A loading metre (LDM) is one metre of cargo space along the length of a vehicle across the full width of the load area – about 2.40 m in a semi-trailer. Loading metres measure how much space a shipment takes and are often used to price part loads.
Formula: Loading metres = (length × width of the load in m) ÷ 2.4, for non-stackable goods.
Example: A Euro pallet (1.20 × 0.80 m) covers 0.96 m² ÷ 2.4 = 0.4 LDM. A standard semi-trailer with a 13.6 m load length offers 13.6 LDM – room for 33 Euro pallets (three across, 11 rows).
Why it matters for costing: Part loads are often priced per loading metre. If you know the total trip cost, the minimum price per loading metre at full utilisation is total cost ÷ 13.6 LDM.