Book via loading meter (ldm) 📏

For large part-load shipments you don't have to list every single pallet. You can book directly by loading meters (Lademeter / LDM) — the space your goods occupy along the length of the truck.

When to use LDM booking

Use loading-meter booking when your shipment is a part / full load (Teil-/Komplettladung) that is best described by the floor space it takes up rather than by individual handling units — for example mixed or oversized goods, long items, or anything you would normally quote as "X loading meters".

How it works

An LDM shipment is sent as a single line with the package type PARTIE. The loading meters are expressed through the length field:

• unitLength = loading meters in centimeters (e.g. 7.2 LDM → 720)
• unitWidth = always 240 (the usable width of the truck bed)
• unitHeight = height in cm:
  • 250 or 260 for a standard tractor-trailer (Sattelzug)
  • 300 for a Megaliner
• unitWeight = total weight in kilograms

You can combine LDM booking with the STANDARD (cheapest) or EXPRESS product just like any other shipment.

Example request

The example below books 7.2 loading meters at 5,800 kg from Düsseldorf to Mönchengladbach as a STANDARD shipment:

{
    "product": "STANDARD",
    "shipper": {
        "address": {
            "postCode": "40239",
            "countryCode": "DE",
            "city": "Düsseldorf"
        }
    },
    "consignee": {
        "address": {
            "countryCode": "DE",
            "postCode": "41061",
            "city": "Mönchengladbach"
        }
    },
    "lines": [
        {
            "unitQuantity": 1,
            "unitPackageType": "PARTIE",
            "content": "goods",
            "unitLength": 720,
            "unitWidth": 240,
            "unitHeight": 250,
            "unitWeight": 5800,
            "wantsPalletExchange": false
        }
    ]
}

Quick reference

Notes

• Dimensions are always in centimeters, weight in kilograms.
• For pallet exchange set wantsPalletExchange: true.
• Additional services (tail lift, advance notice, etc.) work exactly as for any other shipment — see Shipper and Consignee Information.

Questions about LDM bookings? Reach the API team at [email protected].