In transportation industry, a large number of different cargo quantity measuring units are used, and below the most common cargo measuring units in trucking and sea cargo are described.
Loading capacity is stipulated by different international requirements, such as dimensions and weights of vehicles allowed on roads. The most common max cargo measuring units are the following parameters: 24 000 kg 34 EUR pallets (1 200 x 800 mm) 26 FIN
pallets (1 200 x 1 000 mm) 85 m³ … 112 m³ (depending on the trailer type, either full or semitrailer) 13,6 ldm (loading metres).
The below table demonstrates the interdependency of different cargo measuring units.
| EUR |
LMD |
m3 |
Kg |
Explanation |
| 1 |
0,4 |
2,5'' |
740 |
EUR- |
| 2 |
0,8 |
5 |
1480 |
EUR pallets (1200 x 800 mm) |
| 3 |
1,2 |
7,5 |
2220 |
|
| 4 |
1,6 |
10 |
2960 |
LDM |
| 5 |
2 |
12,5 |
3700 |
Loading meters |
| 6 |
2,4 |
15 |
4440 |
(Total meters used of trailer length) |
| 7 |
2,8 |
17,5 |
5180 |
|
| 8 |
3,2 |
20 |
5920 |
m3- |
| 9 |
3,6 |
22,5 |
6660 |
Cubic metres |
| 10 |
4 |
25 |
7400 |
|
| 11 |
4,4 |
27,5 |
8140 |
Kg- |
| 12 |
4,8 |
30 |
8880 |
Kilograms |
| 13 |
5,2 |
32,5 |
9620 |
|
| 14 |
5,6 |
35 |
10360 |
The transport price of part-loads |
| 15 |
6 |
37,5 |
11100 |
Is calculated on the basis of the |
| 16 |
6,4 |
40 |
11840 |
Biggest feature of either weight or |
| 17 |
6,8 |
42,5 |
12580 |
Volume |
| 18 |
7,2 |
45 |
13320 |
E.g. 1 EUR pallet, 1 m3, 300 kg, |
| 19 |
7,6 |
47,5 |
14060 |
Would be considered 1 EUR pll |
| 20 |
8 |
50 |
14800 |
Here the “biggest” indication is pallet. |
| 21 |
8,4 |
52,5 |
15540 |
|
| 22 |
8,8 |
55 |
16280 |
but for 1 EUR pallet, 1 m3, 1 400 kg, |
| 23 |
9,2 |
57,5 |
17020 |
the biggest indication is weight |
| 24 |
9,6 |
60 |
17760 |
Therefore if invoiced still in pallets, it |
| 25 |
10 |
62,5 |
18500 |
Twould be amount for two pallets. |
| 26 |
10,4 |
65 |
19240 |
|
| 27 |
10,8 |
67,5 |
19980 |
|
| 28 |
11,2 |
70 |
20720 |
|
| 29 |
11,6 |
72,5 |
21460 |
|
| 30 |
12 |
75 |
22200 |
|
| 31 |
12,4 |
77,5 |
22940 |
|
| 32 |
12,8 |
80 |
23680 |
|
| 33 |
13,2 |
82,5 |
24000* |
|
| 34 |
13,6 |
85 |
24000* |
|
Review of Trucks Used in International Freight Transportation
In Europe trucks of different manufacturers are used: DAF, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Scania, Volvo. All of the above companies have their own all-European sales and maintenance networks. There are other manufacturers of heavy* trucks that operate
in local markets but do not have a Europe-wide network, which in turn makes operating in international transportation risky.
* Trucks with a full weight of over 16 tons are classified as heavy trucks.
Bolster-Type Truck With A Semi-Trailer
A bolster-type truck usually has a bridge combination of 4×2 and the semi-trailer has 3 bridges. Such combination is designed for a full weight of 40 tons, which is valid in most European countries. Among semi-trailers, tent trailers with aluminum ribs,
tent trailers with ‘curtain sliders’ and without ribs, isothermal refrigerator trailers, container trailers, articulated trailers, tilting trailers and cistern trailers are used.
All the above semi-trailers have different models, depending on the nature of work.
Truck with Van Built On The Chassis And a Full Trailer
Truck with a chassis bridge formula 6×2, 4×2 or 6×4 (singles) and a full trailer with 2 or 3 bridges. The same possibilities apply as for a semi-trailer.
Truck with Van Built on The Chassis And a Centre Axis Trailer
Truck, chassis 6×2 and trailer with 2 bridges (Euro truck train). Lately, this has become a very popular combination all over Europe. It enables transport of 38 EUR pallets. All lengths are strictly stipulated by European law. Total length from the nose
of the truck to the rear point of the trailer is 18,75 metres. Distance from the rear point of the cabin to the rear point of the trailer is 16, 4 metres. Length of the cargo space, length
of the truck’s van + the trailer’s van is 15,65 metres.
Container Transportation
Containerised goods can be transported on roads as well as on sea. If two or more different modes of transportation are used in a single shipment, then it’s called multimodal transport. The rates and cargo capacity in marine transport are often stated
in TEU’s (20ft container equivalent unit). It is based on the volume of a 20ft long intermodal container, a standard-sized metal box which can be easily transferred between different
modes of transportation, such as ships, trains and trucks. 40ft container = 2TEU.
How much can be Loaded in a Container?
The storage capacity of a container depends on its size. The most well-known and widely used containers are 20- (20’DC) and 40- (40’DC) foot containers. However, to meet the diverse needs of freight transportation, containers with larger storage capacity
are used: e.g. 40’HC, a foot higher of the above-mentioned, and 40’PW and 45’HCPW in which standard size (EUR-, FIN-) pallets can be loaded side by side.
| Parameters |
20'DC |
40'DC |
40'HC |
40'PW |
45'HCPW |
| External |
|
|
|
|
|
| Length |
6,058 |
12,192 |
12,192 |
12,192 |
13,716 |
| Width |
2,438 |
2,438 |
2,438 |
2,500 |
2,500 |
| Height |
2,591 |
2,591 |
2,896 |
2,591 |
2,896 |
| Internal |
|
|
|
|
|
| Length |
5,902 |
12,032 |
12,032 |
12,039 |
13,553 |
| Width |
2,350 |
2,350 |
2,350 |
2,435 |
2,436 |
| Height |
2,390 |
2,390 |
2,695 |
2,376 |
2,684 |
| Door openings |
|
|
|
|
|
| Width |
2,338 |
2,338 |
2,338 |
2,338 |
2,442 |
| Height |
2,280 |
2,280 |
2,580 |
2,280 |
2,568 |
| Cubage (m3) |
33,1 |
67,6 |
76,2 |
69,8 |
88,7 |
| Max. weight (t) |
21,6 |
26,7 |
26,5 |
26,7 |
29,5 |
Multimodal Transport (Multimodal, Intermodal, Combined Transport)
Multimodal transport is the transportation of goods under a single contract, but performed with at least two different means of transport (rail, road, sea, air). Intermodal freight transport, i.e. combined transport involves the transportation of freight
in an intermodal container of vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation, without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes.
Multimodal transport is an increasing trend in Europe. In order to avoid risks arising out of the nature of cargo, such as possible breakage (e.g. furniture), the forwarders use combined transportation. It is a common fact that trucks rattle and vibrate
while driving which can result in damaged goods. So forwarders use the services of marine transportation as an intermediate link in combined transportation
(read: in order to avoid Polish roads). A semitrailer is sent directly from e.g. Belgium or Germany to Tallinn by ship.
More and more goods are transported in 45’HCPW containers instead of trailers. Containers can be transported on road as well as on sea. For instance goods are loaded into a container in France, transported on truck to the port in Belgium from where a
vessel ships the cargo to Estonia, where the truck delivers goods to the client’s door. Such delivery chain is greener, cheaper and more secure than road
transport; moreover, delivery time is often shorter.
Useful Abbrevıatıons in Trucking
ADR – European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road, dated September 30 1957
ATP – (Agreement of Transportation Perishable) agreement on international transportation of perishables and on use of special
vehicles for the transportation thereof
CEMT – Conference of European Transportation Ministers
ERAA – Association of Estonian International Road Carriers
EEA (EFFA) – Estonian Freight Forwarders Association
AL – Autoettevõtete Liit – Union of Estonian Automobile Enterprises
TIR – system developed according to the TIR convention for speeding up customs procedures
IRU – International Road Transportation Association
ARK – Autoregistrikeskus – Estonian Motor Vehicle Registration Centre.Address: Mäepealse 19, Tallinn, Estonia
