LDM at a glance: calculating how many pallets fit on a truck?
Konrad Spuła | Paweł Kempa
Published 03.02.2026
5 min reading time
Before commissioning a shipment, it’s worth checking what loading capacity we actually have – i.e., how many pallets will fit on the truck? This knowledge makes it easier to work with the transport provider, which, instead of dispatching a larger vehicle, can propose a cheaper solution tailored to our needs.
The article consists of two parts. The first presents the key information in a condensed form, while the second expands on the topic by covering non-standard scenarios.
How many pallets fit in a truck — how to calculate it?
To calculate loading space, the LDM parameter is used – short for loading meters. It refers to the number of linear meters taken up by pallets measured along the length of the vehicle. In other words, the longer the truck’s loading space, the more LDMs are available.
For example, if we want to transport 15 EUR pallets, we can calculate that they will take up 6 LDM, i.e. six meters of loading space. This is too much cargo for “BUS” – type vehicles, but it’s an ideal load for a “SOLO” truck.
You can calculate the LDM value for your shipment using a simple formula. Keep in mind there are two basic types of EUR pallets and so-called “standard pallets” / “UK pallets”. They have different dimensions, which is why different formulas must be used.
Formula for calculating LDM
| Pallet type | Pallet dimensions | LDM calculation formula |
| EUR pallet | 120 x 80 cm | number of pallets × 0.4 m |
| Standard pallet / UK pallet | 120 x 100 cm | number of pallets × 0.5 m |
If all truck types had the same loading length and pallets came in only one size, calculating LDM would be very straightforward. In reality, however, models within a given vehicle class can vary in dimensions – as can pallets. Still, if we want to estimate how many EUR pallets fit on a so-called “pace”, we can use the following summary:
How many pallets fit in a vehicle’s cargo space?
| Vehicle type & cargo space | LDM / loading length (m) | No. of EUR pallets | Payload capacity | Loading / unloading |
| Standard curtainsider semi-trailer (tautliner) | 13,6 | 34 | 24 tonnes | top, rear, side |
| Reefer semi-trailer (temperature-controlled) | 13,6 | 34 | 22 tonnes | rear |
| Isothermal semi-trailer | 13,6 | 34 | 22,5 tonnes | rear |
| “SOLO” (curtainsider), e.g. Mercedes Actros, Iveco Daily | 6-9 | 15-22 | 13 tonnes | top, rear, side |
| “BUS” (curtainsider), e.g. Mercedes Sprinter | 4,2-4,8 | 8-10 | 1,1 tonnes | top, rear, side |
| “BUS” (box/van body, “panel van”), e.g. Fiat Ducato | 3,8 | 6 | 1,25 tonnes | rear |
You can find detailed information on truck cargo space dimensions and maximum payload capacity here
Pallet arrangement in the cargo space vs. LDM
Pallets can be arranged with either the long side or the short side facing each other to make the best use of the cargo space. SOLO vehicles and larger have a standard internal width of 245 cm, which means that three EUR pallets placed with their long sides next to each other take up 1.2 LDM.
The pallet layout options are clearly shown in the examples below:
The second shows 5 EUR pallets × 0.4 m = 2 LDM
The first shows 3 EUR pallets × 0.4 m = 1.2 LDM
In the example above, we used the dimensions of a SOLO/FTL vehicle, but it’s important to remember that other truck categories may have different internal widths. For example, depending on the body type, vans typically have an internal width ranging from 210 cm to 245 cm.
This is key information – what’s worth keeping in mind when speaking with the freight forwarder?
The devil is in the details – and these most often come down to a lack of information between the customer and the transport company, for example regarding uneven weight distribution across individual pallets or non-standard pallet dimensions. This is well illustrated by an example shared by our freight forwarder.
I received information from the customer that they wanted to transport two pallets measuring 120 × 400 cm, with a total weight of 2,000 kg. During the call, I asked about the weight of each pallet. It turned out there was a significant imbalance: one pallet weighed 300 kg, while the other weighed as much as 1,700 kg.
If I hadn’t asked for the cargo details, a 7.5-ton SOLO vehicle would have gone to the pickup. If the two pallets were loaded side by side, it could have resulted in one side being overloaded. Thanks to the additional information from the customer, I arranged transport with a longer vehicle so the pallets could be loaded one behind the other.
A more in-depth discussion with the customer not only helps us choose the right vehicle, but also prevents misunderstandings. Remember: what seems obvious to one person may not be equally clear to someone else. Pallet sizes are a good example – it’s worth specifying them when submitting a quote request. Besides the most common EUR and UK pallets, transport also uses pallets and load carriers with irregular dimensions.
If you want to be sure your shipment is handled safely and the loading space is optimized (which translates into the most cost-effective freight offer), get in touch with us – we’ll be happy to help and advise you on the best approach. We’re not only efficient in transport – we reply to emails within a minute. See for yourself 🙂 spedycja@visline.pl
