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About the CUBIC METER & W/M = Weight or Measurement in respect of shipping ocean freight from the USA

We found that people that shipping freight from or to the USA by sea sometimes miss understand meaning of cubic meter. This page is created to help to understand the meaning of cubic meter in respect of international cargo transportation fro to US by sea.

• One cubic meter is a considerably large volume for your ocean freight shipment
• A cubic meter is a measurement of volume, that takes your ocean freight shipment, and is equal to space of one meter wide, one meter long, and one meter high.
• One metric meter = aprx. 3.28 metric feet
• ONE CUBIC METER = aprx. 35 CUBIC FEET

This image from www.wikipedia.org should help you get a picture of one cubic meter

A cubic meter is something 1 meter long by 1 meter wide by 1 meter high
(or 3.28 feet long by 3.28 feet wide by 3.28 feet high)

• 1m * 1m * 1m = 1 CUBIC METER
• 3.28ft * 3.28ft * 3.28ft = 35 CUBIC FEET = 1 CUBIC METER

Technically cubic meter could be any combination of lengths as long as all three dimensions multiplied together equals 1.

• 0.5m * 0.5m * 4m = 1 CUBIC METER
• 5ft * 7ft * 1ft = 35 CUBIC FEET = 1 CUBIC METER

CUBIC METER IN THE OCEAN FREIGHT
 

I. Cubic Meter in LCL - Less than Container Load ocean freight shipment

Besides the shipping cost of for your import or export, the advantage of shipping sizable cargo using LCL (Less than Container Load sea freight service from international transportation companies) sea freight service is because WEIGHT OF CARGO imported or exported from the USA IS NOT A PRICING FACTOR (this statement is not valid for extremely heavy cargo. Find about W/M limitations in respect of ocean freight below).   

Unlike with a parcel service or airfreight, LCL ocean freight rates are primarily based on volume, but not on the weight of cargo. Ocean freight charges an international shipment by sea will be based on  freight rate per cubic meter, but not on the weight in kilos or pounds. When calculate LCL ocean freight shippers should not not worry about weight of your cargo. Just disregard weight of your international shipment when you use direct service from an international shipping company (ocean freight freight forwarder).

If you use LCL sea freight service, i.e. ship boxed cargo overseas, these pictures should give you an idea on how shipping boxes may fit into cubic meter.           

Notice: YOUR CARGO VOLUME DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO ONE CUBIC METER. The total volume for your international shipment will be derived as a sum of volumes of your shipping units including fractions. For example:

You may ship overseas any volume and a wide variety of boxes. You can mix and match boxes of any size. You can ship boxes, crates, luggage or any other freight properly packaged and labeled for shipping purposes.

Notice: this rules may not work if you ship cargo overseas with an International Moving company (most of the times when you are moving from the USA overseas). This topic is provide understanding of using service from international transportation companies (U.S. freight forwarder). Information related international moving companies services is widely presented in on line. Contact a particular international moving company in order to find services packages offered by international moving companies on shipping goods from or to the USA by sea.

W/M = Weight or Measurement in respect of ocean freight and inland transportation (LTL)

W/M is the acronym for Weight or Measurement commonly used in the cargo transportation industry. It means which ever is higher. W/M presents cargo density limit. I.e. light cargo is charged based on measure, while heavy cargo based on weight. W/M may differ among carriers.

Shippers should be aware of CHARGEABLE WEIGHT AND CHARGEABLE VOLUME (WM) definitions used in different modes of cargo transportation. In respect of Ocean freight and Inland freight modes the meanings of WM are:

OCEAN FREIGHT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION: Since internationl transportation companieies vessel capacity is not really limited by weight of cargo but by the hold of the ship, then charges for regular ocean shipments are based on the total cargo volume. In general for sea freight shipments, the weight of the cargo is not a pricing factor.

However there is a cargo density limit if WM ocean freight rates are present. It varies depending on ocean carriers, origins and destinations, etc. Regular shipments by sea most likely will not exceed the density limit. In general exporters and importers have to be aware of the ocean freight “U.S. 45 lbs rule”, 45 lbs = 1 cubic foot. This means that if density of cargo shipped by sea exceeds 45 lbs per one cubic foot, then chargeable volume (total shipping cost) on the ocean freight will be calculated using this formula:

Total Weight of the cargo shipped by sea (in pounds) divided by 45 lbs = Chargeable Volume in cubic feet. The limit of 1 cubic meter = 750 kilos can be used as well. However depending on ocean freight carrier, origin and destination etc, it may vary: 1 cbm = 500 kilos; 1 cbm = 1000 kilos etc. The exporter or imported involved in an ocean freight shipment should be advised about WM by the ocean carrier when making a booking.

INLAND MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (Pickup or Line-haul charges): WM for Inland Trucking is more heavily restricted then in the Ocean freight mode and subject to actual or dimensional weight verification. In the USA chargeable weight for Inland Trucking should be calculated using this formula:

Chargeable Weight in Pounds = Actual Weight of the Cargo OR (Length x Width x Height in inches) divided by 194, whichever is greater.

If WM rules apply then it should be indicated in our documents for each shipment by sea.  

II. Cubic Meter in FCL (Full Container Load in Ocean Freight)

As a rule rates with FCL - Full Container Load in the ocean freight are based on type on sea freight container, but on weight or volume shipped goods. In respect of the cubic meter shipper should be aware of CUBIC CAPACITIES AND PAYLOADS of sea freight containers to be shipped from or to US.
 

Here are cubic capacities and payloads for mostly common used intermodal sea freight containers:

• 20’ STANDARD SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER
  Cubic Capacity: 33.0 cbm (1,165 cubic ft)
  Payload* :22,100 kg (48,721 lbs)
  
• 40’ STANDARD SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER
  Cubic Capacity: 67.3 cbm (2,377 cubic ft)
  Payload*: 27,397 kg (60,401 lbs)
  
• 40’ HIGH CUBE SEA FREIGHT CONTAINER
  Cubic Capacity: 76.0 cbm (2,684 cubic ft)
  Payload*: 29,600 kg (65,256 lbs)

*Payload weight exceeds over-the-road legal limits in US and Canada. Recommended maximum payload for the US and Canada is 35,000 lbs per 20' and 42,000 lbs per 40'.

III. Cubic Meter in RO-RO (Roll On/Roll Off)

Ocean freight rates with international transportation companies that provide Ro-Ro service are based on cubic meter or cubic foot and type of vehicle. Than bigger vehicle then ocean freight rate and total shipping cost is higher.

Total ocean freight will be calculated as a total volume of your vehicle shipped from US in cubic meters or cubic feet multiplied to the rate per cubic meter or cubic foot.

Exemptions can be rates for shipping cars from US using Ro-Ro service. It can be a lump sum per vehicle depending on its size. For example: Cars up to 600 cubic feet of total volume and up to 1.6 meters high - $1,300 lump sum + BAF & CAF etc. However, that “lump sum” rate is initially based on range of volume in cubic meters or cubic feet as well.

| CBM in LCL ocean freight | W/M - Weight or Measurement in sea freight | CBM in FCL ocean freight | CBM in RO-RO shipments |