Grasping the concept of international shipping could be a daunting undertaking. This industry uses a ton of abbreviations and new terms. Many clients typically do not know how they are charged.
Today’s piece is meant to educate you on matters of international shipping. You will learn what CBM is, how to calculate it, and how to apply it in the freight cost calculation. You will also learn how to ship more and pay less.
Let’s dive right in:
What Is the CBM Meaning in Toner CartridgeShipment
International shipping is sensitive to space. The good’s volume, now referred to as CBM, is calculated for shipping cost estimates. This a short for cubic meters. It’s applied while calculating the storage space and overall freight charges.
All shipping methods utilize CBM in estimating the charges. It doesn’t matter if you’re shipping by road, sea, and air. That is why knowledge of CMB is something you need to have. It will help you estimate the freight cost even before seeking a quote.
The Formula for Calculating the CBM of Toner Cartridge
Calculation of CBM varies depending on the shape of your shipment. Your package will be categorized as either Regular, ;Irregular, or Cylindrical. Let’s explore the formula for each of these three possible scenarios:
1. ;CBM Calculation for Regular Packages
Most packages fall under the regular category. These entail all those shipments with distinct lengths, widths, and heights. They are easy to handle and thus attract the cheapest rates. Think of it as a cube or a cuboid package.
CBM for Regular Packages =Length * Height * Width
It’s like finding the volume of a cube or a cuboid.
2. ;CBM Calculation for Irregular Packages
However common, not always will your shipment be regular. There are times when your package will assume an irregular shape. It all depends on what you are shipping.
Here is the formula:
CBM for Irregular Packages = Longest Length * Longest Height * Longest Width
3. ;CBM Calculation for Cylindrical Packages
There are also instances when a cylindrical package offers the best packaging. Cylindrical containers are popular among oil dealers. It’s acceptable, and there is a CBM formula.
CBM for Cylindical Packages=π * r² * h
Where: π = 22/7
And r is the radius of the cylinder
H is the height
The formula is the one used in calculating the volume of a cylinder.
Understanding Actual, Dimensional, and Chargeable Weights
You’re going to interact with three terms referring to weight. We define them in this section:
1. ;Actual Weight
The actual weight refers to the gross weight of the cargo. This includes the weight of the item plus its packaging. Simply put, the Actual Weight is everything put on the weighing scale.
The attendants will take the whole weight of a fully packaged cargo to process a quote. They use a certified freight scale for accurate measurements. Actual weight is also helpful in determining if the load is balanced inside the package. That is one crucial precaution in ensuring safe transportation.
2. ;Dimensional Weight
There are times when the weight of the package is light but large. These will occupy more space during shipment, though they are lightweight. Carriers may consider charging you based on the dimensional weight in such cases.
Dimensional weight is the one calculated based on the good’s volume. It takes into consideration the amount of space that the item will occupy. Let’s take an example of a shipment of light but long plastic. The weight would be small, but they will occupy more carrier space. It becomes reasonable to calculate the charges based on the occupied space.
You will still need to know the actual weight, even while working with Dimensional weight. Chargeable weight is obtained by comparing the dimensional and actual weights.
Dimensional Weight, DIM Weight, and Volumetric Weight refer to the same thing. Cubed Weight also means the same. All these four terms are used interchangeably.
Here is the formula for calculating the Dimensional Weight:
Dimesional Weight = Length * Height * Width / DIM Factor =Cargo Volume / DIM Factor = CBM / DIM Factor
And you might be wondering: What is the DIM Factor?
Let’s define it.
DIM Factor
Space and weight are two essential aspects in the shipping industry. There are times when the weight and space don’t tally. This is when the element of the DIM Factor comes in. It refers to the volume of cargo acceptable per a given unit of weight.
Here is the common DIM Factor for the shipment methods:
| ;Mode of Shipment | ;Ocean Freight | ;Air Freight | ;Express Freight/Courier | ;Truck LTL |
| ;DIM Factor | ;1:1000 | ;1:6000 | ;1:5000 | ;1:3000 |
It’s worth noting that the numbers above may differ across different carriers. The shipping agency will confirm both the actual and dimensional weight. They will subject your cargo to their specific DIM factors.
There is also a way to convert CBM directly into Kgs. It’s different across the three modes of shipping.
Here is the standard conversion rate:
| ; | ;Ocean Freight | ;Air Freight | ;Express Freight/Courier | ;Truck LTL |
| ;I CBM = | ;1000 kg | ;167 kg | ;200 kg | ;333 kg |
And then we have the Chargeable Weight
3. ;Chargeable Weight
You will be either charged based on the dimensional or the actual weight. Carrier mostly resorts to the weight that is bigger than the other. Bijvoorbeeld, if the Actual Weight is bigger, that will be the charged weight. Your package will now be termed as heavy cargo.
If the dimensional weight is larger, that automatically becomes the chargeable weight. This one will be termed as a light cargo.
;You can easily compare the two weights provided they are in the same units. A kilogram is the most preferred unit of measurement.
There are two options for converting the m³ CBM into Kg. Option one is by dividing by the DIM Factor. The other is using the conversion rate above.
Let’s consider an example of Ocean shipment CBM of 1.2 m³
Ocean Shioment Weight = 1.2/ 0.001 = 1200kg OR; 1.2 * 1000 = 1200kg
[0.001 comes from the 1:1000 DIM Factor for Ocean Freight. Refer to the DIM Factor and Conversion rate above]
What are LCL and FCL?
There are two categories of cargo based on the quantity. One is where one client pays for the whole container (FCL). The other is when the container is shared among many clients (LCL).
FCL is short for Full-Container-Load. With that, your cargo only will be shipped by the container. You will be booking the whole container by yourself. This option may seem more expensive compared with sharing the container with others. The choice is way quicker and safer. There are also cases where FCL is the most cost-effective choice. There is no point in sharing the container if your cargo is more than 20 CBM. Booking the whole container would be cheaper.
Then we have LCL, which stands for Less-Than-Container-Load. This means that the shipment will carry goods for more than one client. It’s the most economical method, but it presents some concerns to ponder. Different items will be shipped, meaning there is a risk of damages. You also cannot completely rule out the risk of losses.
How Many CBMs Can a Container Accommodate?
Choosing between LCL and FCL also requires an understanding of CBMs in a container. There are three container capacities commonly used. These are 20 ft, 40 ft, and 45 ft. Each of these will have varying CBMs.
Let’s explore each one of them:
| ;20-ft Containers | Length | Width | Height | CBM | Payload (Maximum weight it can hold) |
| 20’ Dry ; | 5.9 m | 2.3 m | 2.3 m | 33.2 m3 | 28,130 kg |
| 20’ Reefer ; | 5.4 m | 2.3 m | 2.1 m | 28.1 m3 | 29,140 kg |
| 20′; Open Top | 5.9 m | 2.3 m | 2.3 m | 32.5 m3 | 30,050 kg |
| 20′; Open Top High Cube (HC) | 5.9 m | 2.3 m | 2.6 m | 36.8 m3 | 27,970 kg |
| ;40-ft Containers | Length | Width | Height | CBM | Payload |
| 40′; Dry ; | 12 m | 2.4 m | 2.4 m | 67.7 m3 | 28,750 kg |
| 40′; Reefer High Cube (HC) | 11.6 m | 2.3 m | 2.4 m | 67.7 m3 | 29,580 kg |
| 40′; Open Top | 12 m | 2.3 m | 2.4 m | 66.8 m3 | 28,450 kg |
| 40’ Dry High Cube (HC) ; | 12 m | 2.3 m | 2.7 m | 76.3 m3 | 28,600 kg |
| ;45-ft Containers | Length | Width | Height | CBM | Payload |
| 45′; Standard High Cube (HC) | 13.5 m | 2.3 m | 2.7 m | 86 m3 | 27,700 kg |
How Many CBM in a Pallet
Space is a vital asset in shipping. It should be adequately utilized to accommodate the maximum cargo capacity. That is where pallets come in. These are stands used to house your cargo.
Different containers will have varying pallet sizes. They come in various materials, but most are wooden. The pallet’s CBM varies depending on the height and the payload. Height varies depending on the mode of transportation.
Cargo should not exceed the pallet’s width and length. The cargo’s width should be between 0.8 and 1.2 meters based on the pallet’s size. Its length should be between 1 and 1.5 meters. This means that the pallet’s CBM is around 1 to 1.5 m3.
There are five internationally recognized sizes for the pallet. The sizes vary across countries. These are captured in the table below:
| Country | Pallet Size (in mm) |
| Europe | 1200 x 1000 |
| 1200 x 800 | |
| Australia | 1140 x 1140 |
| America | 1016 x 1219 |
| Asia | 1100 x 1100 |
Calculating Freight Charges for Different Shipping Toner Cartridge Modes
Determining freight charges is not a complicated undertaking. It’s simple as long as you know how to calculate the CBM.
You’d need to first determine the actual and dimensional weight. Compare the two weights, as the bigger one will be used in freight charges.
Let’s explore freight charge calculation for the three shipping modes:
1. ;Freight Charges for LCL Ocean Freight
It’s usually better to consider shipping by sea if your cargo is more than 2 CBM. You’d rather work with LCL if your cargo is 15 CBM or less. LCL utilized CBM while calculating freight charges.
Below are the steps to follow for calculations. Let’s assume that you’d like to ship ten cartons of TN 2380 toner cartridges. The total gross weight is 199 kg, and each one measures 71.5 x 38 x 57.
Stap 1: Calculate the CBM
CBM= Length * Height * width = (71.5 * 38 * 57 )* 10 =1.54869 m³
Stap 1: Multiply the Freight Rate and CBM
Total Freight Cost = CBM * Freight rate
Let’s assume that the freight cost is $70 per CBM.
Total Freight Cost would be = 1.54869 * 70 = $ 108.4083
This means that you will be charged $108.4083 for a shipment of ten cartons. Note that we have used an arbitrary freight rate of $70. The actual rate may differ slightly depending on the carrier.
2. ;Freight Charges for Toner Cartridge Air Shipment
Here are the steps to follow while calculating the Freight charges for Air Shipment. Let’s use a shipment of TN 2480 toner cartridges for reference.
A package of 16 cartons has a gross weight of 323.2 kg. Each cartridge measures 71.5 x 38 x 57 cm.
Stap 1: Get the CBM
CBM= Length * Height * width = (71.5 * 38 * 57 )* 16 =2.477904 m³
Stap 2: Get the dimensional weight
Dimesional Weight = Length * Height * Width / DIM Factor =Cargo Volume / DIM FActor = CBM / DIM Factor = 2.477904 / 0.006 = 412.984kg
Stap 3: Get the Gross Weight
Gross weight for 16 cartons of TN 2480 = 323.2 kg
Stap 4: Assess the bigger value between the Dimensional and the Gross Weight
The bigger one will be used for the calculation of the freight weight.
412.984 kg >; 323.2 kg
Freight cost will thus be calculated based on the Dimensional weight
Step 5 – Multiply the Dimensional Weight with the Freight Rate.
Let’s assume that the freight rate is $5 per kg.
Freight Cost = $5 x 412.984 = $2064.92
3. ;Freight Charges for Toner Cartridge Express Courier
You might want to work with Express Courier if you are shipping a single package. This section highlights the steps to follow to calculate the Freight Charges.
We will use a carton of TN267 BK cartridges for this example. The cargo’s weight is 24.25 kg and measures 71.5 x 38 x 57 cm. This is a regular package taking the shape of a cuboid.
Here are the steps to calculate the Freight Charges:
Stap 1: Get the Package’s CBM
CBM= Length * Height * width = 71.5 * 38 * 57 = 0.154869 m³
Stap 2: Get the Package’s dimensional weight
Dimesional Weight = Length * Height * Width / DIM Factor =Cargo Volume / DIM FActor = CBM / DIM Factor = 0.154869 / 0.006 = 30.9738kg
Stap 3: Get the Package’s Gross Weight
Gross weight for 1 carton of TN267 BK cartridges = 24.25 kg
Stap 4: Identify the bigger between the Dimensional and the Gross Weight
The bigger one will be used for the calculation of the freight weight.
30.9738 kg >; 24.25 kg
The Express Courier Freight cost will be calculated based on the Dimensional Weight
Freight Cost = Freight Rate * Dimensional Weight
Let’s assume the freight rate is $6 per kg.
Frieght Cost = 6 * 30.9738 = $185.8428
Those are the calculation for the freight charges for various modes.
In summary, you’d need to know the following three aspects:
- Gross weight
- Dimensions of the package
- CBM
- DIM Factor
The following section addresses the impacts of CBM.
Impacts of CBM on Freight Rates
It’s no secret that carriers quote the freight cost based on CBM. And that is not all. The quote you receive will include some extra charges. These additional costs are also computed based on the cargo’s CBM. We review those extra charges in this section:
- Terminal Handling Charges
You will be charged some fee for handling the cargo at origin and its destination. There is an extra cost for such operations. This will entail loading and unloading your shipment. They will add the equipment and labor charges based on the CBM
- Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF)
Currency exchange rates usually fluctuate. Carriers need to compensate for such unpredictable events. They will charge some levy to compensate for any frustrating fluctuation.
- Inland Haulage Charges
The freight station is usually some distance from the port. Once your cargo is received, it will need to be transported to the port. It will also be transported to the receiving station on arrival at the destination. You will be charged some extra fees for these movements.
- Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF):
Fuel price fluctuation is pretty unpredictable. You will be levied a few extra charges to account for the possible fluctuations. Your cargo CBM will form the basis for the levy rate.
Maximizing the Shipping Charges for Compatible Toner Cartridges
Freight charges could shoot through the roof, you know. Every business person must think of ways of shipping more with less pay. Our years of experience in this industry have been helpful. We’ve gained some invaluable experience so far.
We know that you’d save more doing the FCL. Booking the whole container allows you to pay less and ship more. Unless you have a small order, always go for the Full-Container-Load. A 20-feet container can load up to eight pallets filled with your cargo. LCL will only come in when you have a relatively small order. That is when booking for a whole container would be a waste of space.
Buy Toner Cartridges from Us, and We Will Organize the Shipment ;
We run a toner cartridge manufacturing plant in China. We will prepare the items and initiate the shipping when you place an order. We will ship your order to the freight forwarder or the terminal warehouse.
We’re here to help you calculate your cargo’s CBM. We have the packing list ready to send your way. It’s worth noting that the final CBM will be somehow bigger than the packing value.
Talk to us today, and we will be glad to send you a quote.