LDM guide
Loading meters explained for road freight
Understand loading meters, when they matter, and how to estimate floor space for pallets, parcels, and non-stackable freight.
Short answer
A loading meter, often written LDM, is a way to express how much trailer floor length a shipment occupies. It is useful when weight alone does not describe the space the goods take, especially for pallets and non-stackable cargo.
Why carriers ask for loading meters
A vehicle can run out of floor space before it reaches its maximum payload. If a shipment is light but bulky, or cannot be stacked, loading meters help the carrier understand how much trailer space is really needed.
What affects the estimate
Loading meters are only as good as the shipment details behind them.
- Pallet footprint: Euro pallet, industrial pallet, or custom base.
- Quantity: how many units need floor space.
- Stackability: whether another pallet can safely sit on top.
- Overhang: goods wider or longer than the pallet footprint.
- Height: tall cargo may still fit the floor but not the vehicle.
Use it as a planning number
Loading meters are a planning estimate, not a booking guarantee. Always confirm unusual cargo, ADR, overweight goods, height limits, and securing needs with the carrier.
Quick questions
What does LDM mean in freight?
LDM means loading meter. It estimates how much floor length a shipment occupies inside a trailer.
Is loading meter the same as volume?
No. Volume measures cubic space; loading meters focus on floor length. Non-stackable freight can have a high loading-meter impact even with moderate volume.
Can I calculate loading meters in Jaly?
Yes. The Jaly calculator gives quick loading-meter, volume, and weight totals without creating a full request.
Use Jaly to check missing details and export a PDF or copy-ready text for your carrier.