The carrying capacity of each aircraft, truck and ship is ultimately limited by space or weight. If you are loading a heavy cargo vessel, you may reach its weight limit before filling any space available. If you are filling a light cargo vessel, you may fill all available space until you reach the weight limit.

While calculating the cost of shipping your shipment, the carrier must calculate both the weight and the size of your shipment by translating the mass into a “weight equivalent,” also known as volumetric weight (or sometimes dimensional weight). The carrier shall charge per kilogram whichever is greater: the actual weight (also known as the gross weight) or the volumetric weight.

In other words, transporting 1 kilogram of feathers costs more than 1 kilogram of metal, given that the feather cartons take up more space than the steel cartons.

That explains why, in some situations, particularly when you are airborne, you can see both the actual weight and the chargeable weight in your shipment record.

The actual weight is the amount you send us when you submit your initial quotation application. We measure your quote based on that figure. Actual weight= gross mass.

Chargeable weight is the number on your invoice; it is the amount charged by the carrier to carry your delivery. The gross weight (including the product, packaging, pallet, etc.) or the volumetric weight Terminology: How is the volumetric weight calculated?

Volumetric weight calculations vary by mode of transport and sometimes by road. The table shows how different types of carriers measure their dimensional weight.

How can I better estimate the chargeable weight of my shipment?

The best way to do this is to ensure that the information you provide in your initial quote request is as accurate as possible.

In many cases, once the cargo is obtained, it turns out to be larger than expected. Palletization is a common reason for this. Is your supplier palletizing your products? This is going to affect weight and size. The more you know how to package and palletize your item, the more accurate our quote will be.

Here’s what your actual weight and chargeable weight look like in the Prime Freight app (actual weight is labelled as total weight): in addition to being shown on your Prime Freight invoice, the chargeable weight is also shown on the Airway Bill, which you can access on the Documents tab for the shipment.

Your shipment may be divided as the airline loads a combination of lighter and heavier cargo to ensure a safe.