In the logistics sector, the freight weight is among the most important issues. In all fields where transport and commercial forwarding are involved, the freight weight is calculated in terms of volume.
Volume Calculation in Partial Transportation
The word of “partial”, which is the technological transportation management found in order to reduce the cost of transportation service: means not whole but part. While the weights operative for dimension calculation in partial transportation vary by the mode of transportation, minimum weights are as follows:
Measurement Calculation by the Transport Type:
Base Minimum Weight
Air Freight Forwarding 1 m³ 167 kg
Truck and Airplane 1 m³ 167 kg
Road Transport 1 m³ 333 kg
Ocean Freight Forwarding 1 m³ 1.000 kg
The volume value of the partial freight is calculated as width x length x height x quantity. We can explain it as follows.
Example:
Width: 100 cm
Length: 120 cm
Height: 100 cm
Tonnage: 100 kg
Example: Road transport dimension calculation
100 x 120 x 100 = 1.2 m³ In
In this example, since the tonnage level is below 333 kg, the dimension calculation value is 1.2 m³. If the tonnage level in the example was ≥ 334 kg, the measure calculation value would be 2 m³.
Just like on the road transportation, the measurement in cubic meters can be calculated using this method in other transportation types.
One of the basic issues, which is necessary to be known about logistics dimensional calculation in transportation, is the measurement units used.
Measurement Units
Length Measures
1 centimeter (cm): 10 mm: 0.3937 inch
1 meter (m): 100 cm: 1.0936 yards
1 kilometer (km): 1.000 m: 0.6214 miles
1 inch (inch): 2.5400 cm
1 foot (foot) : 12 inches: 0.3048 cm
1 yard (yard): 3 feet (feet): 0.9144 m
1 statute mile: 1.609 m
1 knot: 1.852 m
Square Measures
1 square centimetre (cm²): 100 mm 2: 0.1.550 square inches
1 square meter (m²): 10,000 cm²: 1.1960 square yards
1 hectare (ha): 10,000 m²: 2.4711 square acres
1 square kilometre (km²): 100 hectares: 0.3861 square miles
1 inch: 6.4516 cm²
1 square foot: 144 inches: 929 cm²
1 square yard: 9 square feet: 0.8361 m²
1 acre: 4840 square yards: 4046.86 m²
1 square mile (sq.mil): 640 acres: 259 hectares
Weight Calculation
1 gram (gr): 1.000 mg: 0.0353 ounce
1 kilogram (kg): 1.000 gr: 2.2046 pounds
1 ton: 1.000 kg: 1.1023 small tons
1 ounce (oz): 0.0625 pound: 28.350 gr
1 pound (lb): 16 ounce: 0.4536 kg
1 short ton: 2000 pounds: 0.9072 ton
1 long ton: 2240 pounds: 1.0161 ton
Volume Dimensions
1 cubic centimeter (cm³): 0.061 cubic inches
1 cubic decimetre (dm³): 1.000 cm³: 0.0353 cubic feet
1 cubic meter (m³): 1.000 dm³: 1.3079 cubic yards
1 inch cube: 16.390 cm³
1 cubic foot: 1.728 cubic inches: 28.320 dm³
1 cubic yard: 27 cubic feet: 0.7646 m³
Container Dimensions in Logistics
One of the significant issues in container size calculation in the transportation and forwarding industry is the freight capacity of containers. Since products are loaded into vehicles in containers even if the type of transportation varies, dimensions may also differ because of various container types. Containers vary by types, purposes and sizes of the transport. The internal size and weight of the container type may vary according to standards of companies. In addition, elements such as the laws and rules applicable in the transportation sector, crane capacities in the ports or terminals can also be determinant on the capacities of the containers.
20 ′ / 40 ′ Standard Container
While these types of containers are frequently defined as “general-purpose”, these types of containers in the trading area are called “dry van” or “standard”. While thread dimensions of standard containers are fixed, their heights can vary. These containers have two doors, only one of which opens outwards. When the container’s door is closed, water and air cannot enter into. As well as it is mostly made of steel and aluminium, the loading capacity of these containers is less since steel is a heavy material.
Dimension Calculation for 20′ Standard
Width
Length: 5.90 m
Height: 2.37 m
Volume: 33 m³
Kerb Weight: 2.300 kg
Load Capacity: 21.770 kg
Dimension Calculation for 40′ Standard
Width
Length: 11.98 m
Height: 2.35 m
Volume: 66 m³
Kerb Weight: 3.700 kg
Load Capacity: 26,780 kg
20 ′ / 40 ′ Open Top Container
These types of containers have the length and width of general-purpose containers, however, these containers have no “hard-top”. In short, they are open-top containers. Massive loads which can not be loaded into containers through its door can be loaded from the top with vehicles similar to cranes. Machinery, wide plates, panels and profiles are frequently transported in this way. When these containers are used, the vehicle is covered with a canvas after the loading process. Since they usually carry heavy loads, the base of these vehicles is thicker and they are classified as special equipment, so additional costs are added to the freightage.
Dimension Calculation for 20′ Open Top
Width
Length: 5.89 m
Height: 2.35 m
Volume: 33 m³
Kerb Weight: 2.400 kg
Load Capacity: 21.600 kg
Dimension Calculation for 40 ‘Open Top
Width
Length: 11.98 m
Height: 2.35 m
Volume: 66 m³
Kerb Weight: 3.850 kg
Load Capacity: 26,630 kg
20 ′ / 40 ′
This type of container is briefly defined as “flat”. Closable containers do not have two sides and no top. Sometimes both heads of the container can be removed. These containers are suitable for loading products with both sides and higher than container’s height. Since the base of these is thick like open-top containers, additional costs may be added to the freightage.
Dimension Calculation for 20′ Flat Rack
Width: 2.20 m
Length: 5.60 m
Height: 2.20 m
Kerb Weight: 2.530 kg
Dimension Calculation for 40 ‘Flat Rack
Width
Length: 12.08 m
Height: 2.10 m
Kerb Weight: 5.480 kg
40/45′ High Cube Container
This type of container is suitable for the transportation of relatively lighter but high volume products. High cube containers are 30 cm higher than general-purpose 40′ containers.
Dimension Calculation for High Cube of 40
Width
Length: 11.98 m
Height: 2.69 m
Volume: 76 m³
Kerb Weight: 3.970 kg
Load Capacity: 26.780 kg
Dimension Calculation for 45’ High Cube
Width
Length: 13.50 m
Height: 2.69 m
Volume: 86 m³
Kerb Weight: 4.590 kg
Load Capacity: 27.900 kg
20 ′ / 40 ′ High Cube Reefer Container
While these type of containers are called “refrigerated container”, it is used for transporting other loads that require refrigeration, notably food products. It was developed for the service type called reefer transportation and these containers provide controlled cold transportation of products with cooling units operated by electric or diesel engines.
Dimension Calculation for 20 ‘High Cube Reefer
Width: 2.23 m
Length: 5.42 m
Height: 2.26 m
Volume: 28 m³
Kerb Weight: 3.200 kg
Load Capacity: 20,800 kg
Dimension Calculation for High Cube Reefer of 40
Width: 2.29 m
Length: 11.56 m
Height: 2.50 m
Volume: 66.6 m³
Kerb Weight: 4.500 kg
Load Capacity: 25.980 kg
