterns – Litco Can Help!
Get a Complete Blocking / Bracing / Dunnage System FREE for Your First Load,
Plus Optimized Load Planning Diagrams
Our FREE Load Optimization Software Service puts you in control to comply with regulations in loading intermodal cargo containers for over-the-road trucking and railcar transit. With an optimized load diagram built using TOPS software, Litco’s shipping experts can help you maximize cubic feet per load while minimizing the costs of inflatable and cardboard dunnage, keeping your products safe, secure and damage-free.
Your First Shipment Travels with FREE Void Fill and Dunnage Products from Litco’s Advanced Product Damage Prevention Toolset
Experts in Load Optimization and Damage Prevention
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Container, Truck and Air calculator Cargo Planner - The ultimate load planning software Create a load plan in seconds - Ship less air! Our container, truck and pallet loading software is trusted by the largest forwarders, manufacturers and airports. Start a free trial now! Of course it´s possible to add packages to or separate them from the electronic packing list. There are various options available in regard to the calculation of the storage space plan, e.g. You can specify the container types to be used and their number or achieve the optimum loading plan via various loading modes (LCL and FCL). Next, the order must be transported. In a container, trailer or lorry, but this can also be a railway wagon, roll cart or sea freight container. Regardless of the means of transport and load capacity, StackAssist calculates the optimal loading and stacking method for packages or pallets. Load Planning is a very powerful and easy-to-use truck loading, trailer loading, container loading and railcar loading software that automatically suggests one (or more) load plan for transportation of paper rolls, pallets, skids and boxes via trailers, containers and railcars. Cape Truckfill: container loading software. Cape Truckfill is a truck and container loading software that helps you plan, create, edit, print and maintain multi-product container load plans. With Truckfill you don't ship empty space or waste time manually calculating how many products can be loaded on your (sea) containers and trucks.
The number one reason for returned goods is damage caused by insecure, unstable packing in intermodal shipping containers or trucks. Effectively distributing the weight and volume of a load involves planning for empty space and effectively bracing your cargo to avoid damage caused by unblocked cargo shifting while in-transit.
Even palletized loads that seem stable, will lean or fall over in the trailer based on lateral forces (side-to-side shifts) put on cargo during transportation. Optimizing the loading pattern of your SPECIFIC FREIGHT whether you ship via 53 ft. trailer, railcar or intermodal container, means juggling 3 separate issues:
- Properly distributing weight within the trailer
- Maxing out the cubic volume allowable based on the weight limitations
- Ensuring sufficient and appropriate dunnage and void fill to effectively block-in and brace the cargo against shifts that will occur during transit and in handling.
In addition to product damage, disastrous accidents can occur if freight shifts while in transit. For this reason, the American Association of Railroads (AAR) develops regulations (download a free copy of their current requirements for blocking and bracing cargo in intermodal containers here) to stipulate how dunnage is to be used when packing containers that will be transported by railcar.
Weight as the First Consideration
When filling an intermodal container or truck with palletized product or other unitized loads, there are several variables that affect your optimized loading methodology. The first and likely most significant variable is weight. If the product you are shipping is heavy, the capacity of the trailer or container will limit your loading options.
A typical (empty) trailer with tractor attached, including diesel fuel weight can be about 35,000 to 36,000 pounds.
The maximum legal gross weight to drive without any special permits in the US is 80,000 pounds.
Autoload Pro 2008-container Loading Software
This means that a full truckload could carry 44,500 pounds max cargo weight. This weight calculation needs to include product, packaging, dunnage and pallets. If being conservative, it may be helpful to calculate based on about 42,000 pounds, allowing for an extra 1,500 pounds over product weight.
PRO TIP: If you are looking for a lighter-weight pallet, economical enough to use for one-way shipping and ISPM 15 (export-ready) compliant, check out Litco’s molded wood pallets.
Weight considerations for shipping intermodal
Maximum Weights, Weight Distribution, and Center of Gravity
A. The load weight must not exceed the limit as stated on the manufacturer’s plate. Combined weight of trailer and lading may not exceed 65,000 lb.* Combined weight of container and lading may not exceed the weight specified below for the length of container being loaded:
*Maximum weights as defined in current AAR Specification M-931-04 for trailers (effective 2/1/04 and subject to revisions thereto.
**Maximum weights as defined in current AAR Specification M-930-08 for containers (implemented 10/2008), and subject to revisions thereto.
B. Lading weight in trailers or containers must be evenly distributed both crosswise and lengthwise, and combined weight of lading and trailer or container must conform to all federal, state, provincial, and local regulations and transportation service requirements used at origin and to final destination. (See Illustrations 1, 2, 3, and 4.)
C. Combined center of gravity (measured from top of rail) of car, trailer or container, and load is not to exceed 98 in
Weight Distribution is Critical. Loading a trailer so it will not be overweight on any axle
The problem OTR truckers most often run into is not the total gross weight being over 80,000 – it’s having the truck loaded improperly so it is overweight on one of the tandem axles.
Part of the TOPS program helps your warehouse truck loading team properly distribute the cargo from front to back in the trailer based on weight.
Container Loading Software Online
As a starting point, it is important to know 3 things:
- How much does your load weigh?
- Does that include the pallets and packaging?
- How many pallets will comprise the whole load?
NOTE: If your trucking company is stopped for illegal weight distribution – even if the entire load is below weight limits – the shipment will need to come back to your warehouse for a re-load causing extra unpaid work for both the manufacturer and the trucking company.
Step-by-Step Truck Load Diagrams, Pallet Configuration
By inviting a Litco damage prevention expert in to work with you, you are getting access to industry-leading load configuration toolset created by TOPS Engineering. MaxLoad Pro is a cargo load planning, container loading, freight calculation and cube optimization software. It can calculate accurate container and truck load plans by determining ideal ways to palletize your goods, and using intelligent loading algorithms and extensive stacking rules develop a plan for you to follow so you can load mixed sized products into containers and vehicles.
AN EXAMPLE: One technique that can help create a more stable load and economize on space is loading pallets in a pinwheel configuration. Because the pallets most frequently used measure 40″x 48″ sometimes in a 96″ wide trailer you can turn one of the pallets 90 degrees, allowing two pallets to fit next to each other, hence the term “pinwheel.” Pinwheel loading creates additional stability by interspersing pallets with different load orientations.
Get a Complete Blocking / Bracing / Dunnage System FREE for Your First Load,
Plus Optimized Load Planning Diagrams
Overview
Through this program user can add multiple products in single selected shipping container. CBM Calculator shows the occupied weight and volume percentage of products inside the selected shipping container. It helps user to get an estimate of number of packages of different or same product inside a shipment container. Paid users can also check calculations against edited/updated container dimensions. CBM Calculator provides calculation for different types of shipment containers, which are as follows.
- Standard 20 Feet Container
- Standard 40 Feet Container
- High Cube 40 Feet Container
- Upgraded 20 Feet Container
- Refer 20 Feet Container
- Refer 40 Feet Container
- Refer 40 Feet High Cube Container
After selecting the appropriate shipping container user can add multiple products. They can be of different dimensions or details like Weight and Dimensions. For products you can add following details
- Dimensions in : yard, feet, inch, meter, cm, mm
- Length
- Breadth
- Height
- Total Quantity
- Product weight unit : kg, gm, lb
- Product Weight
Container Loading Software For Mac
Single shipping container loading calculator also calculates these following information per product added to the calculation
Container Loading Software Free
- Total Volume
- Total Weight
- Container-wise filled percentage(%) of volume
- Container-wise filled percentage(%) of weight
How to use Single shipping container loading calculator
Container Loading Software India
- Select Container
- Enter product / package details like length, width, height, weight and quantity
- Single shipping container calculator will show total volume and weight for product/package
- Container-wise weight and volume filled percentage(%) and value
- User can add muliple product/package by using Add more row button
- User can delete product/package by using delete button.
- User can anytime change above selected container to view updated calculations.