What is a loading metre (LDM) in road freight?
A loading metre (LDM) is one running metre of trailer floor at 2.4 m width. Learn how to calculate LDM, convert pallets, and book European road freight.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
A loading metre (LDM) is the standard unit of trailer floor space in European road freight: one running metre of trailer length at the fixed 2.4 metre loading width. A Euro pallet occupies 0.4 LDM, and a full 13.6 metre trailer holds 34 LDM.
Road freight carries 77% of EU inland freight tonne-kilometres (Eurostat, 2022), and partial-load and groupage shipments across Europe are priced in LDM — making the unit a practical necessity for any shipper or dispatcher.
How do you calculate LDM for a shipment?
Trailer width is fixed, so only length varies. A standard tautliner or curtainsider has an internal usable width of 2.4 metres — the dimension that defines one LDM. Maximum trailer dimensions are set by EU Directive 96/53/EC as amended by Directive 2015/719/EU : 2.55 m external width and a 13.6 m usable cargo deck.
The practical method: place pallets two abreast across the trailer width and measure the length they consume. Two Euro pallets (each 1.2 m × 0.8 m) placed side-by-side occupy 0.8 m of trailer length — so each pallet is 0.4 LDM. Two industrial pallets (1.2 m × 1.0 m) consume 1.0 m of trailer length — 0.5 LDM each.
The table below gives the standard equivalents used across European groupage networks.
| Cargo unit | LDM equivalent |
|---|---|
| Euro pallet (1.2 × 0.8 m) | 0.4 LDM |
| Industrial / UK pallet (1.2 × 1.0 m) | 0.5 LDM |
| Half pallet (0.8 × 0.6 m) | 0.2 LDM |
| Full 13.6 m trailer | 34 LDM |
A transport management system calculates LDM automatically from entered pallet dimensions, eliminating manual errors when consolidating mixed shipments.
What is the difference between LDM and CBM in road freight?
LDM measures floor area — the length of trailer space your cargo claims, regardless of height. CBM (cubic metre) measures total volume. Air and sea freight typically quotes by weight or CBM; European road-freight partial loads quote by LDM because floor space, not hold volume, is the binding constraint in a standard trailer. The IRU notes that floor-space pricing dominates European groupage precisely because most trailers reach their floor limit before their cubic or weight limit.
When cargo cannot be stacked — machinery, fragile goods, or odd-shaped units — the LDM figure reflects the full floor claim and the price follows.
Why does LDM matter when requesting a freight quote?
Carriers price partial loads by LDM because it directly measures capacity consumed. Quoting too few LDM risks a refused load at the dock; quoting too many means overpaying. The EU's eFTI regulation (EU 2020/1056), entering operational force in 2026, requires cargo dimensions and LDM to be submitted electronically, making accurate calculation a compliance input, not just a pricing convenience.
When you request a freight quote from Logifie, the LDM figure is the key input our dispatchers and freight technology use to match your cargo to the right groupage or full-load service.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 LDM in road freight?
One LDM is one running metre of a standard European trailer floor at the loading width of 2.4 metres — equivalent to 2.4 m² of floor area. It is the base pricing unit for groupage and LTL shipments across European road-freight networks.
How many pallets fit in one LDM?
At 0.4 LDM per Euro pallet, one LDM equals 2.5 Euro pallets. Two pallets placed side-by-side across the 2.4 m trailer width consume 0.8 m of trailer length — the simplest way to visualise the unit.
What is the maximum weight per LDM in a European trailer?
There is no single legally fixed figure. EU Directive 96/53/EC caps a five-axle HGV at 40 tonnes gross, leaving roughly 24–26 tonnes of net payload across 34 LDM. Carriers commonly apply around 750 kg per LDM for mixed-cargo groupage, but this varies by carrier.
What is the difference between LDM and CBM?
LDM measures trailer floor length occupied at a fixed 2.4 m width; CBM measures total cubic volume. European road-freight partial loads are priced by LDM because floor space is the binding constraint; CBM dominates in air and sea freight where hold geometry differs.
Need to move a partial load across Europe? Request a freight quote from Logifie and our team will confirm your LDM, route, and rate within one business day.
