Shippers
Plain answers for dispatchers.
Freight Density Calculator
How many pallets fit in a 53, and does turning them get more than 26?
Yes. In FreightDeck (freightdeck.app), the 53 has a floor of 636 in long × 98 in wide. How many standard 48×40 pallets you get depends on how you load them:
| Loading | How it sits | Pallets |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | 48 in long × 80 in wide per row, 13 rows × 2 | 26 |
| Pinwheel | Mixed straight and turned | 28 |
| Turned | 40 in long × 96 in wide per row, 15 rows × 2 | 30 |
Loaded straight, each row of two takes up 48 in of floor, which gives you 13 rows and 26 pallets. If you turn pallets on the deck, each row takes 40 in of floor and spans 96 in of the 98 in width. That gives you 15 rows and 30 pallets. Pinwheel sits between the two at 28. You can lay it out in the planner at freightdeck.app/app before anything moves.
How do I set the tandems so a heavy load is legal?
On the 53 and the 48, the tandems slide. The planner shows you where the weight sits over the axles and gives you a tandem position to start from. The 28-foot pup has no tandem slider, so on a pup you balance the load by where you place the freight. In every case, treat the planner as a guide only. It does not guarantee the load is legal. Axle limits and tandem rules depend on the trailer, the tractor, and the road you're running, so weigh it at a scale and adjust until each axle group checks out.
Do I have to secure freight inside a trailer?
Yes. The planner only tells you where each pallet goes. It doesn't hold anything in place. You still need straps, load bars, and void fillers where the load calls for them, and the driver still has to sign off on securement before the doors close.
What's the most a trailer can haul?
There isn't one max payload number. What you can haul depends on the tractor, the trailer, how the weight is spread across the axles, and the rules where you're running. The planner gives you an axle weight guide so you can see how the load is balanced. It also warns you when a 48 goes over 45,000 lb or a pup goes over 20,000 lb. Those warnings are a heads-up, not a legal limit. Confirm the real numbers at the scale.
What does pinwheel mean?
Pinwheel means some pallets in the trailer are loaded straight and some are turned, so the pattern across the floor looks like a pinwheel. With 48×40 pallets on the 53, pinwheel fits 28. That's more than all straight at 26 and fewer than all turned at 30.
What are the inside dimensions of a trailer?
These are the sizes the planner uses:
| Trailer | Inside length | Inside width | Inside height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 636 in | 98 in | |
| 48-foot | 570 in (47 ft 6 in) | 99 in | 110 in |
| 28-foot pup | 27 ft 3 in | 99 in | 108 in |
Trailers aren't all built the same, so measure yours or check its spec plate before you count on a fit.
Is there a freight density or PCF calculator?
Yes. The Freight Density Calculator is at the top of this page. Enter your pieces, dimensions in inches, and weight, and it works it out like this:
- Cubic feet = pieces × L × W × H / 1728
- Density (PCF) = weight / cubic feet
Example: one 48×40×48 pallet comes to about 53.3 cu ft. At 800 lb, that's roughly 15 PCF.
The calculator also gives you an NMFTA density class. That's an estimate only, not a quote. Your carrier sets the final class and rate.
What trailers can the planner handle?
The planner handles 53s, 48-foot trailers, and 28-foot pups. To see how many pallets fit on a 48 or a pup, open freightdeck.app/app, pick that trailer, and the planner shows you the count.