Truck and Container Loading Software

Pallet building case study

8/10/2018

Step 1 - Cargo definition

In case you need to define cargo to be used repeteadly, define it in Predefined section of Add Cargo tab and you can use it for all your future loadings. It will be there for you.

Predefined cargo can be add to your plan quickly by defining Quantity, selecting your predefined cargo and pressing Add to Plan button. Your cargo will be visible in right part of application window.

Here you can define if boxes are stackable, their stackable weight limits, if you want to turn them around axis Y only or all axis, etc. You can also adjust quanity and dimensions if needed.

Step 2 - Equipment definition

Next step is to say what equipment do you want to use. You can choose among trucks, containers or pallets. Or you can define your own equipment by pres plus button to add a new one.

To choose equipment into your project, go to Add Container tab, select equipment and press Add button. You will see your equipment on the right side under Containers tab.

Here you can change the payload of the equipment you do not want to exceed when loading boxes, as weel as dimensions, like max height of pallet, etc.

Step 3 - Loading and visualization

When you have defined your cargo and equipment, e.g. pallets in this case, go to Visualization tab and press Auto Load button. After a while (depends on quantity of boxes) you will see 3D visualization on the left side and number of pallets on the right side.

Your can rotate 3D by your mouse, you can display box id by clicking corresponding mark button and preview all pallets by clicking arrow buttons.

Step 4 - Exporting loading pallet plan

Next step is to exporting your loading plan if needed or you can skip this step if you want to proceed with loading your pallets to truck or container.

You can export your loading plan in PDF, RTF (rich text file editable in word processors) or XLSX formats, by pressing Export button.

You can also include step by step visualization, so loading plan can show you loading progress e.g. how it looks after 6 boxes until equipment is full.

Step 5 - Loading pallets to truck or container

In order to load your pallets into container or truck, press the Load as pallets button. You will get a new window where you can choose the container or truck type and define stackability, turnability and if you wisht to preserve max height of pallet or
use loaded pallet height.

Press Add Pallets to Plan to proceed to next step.

Step 6 - Exporting loading plan of your truck or container loading

Now you can see your pallets loaded and you can export your loading plan by pressing Export button.
Usage is analogical to the step 4.

New version 1.1.9 released with 14 enhancements

11/5/2017

Double Deck Trailer

There is a new equipment type called Double Deck Trailer allowing to load cargo in two deck trailers.

In order to add Double Deck Trailer equipment into your plan, click „Add new predefined Container“ button of „Add Container“ tab.

From Equipment type drop down menu select „Double Deck Trailer“ option.

Enter dimensions and save. (In a later stage there will be possibility to download DDTrailer equipments from LoadCargo.in server.

Flat Rack

There is a new equipment type called Flat rack allowing to load cargo onto flat rack type containers.

In order to add Flat Rack equipment into your plan, click „Add new predefined Container“ button of „Add Container“ tab.

From Equipment type drop down menu select „Flat Rack“ option.

Enter dimensions and save. (In a later stage there will be possibility to download Flatrack equipments from LoadCargo.in server.

Import cargo dimensions from different LoadCargo.in projects

In some cases you might need to import cargo dimensions from alrady created projects. In order to do so, there is a new functionality under „Add Cargo“ tab in „Automatic“ section.

Click „Get Data from Project“ button, select LoadCargo.in xml project file and list of cargo will be displayed.

If you want to add all cargo to your current plan, press „Select All“ button to select all cargo and press „Add to Planned Cargo“ button. Data will be transfered to your current project.
If your current project consist of more shipments, you can also select under which shipment cargo should be transfered by selecting shipment mark from shipment drop down menu.
In case of importing data to you current plan, you can also define number of pieces entering number in column „Count“ of the cargo list.
For importing cargo data into your list of predefined cargo, select rows you want to transfer (you can use shift or ctrl keys for multiselect) and press „Add to Predefined Cargo“ button.
If cargo marks were defined in imported project, they will be used as well, otherwise sequential number will be assigned.

Import cargo dimensions from LoadCargo.in Excel template (xlsx)

If you prefer to fill in data to Excel spreadsheet and upload to application, download LoadCargo.in Excel template (format xlsx) clicking the download button. After you enter all data into it, upload it clicking the „Get data from Template“ button. After that you will be taken to the standard import screens.

Search in the List of Predefined Cargo

In cases you have a lot of predefined cargo, you might want to use a new search functionality. It seeks in Mark column. Just enter searched term in search field and press search button.

Add Predefined Cargo - enhancement

If you wanted to add a cargo with dimensions and stackability/turnability parameters which already existed in your project, you received an alert that it’s not possible and you could increase quantity instead. However there might be cases you have two types of cargo of the same size and parameters which must be handled separately.
As of this version you can add it by having different box mark in your list of predefined cargo.

Add Cargo manual enhancement

When adding cargo manually one by one, now you can define cargo makrk as well to speed up upload of your dimensions not to amend it late in loaded cargo list.

Auto load (YXZ – Container) enhancement

In case the labor that loads the containers are not very effective, you can define percentage of max volume of container capacity. Default is 100%, but you can decrease it down to 20%.

Quick cargo deleting

In case you need to remove many boxes from your plan, it’s very slow to delete boxes or cargo one by one. Therefore there is a new function to quicky remove boxes, cargo or shipment you select.
Selection can be made on shipments, cargo or boxes. If you want to select multiple boxes or cargo, use Ctrl or Shift key. (Hold Ctrl or Shift key while clicking appropriate row in your plan.)
Select records clicking the line in column „Sel“ and press trash button.

Reducing number of items in loading plan

In case you have many boxes, loading plan‘s list of items can be very long and confused. By ticking on „Reduce number of items in loading plan“ checkbox, list will include only cargo items with its dimensions and information about number of boxes.
So if you have 100 boxes of 3 different kind of size, by selecting this option you will not have 100 lines in the loading plan, but 3 only.

Cargo sort

Click the column header to sort. Click the column header while holding Ctrl key to sort by more columns.

Slider box indicator

In previous versions there was only one number above the slider indication number of boxes displayed in current equipment. No there are three numbers. First one remains unchanged. Second number shows number of displayed boxes plus number of all boxes in previous equipments (containers/trucks). Third number represents total number of all loaded boxes in all equipments.

Point of Gravity enhancement

Real point of gravity as per loading boxes

Ideal point of gravity (center of container/truck)

POG (LxWxH) Shows deviation in all axis (in centimeters/inches and percentages)
POG (Rear/Front, Left/Right) Deviation between rear/front side and left/right side (in centimeters/inches)

Box Infolines

Toggle button. When selected, click the boxes to show infolines. Click again to hide them.

Infolines shows size of the box above the line and Y axis distance / remaining distance to the doors below the line.

End

Tips & Tricks 1

4/29/2017

LoadCargo.in is cargo loading optimizatina nd visualization tool helping user to see how many containers,trucks or pallets are needed for list of cargo of different dimensions.
As such it uses so called heuristic algorithms which is efficient way how to process number of combinaton in reasonable time, but as there are many combinations for each shipment and almost every shipment is different, such an algorithm can’t bring the best results each and every time.
Therefore it’s a good habit to play with the setup of the parameters and also to have a good understanding of them. It takes some time, but it’s worth.

Here are few tips:

If your cargo can be turned in all axises, try to change it for rotation around Y axis only or even disable turning completely. You can get better results at the end.

When your cargo is stackable, pay attention to stackability weight limit. Stack weight limit says, what can be max sum weight of boxes put on top of stackable box. If set to zero, there is no limitation. If set too low, your container may not be loaded efficiently.

Priority or Group parameters can also greatly affect loading effectiveness. If you change priority (order) in which boxes should be loaded, you can get much different results too. Also grouping means, that only cargo of the same priority will be put together into one container no boxes of different priorities.

Shipment mark defines customer. If you have e.g. LCL business and you need to load cargo of three customers into one container and this will be unloaded in three different destination, you have to do loading also in specific order not to mix cargo up and set three shipment marks with its cargo split according to a shipment marks.

If you have a project consisting few big pieces of cargo, try manual mode. I believe, human’s brain is still the best. :)

Small Cost Savings and Payback Analysis - Real example described by LoadCargo.in customer

11/17/2016

LoadCargo.in software enables cargo loading optimization of trucks, containers, wagons and barges. In order to demonstrate specific advantages and usage we will describe procedure on actual shipment of our customer - first class machinery trader and supplier to Jakarta (CFR).

First picture shows customer specification from tender period. Customer’s condition was 15 trucks. We optimized quantity for transportation in containers from FOB Hamburg to CFR Jakarta. In first phase we counted with 6 special containers for so called overdimensional cargo and 9 dry box containers (8x40ft and 1x20ft).

After we won the business we further optimized number of trucks and containers using LoadCargo.in application, see picture number 2.

The result was following:

For transportation from customer to the port of Hamburg we used „only“ 13 trucks instead of 15 as indicated at the beginning
For main leg (sea part) we saved 1x20ft container, so whole shipment was shipped on 6 special containers and 8x40ft containers.

Savings after optimization with LoadCargo.in as follows:

2 trucks – 2 x EUR 750
1x20ft container stuffing – EUR 400
1x20ft freight to Jakarta – USD 1.184

In total we saved EUR 2.970 on middle size shipment just because we used cargo loading optimization software LoadCargo.in. Costs for the software returned 7x. No additional comments needed!

Picture no. 1

Picture no. 2

New version 1.1.8 released

11/6/2016

Export to Excel (xlsx)

Now you can export your loading plan to xlsx format as well. Every equipment (container, truck) has it's own list.

Pallet Building & Loading

Step 1
Load cargo dimensions as usual using one of the „Add Cargo“ options (Manual, Predefined, Automatical, EDI)

Step2
Choose an appropriate pallet type from the list („Add Container tab“) and add it to your project. If there are no pallets in your list, define one manually or download some by pressing „Download Equipment“ button.

If you doubleclick pallet in the equipment list or press „Edit“ button while pallet is selected, equipment detail window will be open.

Here you can define dimensions and also height of the pallet itself. (Height 2) Default max height of boxes being loaded is set to 150 cm. (Height)

Step 3
Choose Loading mode and load boxes onto pallets.
There is a new button „Load as pallets“ in the Visualization tab.

Press „Load as pallets“ button, Pallet center will appear.

Choose container or truck to be used for pallet loading. Define, if pallets can be stackable / turnable and if you prefer to use height of the pallet (default 150cm) or real loaded height. (default option)
Press „Add Pallets to Plan“ button. If your pallet project has not been saved yet, you will be prompted by save as dialog window to do so. After this step a new project is created where pallets are loaded as boxes. By this way you can return back to your pallet project as it’s saved in separated xml file.

Step 4
Choose Loading mode (Manual/Auto) and load pallets into the selected equipment (container/truck).

End

Changes

When selecting mode of loading from dropdown menu using dropdown arrow (right part of the button), loading will not start immediately. In order to initiate loading, additional press of the button itself (left side) is needed. The reason behind the change is that before Auto Load is started, user might want to choose loading direction (YXZ - Container or XZY - Truck).

New version 1.1.7 released

4/24/2016

Portable application version

LoadCargo.in is available as a portable application as of now too. If you download portable version of LoadCargo.in, you do not need to install it, just run directly from the folder after extracted from zip archive.
This brings great flexibility into the corporate environment where every installation must be requested from IT department.
Also, it’s not necessary to have Adobe Air framework installed, everything important for application run is bundled in one folder.

The only disadventage of portable version is, that Adobe Air is not automatically updated by Adobe on user’s computer. It’s fully on user’s decision which installation version user wants to use, both will be available on application’s website.

EDI Connector enhancement

EDI connector has been amended by possibility to download EDI file from FTP server.

Planned Cargo list – Search Mark / Box id function

Now it is possible to search for Mark or Box Id within Planned Cargo List, which might be handy especially in case of long list of cargo.

Box id changes

Box Id can be changed by user now and it can be not only numeric value, but also text value now. It can be imported too via Automatical data import or EDI connector.
By default Box Id is numeric sequential field through out all shipments, not only cargo as it was before.
Box Id can be also displayed at box in 3D visualization.

Floor only

Selecting Floor only check box indicates boxes which should not be put on other boxes, just floor.

Import data enhancement

On top of the current data It is now possible to import following fields:

Priority (number field)
Group (yes/no field)
Box Turn (Number field. 0 for no turn, 1 for Y-asis turn, 2 for fully turnable cargo.)
Box id (alphanumerical field, by default sequential number through all shipments, not cargo only. Can be change by user now.)
Floor only (yes/no field)

Data tab

There is a new tab called „Data“ with list of all boxes which can be filtered or sorted out and exported to PDF.

Box numbering

In case of many boxes in equipment (container/truck) numbering often overlap each other which leads to not proper legibility. If selected, this new function can hide boxes which box center is not directly visible to user. This can help a lot especially in loading plan, if you do left, right, top, front views.

Manual mode amendment

When loading manually using Planned Cargo Visual, you can over over the box and see tooltip with additional details.

Export TXT

Now it’s possible to choose what fields should be exported and in which order, using drag & drop.

Manual mode toolbox

In order to speed up the work in manual mode, a toolbox has been added so it’s possible to click the tool and apply it to the boxes. Available tools from top to the bottom: Remove box, shift box left, shift box right, shift box to the X-axis center, shift box back, shift box to the front and shift box to the Z-axis center.

Auto Truck mode (XZY) - Max Stack Level

In Auto Load mode when choosing Truck (XZY) loading type, it’s also possible to define maximal stack level. If value is zero, there is no stack level limit.

Export Loading Plan – custom columns

Now it’s possible to select which columns to display when exporting loading plan. Also, you can define width of column in percentage.

Bug fixing / Miscellaneous

Error when loading shipment with no cargo boxes loaded because of size or removal.
Import of data from excel where one row contained more line (Alt+enter) caused error.
Loading in Truck mode freezed if loading time exceeded 3 minutes.
PNG views export did not save all views, just one on Mac OS X.
When loading boxes in manual mode and box does not fit container or given area, dedicated message will appear with the reason for not placement.
Rotating boxes in manual mode did not always work properly in some scenarios.
Fixing small bugs in manual mode.
Performance improvement.
CTRL+S shortcut implemented to save the changes in a project.

LoadCargo.in fits

3/13/2016

Have you ever thought how important is to adhere to the payload weight limits not to damage your cargo or equipment? By using container loading calculator software like LoadCargo.in, you can easily prevent such situations. LoadCargo.in automatically check weight limits. It is mandatory now to make container weight verification (SOLAS), check this site.

Here you can also see, what are the consequences of misdeclared container weights.

And yet another examples.

Always consider weight limits when loading your cargo into container or truck. Container packing program can help you not only efficiently load cargo into the truck or container, but can prevent you from overweightening you containers or trucks. Use container loading application and be safe in your business.

New version 1.1.6 released

1/1/2016

There are several enhancements.

Field for truck/trailer license number or container seal number has been added to the Container list, and this info is visible in the exported stowage plan as well.

Loading plan amended by summary on the last page.

Loading plan amended by information about company and customer in the footer of each page.

Before Loading plan is exported, you can now decide what do you want to be displayed and what not by simply check/uncheck specific fields.

Priority loading - now you can let the system know how to prioritize boxes.
Cargo package group - according to a priority number you can now define which boxes should be loaded into separated container or truck, so no other boxes can be loaded with them.

EDI and Automatic import function amended by Shipment Mark, so cargo can be loaded in a way it will be unloaded in destinations (FILO - First In Last Out)

Bug fixing

Should you have any question, do not hesitate to contact us!

New version 1.1.5 released

10/28/2015

New version contains following changes:

Truck load mode - There are two automatical loading modes now. Mode typical for container loading and now also mode usual for truck loading, stuck level by level for better stability. See small animated GIFs and screenshots for better understanding. :)

Truck loading mode:

Container loading mode

Stuffing plan improvement - Cargo loaded number added per container and final Summary added as well.
Bug fixes

New version 1.1.4 released

8/17/2015

Bug fixing - If shipment nodes were moved up or down so sequential order (1, 2, 3) was interrupted, like (2, 1, 3), application stopped responding.
Bug fixing - If single box weight exceeded equipment (container, truck) payload, application stopped responding.
Algorithm effectivness improvement

<<Previous

​Step 1 - Cargo definition

Step 2 - Equipment definition

Step 3 - Loading and visualization

Step 4 - Exporting loading pallet plan

Step 5 - Loading pallets to truck or container

Step 6 - Exporting loading plan of your truck or container loading

Double Deck Trailer​

Flat Rack

Import cargo dimensions from different LoadCargo.in projects

​Import cargo dimensions from LoadCargo.in Excel template (xlsx)

​Search in the List of Predefined Cargo

Add Predefined Cargo - enhancement

​Add Cargo manual enhancement

​Auto load (YXZ – Container) enhancement

​Quick cargo deleting

​Reducing number of items in loading plan

​Cargo sort

​Slider box indicator

​Point of Gravity enhancement