{"id":4868,"date":"2025-12-10T16:39:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T16:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evanwijk.nl\/news\/wat-is-een-laadmeter-ldm\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:52:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T13:52:44","slug":"what-is-a-loading-meter-ldm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evanwijk.nl\/en\/blog-en\/what-is-a-loading-meter-ldm\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a loading meter (LDM)?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mk_sectie\"\n          >\n     \n      \n            <div class=\"mk_rij mk_rij_kolom_2\"\n                >\n    \n                \n        <div class=\"mk_kolom mk_kolom_2 mk_kolom_1_2\"\n                  >\n                \n            \n      \t<div class=\"mk_module mk_tekst introtekst\">\n      <div class=\"mk_tekst_inner\">\n<p><strong>In the transport industry, you will frequently encounter the term loading meter (LDM). However, it is not always immediately clear what a loading meter actually represents, how to calculate it, and how much space a pallet occupies in terms of LDMs. In this blog, you will learn the meaning of LDM in transport and how to apply these calculations in practice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div> <!-- mk_module -->\n            <\/div>  \n\n    \n    <div class=\"mk_kolom mk_kolom_2 mk_kolom_1_2\"\n        >\n      \n        \t<div class=\"mk_module mk_afbeelding\">\n      <div class=\"mk_afbeelding_inner\">\n\n\t<img  \n      class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.evanwijk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Laadmeter-LDM-met-calculator-768x512.png\"\n      alt=\"Laadmeter LDM met calculator\" titel=\"Laadmeter LDM met calculator\"\n      width=\"768\"  height=\"512\"\n    >      <\/div>\n    <\/div> <!-- mk_module -->\n  \n      \n      \n              <\/div>\n          <\/div> <!-- mk_rij -->\n        \n          <\/div> <!-- mk_sectie -->\n      <div class=\"mk_sectie\"\n          >\n     \n      \n            <div class=\"mk_rij mk_rij_kolom_1\"\n                >\n    \n                \n        <div class=\"mk_kolom mk_kolom_1 mk_kolom_1_1\"\n                  >\n                \n            \n      \t<div class=\"mk_module mk_tekst\">\n      <div class=\"mk_tekst_inner\">\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">What is the meaning of LDM in transport?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">LDM stands for loading meter. A loading meter indicates how much of a truck&#8217;s cargo space length is occupied by your shipment. It is not about the weight, but rather the floor space used in the longitudinal direction of the trailer.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">One loading meter is always:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,0,0\">1 meter in length<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,1,0\">Across the full width of the trailer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,2,0\">Based on a standard width of 2.40 meters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">Loading meters are primarily used in groupage and partial loads (LTL), where multiple shipments share a single trailer. This ensures the best possible use of the available space.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">What exactly is a loading meter?<br \/><\/b>A loading meter is a way to allocate space within a truck. Instead of calculating based on individual pallets or cubic meters alone, it focuses on the length of the trailer required for your goods.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><strong>This allows a carrier to estimate:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,0,0\">How much space your shipment occupies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,1,0\">Which other shipments can be included<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,2,0\">What the transport costs will be<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How do you calculate LDM?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,0\">The question &#8220;how do you calculate LDM?&#8221; is a common one in shipping. The calculation is quite simple:<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">Formula:<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">Length of your shipment (in meters) \u00d7 width (in meters) \u00f7 2.40<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">Example:<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">Your shipment is 1.2 meters long and 0.8 meters wide.<\/p>\n<div data-path-to-node=\"1,3\">\n<div class=\"math-block\" data-math=\"(1.2 \\times 0.8) \\div 2.40 = 0.40\\text{ LDM}\">(1.2 x 0.8) \u00f7 2.40 = 0.40 LDM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,4\">This tells you exactly how much of the trailer&#8217;s space your goods will occupy.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">How many LDMs is one block pallet?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">A block pallet typically has dimensions of 1.00 x 1.20 meters.<\/p>\n<p>This results in the following calculation:<\/p>\n<p>(1.20 \u00d7 1.00) \u00f7 2.40 = 0.50 LDM<\/p>\n<p>This means that one block pallet occupies an average of half a loading meter. Consequently, two block pallets placed side by side equal approximately 1 LDM, depending on how they are positioned.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"10,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Loading meters and Euro pallets<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,1\">A Euro pallet has dimensions of 0.80 x 1.20 meters. The calculation for a Euro pallet then becomes:<\/p>\n<p>(1.20 \u00d7 0.80) \u00f7 2.40 = 0.40 LDM<\/p>\n<p><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Practical implications:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0,0\">2 Euro pallets placed side by side take up about 0.80 LDM<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1,1,0\">3 Euro pallets in a sequence result in approximately 1.20 LDM<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1,1,0\">The exact calculation is always subject to the actual placement within the trailer.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">How many cubic meters (m3) is one loading meter?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2,1\">The question of how many cubic meters are in a loading meter is frequently asked, but there is no fixed answer. This is because a loading meter measures length, whereas a cubic meter measures volume.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,0\">The following guideline is often used:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,0,0\">1 LDM \u2248 1.8 to 2.0 m\u00b3 for standard cargo<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1,1,0\">This may vary for tall or lightweight goods<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">For this reason, transport calculations often involve both LDM and m\u00b3, depending on the available space and the weight of the shipment.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"0\">Hier is een sterke vertaling voor dit gedeelte. Ik heb gekozen voor termen die goed aansluiten bij de eerdere stukken:<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">When do we use LDM instead of pallets?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,0\">Loading meters are typically used when:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,0,0\">A shipment does not fit neatly within standard pallet dimensions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,1,0\">The height of the goods varies significantly<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,2,0\">The shipment is a partial load (LTL)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,3,0\">The trailer layout determines the shipping price<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,3\">For full truckloads (FTL), the calculation is more commonly based on the total number of pallets.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Why is LDM important for transport planning?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">The loading meter determines:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,0,0\">Exactly how much space your shipment occupies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,1,0\">How many other shipments can be combined in the same trailer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,2,0\">The overall efficiency of the trailer\u2019s load<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,3\">An accurate calculation prevents misunderstandings during loading and ensures there is never a shortage of space on-site.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,1\">The loading meter (LDM) represents the linear length of a truck occupied by your shipment. You can calculate this based on the specific dimensions of your goods.<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"1,2\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,0,0\">One block pallet averages 0.50 LDM<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,1,0\">One Euro pallet averages 0.40 LDM<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,2,2,0\">In practice, 1 LDM equals approximately 1.8 to 2.0 m\u00b3, depending on the height of the cargo<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1,3\">By accurately calculating loading meters in advance, you avoid surprises during loading and ensure the available trailer space is used to its full potential.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have questions about loading meters or transport planning? You can <strong><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><a style=\"color: #3366ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.evanwijk.nl\/en\/contact\/\">contact<\/a><\/span><\/strong> us at any time for professional advice from the team at <strong><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><a style=\"color: #3366ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.evanwijk.nl\/en\/\">E. van Wijk Logistics.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div> <!-- mk_module -->\n  \n      \n      \n              <\/div>\n          <\/div> <!-- mk_rij -->\n        \n          <\/div> <!-- mk_sectie -->\n  ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the transport industry, you will frequently encounter the term loading meter (LDM). However, it is not always immediately clear what a loading meter actually represents, how to calculate it, and how much space a pallet occupies in terms of LDMs. In this blog, you will learn the meaning of LDM in transport and how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a loading meter (LDM) and how do you calculate it? - E van Wijk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a loading meter (LDM) and how do you calculate it for pallets? 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