A shipment's density is one of the factors that determines the freight rate. Shippers need to know how to calculate a shipment's density so they can properly describe their goods on the bill of lading. The total weight of the shipment is divided by the total cubic feet to determine the density.
Step 1. Measure the height, width and depth of the shipment in inches. Measure to the farthest points, including skids or other packaging.
Step 2. Multiply the three measurements (height x width x depth). The result is the total cubic inches of the shipment.
Step 3. Divide the total cubic inches by 1,728 (the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot). The result is the cubic feet of the shipment.
Step 4. Divide the weight (in pounds) of the shipment by the total cubic feet. The result is the pounds per cubic foot, ie., density of the shipment.
For example, if the skid weighs 500 pounds with dimensions of 42 inches x 48 inches x 48 inches:
If you need more information on how cubic feet and density relate to freight rates, contact your local Reimer sales representative.
