With carrier dock workers scrutinizing shipments more and more to add weight & inspection revenue, it is becoming imperative for shippers to understand what the exact density of their shipments is.
Carriers are chomping at the bit for the opportunity to find that a shipments density is at a higher class than a shipper put on their bill of lading. With scales attached forklifts and tape measures in everyone’s pocket, this is becoming a huge money maker for the carriers.
So shippers need to know for sure what their density is. It’s not hard either. All that is needed is the weight, dimensions and the formula for density. For those like me who forgot this simple high school algebra formula, here is a step by step way to calculate 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, i.e., density.
Here is an example of calculating density: If the skid weighs 500 pounds with dimensions of 42 inches x 48 inches x 48 inches:
1. Multiply 42″ x 48″ x 48″ = 96,768 cubic inches
2. Divide 96,768 by 1,728 = 56 cubic feet
3. Divide 500 pounds by 56 cubic feet = 8.9 pounds per cubic feet (PCF), i.e., density
by George Muha
FreightSavingsTips.com
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