The short answer
A load plan answers four questions before a truck is loaded: Will it fit? Is it under the weight limit? Is the weight in the right place over the axles? How will it be held down? Doing that by eye or in a spreadsheet is slow and error-prone once loads mix sizes, weights and stacking rules. Load planning software does the geometry and the weight maths automatically and shows the result so the dock can follow it.
What load planning software does
- Places each item in the cargo space by its real dimensions, orientation limits and stacking rules
- Checks the total weight against the vehicle's payload and each axle group's limit
- Suggests which vehicle, or how many vehicles, a load needs
- Orders multi-drop loads so the first delivery comes off first
- Produces a 3D view and a printable plan for the loaders and driver
- Keeps a history of loads for dispatch records and compliance
Who uses it
- Manufacturers and distributors dispatching their own product, who need to know how many trucks to book and how to load them
- Transport operators and carriers, who want fuller trucks and fewer overloaded axles
- Warehouse and 3PL teams, who hand the plan to forklift drivers
- Exporters loading sea containers, who need to know what fits before booking
Load planning vs related tools
| Tool | Main question it answers |
|---|---|
| Load planning software | How does this freight fit on this vehicle, legally and safely? |
| CBM calculator | What is the total volume of this freight? (not whether it actually fits) |
| Route planning software | Which order should the truck visit its stops, and by which roads? |
| TMS (transport management system) | Which carrier moves which order, at what cost, and where is it now? |
| WMS (warehouse management system) | Where is stock in the warehouse and what needs picking? |
Load planning sits between the warehouse and the truck. It usually takes its input from an ERP, WMS or TMS (orders and product dimensions) and hands back a plan, which is why most load planners offer file import and an API.
What to look for
- Your actual vehicles: the right deck sizes, multi-trailer combinations and weight limits for your region
- Axle group weight checks, not just a total weight
- Stacking rules per item (stackable, maximum load on top, nothing on top)
- Load restraint guidance, since the loader shares legal responsibility for a safe load
- Import from Excel or CSV, and an API if you want it inside your own systems
- A report your team can print or attach to dispatch paperwork
Where TRUXE fits
TRUXE is 3D load planning software for trucks, trailers and sea containers, built in Perth for Australian freight. It includes more than 90 preset vehicles from 2 tonne rigids to B-doubles and road trains, checks axle group loads, produces a load restraint plan, and exports PDF and Excel reports. You can try it free in the browser without an account.
Frequently asked questions
What is a load plan?
A load plan is a diagram and list showing where each item goes on a truck, trailer or container, in what order it is loaded, and whether the load is within the vehicle's weight, axle and dimension limits.
Is load planning software the same as a CBM calculator?
No. A CBM calculator adds up volume. Load planning software places each item individually, so it tells you whether the freight really fits once item shapes, orientation and stacking rules are taken into account, and it checks weight and axle limits too.
Does load planning software do route planning?
Usually not. Load planning decides how freight sits on the vehicle; route planning decides the order and roads for the stops. Some load planners, including TRUXE, use the delivery order to load multi-drop freight so the first stop comes off first.
Is there free load planning software?
Yes. TRUXE lets guests run a free load plan each day in the browser, and a free account adds more daily plans and saved history.