At a Glance
- Typical consignment size
- 50 kg–2,500 kg / 0.5–5 LDM
- Parcel service limit
- max. 31.5 kg / 120 cm length
- Domestic general cargo transit time
- 1–3 business days
- Euro pallet
- 120 x 80 cm, max. 1,000 kg
- Industrial pallet
- 120 x 100 cm
What counts as general cargo?
General cargo covers all goods carried in clearly delimited, handleable units: Euro pallets and industrial pallets, mesh pallets, cartons on pallets and packaged piece goods. Typical general cargo consignments weigh between 100 kg and 2,500 kg and take up 0.5 to 5 LDM.
Parcel service vs freight forwarder: which to choose
Parcel services (CEP: courier, express, parcel) are designed for standardised small parcels up to a maximum of 31.5 kg. General cargo forwarders handle consignments from around 50 kg and one pallet upwards: with forklifts, loading docks, a signed delivery note and individually agreed appointments.
Groupage and hub-and-spoke
In groupage traffic the pre-carriage driver collects consignments from various consignors in a region (typically in the afternoon). In the evening these are consolidated at the regional depot and loaded onto trunk-line lorries for the overnight run. In the morning the destination hub unloads the consignments and passes them on for local distribution.
Typical dimensions and weights in general cargo
Standard dimensions for general cargo: Euro pallet 120x80 cm, max. 1,000 kg when loaded; industrial pallet 120x100 cm; mesh pallet 124x84 cm. Maximum stacking height in a lorry: 2.4–2.7 m. Consignments over 3,000 kg or longer than 240 cm usually count as heavy or oversized freight and attract a special tariff.
