How do I calculate truck utilisation?

Divide the weight loaded by the payload and the volume loaded by the load volume. The higher percentage is how full the unit is, and tells you whether weight or volume limits the load.

What is the payload of a 40ft container?

Ocean Network Express lists 26,840 kg for its 40ft dry boxes and 28,800 kg for its 40ft high cubes, with volumes of 67.6 m³ and 76.2 m³. Each box's plate gives its own figure.

Why is my truck full before 100% of its volume?

Because cargo never fills every corner: pallet footprints, carton sizes and the door opening leave gaps. Plan with the floor positions and stack heights your goods actually allow.

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Calculator · Free

Truck Utilisation Calculator

Enter what you are loading and see how much of a container's or truck's payload and volume it uses, which runs out first, and how much room is left.

Your shipment

Unit

Container capacities from Ocean Network Express. For a truck, enter its payload and load volume.

Weight loaded

Volume loaded

m³

Capacity used

76.9%

Runs out first: Volume
Payload used: 67.1%
Volume used: 76.9%
Payload left: 8,840kg
Volume left: 15.6m³

Volume runs out first: a light load for its size. A high cube or a better-packed load would carry more.

The formula

Payload used = weight loaded ÷ payload · Volume used = volume loaded ÷ load volume · Capacity used = the higher of the two

Whichever reaches 100% first is the limit; the other figure shows the capacity you pay for and cannot use.

Unit	Payload	Volume
40ft dry container	26,840 kg	67.6 m³
40ft high cube	28,800 kg	76.2 m³
20ft dry container	28,330 kg	33.1 m³

Container capacities used (Ocean Network Express). Individual boxes vary — check the plate

Worked example

The calculator opens on 18,000 kg and 52 m³ in a 40ft dry container: 18,000 ÷ 26,840 = 67.1% of the payload, but 52 ÷ 67.6 = 76.9% of the volume. Volume runs out first, with 8,840 kg of payload still unused.

When the answer misleads

When the volume is not usable. Nominal volume counts every corner, but pallets, cartons and the door opening leave gaps, so a unit is full before 100% of its volume. And a truck's legal payload is its gross limit minus its own weight, which varies by tractor and trailer — use your vehicle's own figure.

FAQ

Truck Utilisation Calculator: common questions

How do I calculate truck utilisation?: Divide the weight loaded by the payload and the volume loaded by the load volume. The higher percentage is how full the unit is, and tells you whether weight or volume limits the load.
What is the payload of a 40ft container?: Ocean Network Express lists 26,840 kg for its 40ft dry boxes and 28,800 kg for its 40ft high cubes, with volumes of 67.6 m³ and 76.2 m³. Each box's plate gives its own figure.
Why is my truck full before 100% of its volume?: Because cargo never fills every corner: pallet footprints, carton sizes and the door opening leave gaps. Plan with the floor positions and stack heights your goods actually allow.