Load calculator: pallets to LDM and checklists

Tick items off in the browser (we remember the state on this device) or print the list and keep it at the packing station.

First export to the United Kingdom

Check that your company has an EORI number. Without it, the customs declaration cannot start.
Prepare a commercial invoice in English: value and currency, Incoterms, full consignee details.
Prepare a packing list: number of pallets and packages, gross and net weights, dimensions.
Determine the tariff (HS) code of each product. The duty rate and required documents depend on it.
Agree with the consignee who handles UK import clearance and who pays duty and VAT (this follows from the Incoterms).
Check whether the goods need extra declarations: food, plants and products of animal origin go through SPS controls.
Make sure wooden pallets and packaging carry the ISPM 15 mark.
Give the carrier the full picture: loading and unloading addresses and hours, contact persons, references.

Also read: Documents for export to the UK · EORI number for UK trade

Preparing a pallet for transport

Use an undamaged pallet of the right type and load capacity. A cracked board is the top cause of damage.
Stay within the pallet footprint. Goods overhanging the edges get knocked at every transhipment.
Distribute the weight evenly, heaviest packages at the bottom.
Stretch-wrap the goods together with the pallet, so the film binds the cargo to the carrier, not just around the boxes.
Protect the edges with corner boards and add strapping where needed.
Label every pallet: shipper, consignee, piece count, notes such as "do not stack".
Weigh and measure the pallet after packing. Give us real dimensions, not catalogue ones.
Photograph the packed pallet before loading. In a damage claim this is your strongest evidence.

Also read: How to prepare a pallet for the UK · How to secure a pallet for export

Checklist prepared by OPTIMUS TRANSPORT Artur Wiączek · road transport Poland, United Kingdom and Ireland · optimustransport.pl

Frequently asked questions

How many euro pallets fit on a trailer?

A standard 13.6 m trailer takes 33 euro pallets (120 × 80 cm) floor-loaded, or 26 industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm). The limit is often payload rather than floor space: indicatively 24 t for the vehicle combination. Heavy goods fill a truck by weight sooner than by area.

What is an LDM (loading metre)?

An LDM is one metre of trailer length across its full width. A euro pallet takes about 0.4 LDM, an industrial pallet about 0.5 LDM. Groupage freight is priced by LDM, so knowing this number before you ask for a quote pays off.

Is the calculator result an offer?

No. The result is indicative and meant for initial planning. We decide on the vehicle after verifying the goods, route and dates. Send an enquiry through the form and we will come back with a concrete proposal.

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