Module 8: Activity: Load Planning

In this activity, you will find the most efficient container and package combination to load freight.

As we've seen in the Textbook and in the eLearning, we need to configure boxes so that we get as many as possible in a ULD. In the following example, we load an LD9 container for shipment on a wide-body aircraft. Determine the load planning configuration to get the maximum number of boxes into the aircraft.

From page 161 of the textbook, we have the dimensions of an LD9: 125" long x 88" wide x 64" high.

Our shipment is comprised of boxes that are 11" long x 7" wide x 13" high. Also, in most cases, boxes can only be turned not flipped.

We can put the boxes so the 11" side is facing lengthwise in the container and the 8" side is facing the width of the container. This gives us:

A (length) = 125" (ULD dimension) / 11" (box dimension) = 11 boxes long

B (width) = 88" (ULD dimension) / 7" (box dimension) = 12 boxes wide

C (height) = 64" (ULD dimension) / 13" (box dimension) = 4 boxes high

Q- The experienced load planner sees unused space in the ULD (potential to increase ULD usage) and turns the boxes on the very last row in both configurations. The better choice relies on the second configuration (calculated on question 3) with the very last ones turned (where there was the 7" dimension facing the 125" length there is 11" dimension now)

1-1) How much is the ULD usage this way?

A) 75.2%

B) 77.9%

C) 81.0%

D) 79.9%

1-2_ Is the final ULD/container usage acceptable?

A	Yes. The final volume is acceptable as it yields the highest number of boxes that will fit in the container.
B	One can say no. The problem is a 13" box height means that 4 high is 52" out of 64" high ULD. You are destined to leave that space unless you change the boxes height and the load plan
C	Yes. The final result looks good.
D	The final volume fill is acceptable as the volume fill limit is not exceeded by the computed number of boxes that can be filled within the container.