Most of Locad's carriers charge based on physical weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. This is rounded up to the closest weight bracket.
Physical Weight
The physical weight of the parcel, including packaging. You can get this value by placing your parcel on a weighing scale. This is sometimes called Actual weight.
Volumetric Weight
This is expressed in kg, and is calculated by the following formula:
Length(cm) * Width(cm)* Height * (cm) / Volumetric factor
Depending on the carrier, the volumetric factor is typically a number that ranges from 3500 to 6000. You can find the exact number for each carrier on the Billing > Billing Rates page.
The volume is always calculated as a cuboid. For odd-shaped parcels, the calculated volume will include the empty space.
If there are multiple items in your parcel, they must be packed together into 1 single package.
The Locad system automatically tries to find the smallest possible cuboid shape.
Packaging material (bubble wrap) and carton boxes are also included in the volume.
Example 1
Parcel dimensions are 50cm by 25cm by 20cm.
Volumetric factor is 3500.
Volumetric weight = 50 * 25 * 20 / 3500 = 7.14kg
Example 2
Parcel shipped is a ball with diameter 10cm.
Volumetric factor is 3500.
Volumetric weight = 10 * 10 * 10 / 3500 = 0.29kg
You will still billed for the empty corners, rather than just the actual volume of the ball.
Example 3
Parcel includes 2 items. Items must be packed together.
Item 1 (long and narrow): 100cm by 2cm by 2cm
Item 2 (small cube): 10cm by 10cm by 10cm
When combining the two items, the smallest possible cuboid parcel size would be 110cm * 10cm * 10cm.
The parcel may also be packed as 100cm * 10cm * 12cm, but that is less space efficient. This will depend on the maximum dimensions that the carriers can accept, as well as the availability of boxes or packaging.
Incorrect calculation: ((100 * 2 * 2) + (10 * 10 * 10) ) / 3500 = 0.40kg
Correct calculation: 110 * 10 * 10 / 3500 = 3.14kg
Chargeable Weight
Chargeable weight is the higher of either actual or volumetric weight.
Example 4
Parcel dimensions are 50cm by 25cm by 20cm.
Volumetric factor is 3500.
Actual weight is 9.2 kg.
Volumetric weight = 50 * 25 * 20 / 3500 = 7.14 kg
Chargeable weight = 9.5 kg
Example 5
Parcel dimensions are 50cm by 25cm by 20cm.
Volumetric factor is 3500, and rates are quoted at 0.5 kg intervals.
Actual weight is 4.7 kg.
Volumetric weight = 50 * 25 * 20 / 3500 = 7.14kg
Chargeable weight = 7.5 kg