5.1.16 How to bottom spread cargoes when the container is not full

When loading cargoes, sometimes cargoes can not filled up a container. For safe transportation and no cargo damage, it is hoped that the cargo can be loaded flat when the container is not full. So how to define it in LoadMaster?

Let's use an example to explain.

Cargo data:

Name	Quantity	Length（cm）	Width（cm）	Height（cm）	Weight（kg）
A	8	140	74	102	200
B	6	140	74	102	220
C	10	85	74	84	200
D	4	136	67	99	230
E	32	64	58	29	120
F	16	64	58	76	160
G	12	69	64	58	180
H	15	54	16	53.5	120
I	15	62	62	62	180

Loading requirements:

1) The goods can only be placed as the opening direction faces up.

2) The cargo will be loaded with a 40GP. If the container is not full, it should be loaded as flat as possible to ensure a balanced center of gravity and safe transportation.

According to the loading requirements, the task type [Loading Container/Multiple Cargoes] should be selected and click to enter.

Enter the [Basic Information] interface. The items in this page is optional, and users can fill in the PO number, order number or destination information according to actual work requirements for later check. Next, start to designing the plan:

Step 1: Click [Cargo] on the left to enter the cargo interface. For there are lots of cargo types, you should add them in batches by [Add Cargo>Import From Excel]. Firstly, click [Add Cargo>Get Excel Template] to download the Excel template and save it to a certain location in your computer.

Secondly, fill in the template with the cargo information. ①Copy the name, quantity, length, width, height, and weight (gross weight of a single box) of the goods into the template, which are required items. Pay attention to the matching of the units. “Weight” refers to the gross weight of a single carton or box of goods. If the cargo is too light, the “Weight” can be ignored and not filled in, and the system will default to "1".

②Then define the load orientations of the goods. For it is required that cargoes can be placed as the height is vertical to the ground, that is only “stand” and “stand & rotate” are allowed, you should fill in “0” under the “allowed” Column of other orientations. “0” means not allowed such load orientation, leave it blank or “1” means allowed.

For there are no other requirements, you do not need to set other parameters, leaving them as the default value. The specific details of each parameter can be found in this guidance documentation. Save and close the template when finishing.

Thirdly, return the [Cargo] page, click [Add Cargo>Import From Excel], choose the template in the dialog box, and open it. Then the cargo information will be imported to the task.

Step 2: Click [Container] on the left to enter the [Container] interface. For the user does not know the type and quantity of container that should be used, it is necessary to add all the commonly used container types so that the system can select the most appropriate container from such containers.

For the commonly used container information is already maintained in the database, click [Import from Database], check the 20GP, 40GP and 40HC in the pop-up box, and then click [Add]. Edit the corner castings size and reserved size of the container, the size of the corner castings is 10*10*10cm. Precautions for defining the reserved size, please refer to "How to simulate carton expansion and manual interval".

Step 3: Set the loading rules on the [Loading Rules] page. For the cargo is required to be loaded flat when containers are not full, you need to check the [Prefer to bottom spread cargoes when the space is not fully utilized] in this page.

Click [Optimize] to get the loading plan. It can be seen from the 3D loading diagram that the 40GP is not full and the cargo is loaded flat in the container, which fully meets the loading requirements.

If you do not check the option [Prefer to tile cargoes when the space is not fully utilized], you can see that the container’s door position is vacant so that the goods are easy to collapse and be damaged in the generated plan.

After the scheme audit is completed, you can use your mobile phone to guide the on-site loading and download the loading report to make the packing list and customs declaration. Details please refer to this guidance book.