Laadplanning

Laadplanning is the process of planning the loading of goods into transport units such as trucks, shipping containers, or rail wagons. It aims to optimize space, weight distribution, accessibility, and handling efficiency throughout the supply chain. A well-designed laadplan supports safe transport, minimizes damage, and reduces transport costs by limiting empty space and unnecessary trips.

Key data for laadplanning include item dimensions and weights, packaging types, stacking rules, loading sequence, vehicle capacities, axle load limits, and any hazardous materials requirements. Constraints can be physical (size, weight), regulatory (securing, labeling, hazardous goods rules), or operational (unloading order at destinations, access points). The plan should balance space utilization with load stability and ease of unloading and inspection.

Approaches combine manual planning with digital tools. Software in warehouse management systems or transportation management systems can generate loading plans, often using optimization algorithms. Methods range from heuristic layout techniques to mathematical optimization for problems involving vehicle routing with loading constraints. The resulting output is a loading diagram or sequence that guides warehouse staff and drivers.

Applications span road freight, intermodal transport, and marine or rail shipments. Benefits include lower transport costs, reduced loading time, improved safety, enhanced traceability, and fewer damaged goods. Common challenges include last-minute order changes, incomplete data, and variability in equipment or vehicle configurations.