Journal

Within the EasyCargo application, you will not find open-top or flat-rack containers in the list of available cargo spaces. However, this is not to say that you cannot load these kinds of containers anyways. With this simple trick, our software will load items that surpass the dimensions of a closed container.

How you can load flat-rack or open-top containers.

You can load flat-rack or open-top containers in a simple way. Here is what you need to do. First, you will need to choose a container from our list of available cargo spaces. Second, you can change the sizing of your container to the type of open container you want. It’s that simple! Examples of what dimensions need to be adjusted per the kind of container you load are as follows:

• Open-top: for this kind of container, just increase the total height of the container size
• Flat-rack: for this kind of container, you need to increase the height and width of the container size.

Dimensions of the container can be changed in the loading calculation settings panel.

How to load an open-top container

In order to load an open-top container, you need to select any container from the list of available cargo spaces and then modify the container size. You can then add the items you wish to load and then press the Load Button.

Flat-rack container loading

In order to load a flat-rack container in EasyCargo, both the height and width need to be adjusted for the chosen container. You can then add your items and then press the load button. If you know that you will need to transport heavier shipments, you can move your items to the center of gravity.

You can try loading open and flat-rack containers with ease in our app and make as many adjustments to your shipments as you need. Everything can easily be checked with our 3D visualization of shipment planning. This is available in our software to everyone who wants to be a user of EasyCargo in your company.

There is a new feature added to our EasyCargo load planning software that allows an automatic archive of all of your shipments. This is especially useful if you have many of them in the Shipments and Reports tab that you can no longer keep track of.

Furthermore, you are now able to view the Shipments Archive through the Shipments and Reports tab. You can see this button at the bottom of the table behind the Import of shipment and Show Autosaved Shipments options.

The Shipments archive will then look like what is shown below:

Next to the Shipments Archive button, you will also be able to locate text that states that the shipment will be automatically archived for 1 year from the date you first make the shipment. If one year is not a long enough time span for you, you can change the archiving interval in the settings – do this by using the Edit button. These settings can also be changed directly by the Shipments Archive, via Edit, or simply by just clicking your username.

Upon clicking it, you will find the page of your profile. Located at the bottom of the Company Shipments Settings section, you can select when your shipments should be archived. For example, you can choose for the shipment to be archived after one month, six months, or a year and three months. Also, directly underneath this setting, you can choose when your shipments should automatically be deleted. Available here as well, multiple options can be selected and one of these options is to never have shipments deleted.

Finally, what is important to mention is that only account administrators can change these settings. We hope that you will find this new feature useful and we are happy that we can continue improving EasyCargo together.

From now on, you will know which items to load in which quantity and in which step. We’ve added a legend to the app so you can easily organize each step of the loading process. How does this improvement differ from the “step-by-step” loading report we wrote about in this article? You will find out in the next lines.

How does the “step-by-step” loading report work?

As you may already know, the “step-by-step” loading report lets you know the order in which the items are placed in the cargo hold. You can follow the loading process directly in the app using an animation. Simply create a loading procedure and click on the video icon to start the animation.

Report with the new legend

You can also create a report for the loading process so that you can see the individual steps of the loading process in the images. Now comes the enhancement we mentioned at the beginning. With the classic report, you would see a preview of the already loaded space. However, with the new report, you will see the individual steps of the loading process, including a legend that shows the name and quantity of each item to be loaded.

Print or create a public link

You can also print the report with the legend. How do you do it? Click on the printer icon next to the Load button. A window will appear in front of you where you select the option “Step-by-Step Report – Basic Views”. The report will then have the loading process broken down into steps so you know how many and which item to load first, second, third, etc. If you are not interested in this view, just uncheck the Step Legend option.

Finally, you can save the report as a PDF or print it out. You can also share this print report using the public link icon and send it to your colleagues. You can also view the loading report online in 3D.

After the localization of our app in Turkish this year, we are proud to end 2022 by participating in Logitrans Transport Logistics Fair in Istanbul, Turkey. Come to visit us at booth 404 in hall 2!

About the Fair

Logitrans will be held for the 15th time on November 16-18, 2022 at Dr. Kadir Topbaş Show and Art Center. Last year, 120 different companies from 18 countries appeared at this significant event, which hosted approximately 10,000 visitors and international companies offering freight transportation services and equipment, logistics services, IT / Telematics, e-business, telecommunications, intralogistics, and material flow services.

Source: https://www.logitrans.istanbul/en-US/content/exhibition-directory/photo-and-video-gallery/photo-gallery/340

Tickets

Entrance is free of charge, but you need to register on the official website of the fair. After registration, you can participate in the event with the visitor registration form that will be sent to your e-mail address.

How to get to Logitrans?

Dr. Kadir Topbaş Show and Art Center can be easily reached by car or taxi, as well as by public transportation.

Source: https://beltur.istanbul/tr/mekan/dr-mimar-kadir-topbas-gosteri-ve-sanat-merkezi

Where can you find us?

As we mentioned, you can visit us at booth 404 in Hall 2 within the scope of the Logitrans, which will be held at Dr. Kadir Topbaş Show and Art Center.

After a successful previous year we attended not one, but two trade fairs in Colombia. We are going overseas again this year. This time, we will visit Mexico. Specifically, we will be visiting Puebla.

You may remember the ANPACT virtual meeting held last October. It was a preamble to the on-site fair Expo Transporte 2022 that was to be held spring of this year. However, due to the pandemic, it was postponed until October.

Where and when can you find us?

As mentioned, the Expo Transporte 2022 will take place in Puebla (Exhibitor Center Puebla), Mexico, from 5-7 October 2022. You can find EasyCargo in aisle 59 at booth number P5933. We will be at your disposal every day from 11 am to 8 pm.

How to get there?

The Exhibition Center is located in the heart of Puebla and is conveniently accessible by public transportation and car. The parking lot for visitors is the Estadio Cuauhtémoc parking lot. From there, you will be able to take our free shuttle service to the venue.

Tickets

Admission is completely free. However, you must register on the official website of the event.

About the fair

Expo Transporte 2022 will, once again, be the most innovative and largest showcase of the American continent where large entrepreneurs, micro-entrepreneurs, suppliers, and carriers who will meet to do business, value alliances, and acquire financing to grow or renew their fleets as well as continue to promote Mexico.

Visitors will be able to observe the exhibition, meet the most complete, important, and extensive innovators in America, where specialized suppliers will offer the newest, most related supplies, and technologies for heavy transport.

EasyCargo will be accompanied by brands such as Mercedes Benz, Scania, Isuzu, MAN, and Volkswagen. You can see the list of exhibitors here.

We are looking forward to meeting you at our stand number P5933!

In today’s article, we will approach the EasyCargo API more from the practical side. We will use our API client for this. We will also test the operation of the API using the ReqBin online tool. It enables communication with a WWW server, thanks to which we can download data of interest from our EasyCargo container loading calculator. Testing is one thing, but in real life, you might be using a Java plugin for your software or Javascript calls from SAP. More on this and other real-world API use cases in the next post in this series.

See the request in ReqBin

The image above shows the API client for EasyCargo. To be able to send any API requests to the web server, the client must first be authorized. So the start request is a POST http://go.easycargo3d.com/api/v1/authentication with the user’s username and his API key in the content. You will receive an authentication token from the server in the response. Each subsequent (unless otherwise noted) API request should be authenticated by adding the obtained token in its header. It is worth noting here that all API requests made are made on behalf of the token owner. Requests and responses must be created in JSON or XML format.

Now that we’ve been authenticated, let’s finally get to the more interesting part of the API. Let’s assume that user A has the following shipping loads stored in his account:

We will practice API requests on them because shipping loads are probably the most important part of EasyCargo. Other requests such as user management are formulated in a similar way, so we believe that every reader of this article will be able to handle the creation of other requests. In the API documentation for EasyCargo, every method of the programming interface is described and explained.

API shipments requests

As the API documentation informs us, with properly worded requests we are able to get a list of all shipments from the server, as well as data about a specific load from the EasyCargo account. We can even create or delete a shipment from the account.

Getting list of all shipments

See the request in ReqBin

Getting data about a specific load

See the request in ReqBin

Creating a shipment

See the request in ReqBin

As you can see, the load was successfully saved to your EasyCargo account.

You can simply open the loading created by the API method in your application.

Deleting a shipment

See the request in ReqBin

The shipping load was correctly removed from your EasyCargo account with the appropriate request.

A few more words about EasyCargo API

• The number of your API requests is limited in time (60 requests per 1 hour). The quotas are checked by moving time frame, so at any given time period is allowed only the specified number of requests.
• API errors are sent back by common HTTP status codes. In most cases, the response body contains a specific message about what went wrong.
• The load planning calculation cannot be executed through the API.
• Your API client has to support accessing and modifying the request and response header and parsing either JSON or XML data format.
• The API user has to sign into the EasyCargo application so that the calculation of the load plan can be processed.
• Some API methods support the use of optional parameters, such as from. You will naturally learn the meaning of each of them from the documentation. You can use these parameters, for example, when requesting to get a list of all payloads. Just add them to the resource address after the “?” character, separated by the “&” character in the form name=value, e.g. http://go.easycargo3d.com/api/v1/shipments?from=2020-01-02&offset=0&limit=100.

As you can see, API is a very useful service. We hope that this practical description has explained to you more about how a programming interface works. Today’s article is the second in a series about the API for EasyCargo, so if you haven’t seen the first part yet, you can read it here. The programming interface opens a floodgate of possibilities. In the next post, you will find out what benefits you can have from using our API and learn about its real-life use cases.

Big news: EasyCargo can load onto pallets! Not only that, we have developed a special loading algorithm to do so. When loading the same type of items, it works with the specifics of loading onto pallets and manages to make the most of the space while maintaining the load stable.

Pallet as a cargo space

In EasyCargo, we have created a pallet as cargo space. What does it mean? There are standard types of pallets available (such as EPAL 1, 2, 3, 6, or US pallets), which you can add to favorites, customize, or even create completely new ones to your liking.

All of the mentioned can be done on the “Cargo spaces” tab. Clicking on the star in the first column is going to add the pallet to your favorites – in the list of cargo spaces, it will appear at the top so you won’t have to look for it every single time.

The pencil symbol at the right end of the line allows you to edit an already created pallet. If you want to create your own pallet from scratch, simply click the “Create custom cargo space” button in the lower-left corner.

A new algorithm for pallet loading

When loading into containers, the software starts from the front of the space to the back and gradually fills it up. However, for pallets, such a procedure does not always make sense. Therefore, we have developed a completely new algorithm that can proceed in layers from the bottom of the pallet upwards. This unique way of calculating the final load plan will ensure that every inch of the pallet is fully utilized.

Any forthcoming restrictions are taken into account, such as stackability, tiltability, or maximum pallet load.

Important: the new algorithm only works when loading one type of item (i.e. with the same dimensions, weight, and with the same restrictions). If you want to load different items, you can, but EasyCargo then calculates the resulting plan using a standard algorithm that loads items from the front wall.

Loading on multiple pallets (or other cargo spaces)

Until recently, loading into multiple cargo spaces was only possible by repeatedly creating print reports manually. Now a new and faster option has been added, which is great for loads that don’t fit into one cargo space and you need to load them in several of the same spaces.

When creating a print report, you simply check the “Load remaining items into additional cargo spaces” option and the entire load will be automatically divided into the number of cargo spaces needed.

What the new algorithm can’t (yet) do

You can only load one type of item (that is, items of the same size, weight, and restrictions) and each layer is loaded on the pallet in the same way as the previous layers.

What do we plan for the future

We plan to improve the algorithm so that it can load different types of items and, last but not least, to be able to optimally load loaded pallets into the selected cargo space.

Do you have an idea on how to improve pallet loading to make it even more useful for you? Send us a message!

Currently, around 80 schools and universities are part of our EasyCargo to Schools program and have had the opportunity to use our worksheets to test their knowledge in a practical and easy way.

We value the feedback we receive from schools immensely. Your opinions are an invaluable tool to improve the experience we provide and tailor our product to your needs. That’s why we are so proud and honored to have received so much positive feedback from you! Here are some opinions on our software directly from teachers:

If you wanted to recommend EasyCargo to other teachers, what qualities would you highlight?

“How easy it is to explain and its graphical interface which is very intuitive.”

“The graphics are perfect, it is not a strict addition of data to the program, students can graphically go through the individual load data and thus get a better idea of the reality.”

“Graphics. Speed. Intuitive. Professional.”

“Simplicity of understanding, ease of use, visualization – colorful, videos presenting instructions for any possibility to enter an example into the program.”

“Good graphics, clear, didactically acceptable to teachers, logical.”

“Illustrative, well designed, and easy for students to understand.”

Can you mention a (very simplified) task you have solved with EasyCargo?

“Load saturation. Looking for the maximum occupancy of both modal weight and volume.”

“How to optimize the loading of a 20-foot CNTR with miscellaneous items.”

“Loading, importing cargo from excel.”

“Filling a container with objects of multiple dimensions and weights.”

Examples of tasks.

Sources: prof. Rafael Montiel Bailén IES VIRGEN DEL CARMEN and professors Helena Nečasová, Luděk Zelníček, Veronika Seidlová and Lenka Pokorná from SŠ informatiky, poštovnictví a finančnictví Brno

An example of a load plan developed by the economics and management teacher, Aurelien Fanon, from the Lycée Professionnel Jeannette Verdier

If you are a teacher and would like to belong to our community of schools and have the opportunity to access all our educational resources, do not hesitate to contact us. For more information visit our EasyCargo to Schools page or write us at education@easycargo3d.com.

Do you remember our recent post in which we shared three practical exercises to test your container load planning skills? It’s these exercises (in a slightly modified form) that are a part of worksheets – a set of tasks primarily intended for high school and university students to train their knowledge of load planning in EasyCargo.

These tasks are specially designed so that you can try out as many EasyCargo features as possible. From loading three products to more complex loading using priority groups, manual load plan adjustments, step-by-step load plan creation, or creation of your own cargo space.

Working with worksheets

Worksheets exist in two versions. The first version only with tasks is intended for the general public and is free to download. The second one contains step-by-step instructions on how to solve each task and is available only to teachers registered in the EasyCargo to Schools program.

All you need to complete the tasks is an EasyCargo account and internet access. Tasks for the public are available in PDF format or as a Google document. If you can, work with the PDF version – you’ll be able to enter images or answers directly into the appropriate boxes, making solving tasks and correcting answers much easier.

Where to download worksheets

As already mentioned, there are two versions. You can download the one for the general public under the following links:

• Worksheets I (PDF)
• Worksheets I (Google document)

Where to find results

The second version of worksheets, i.e. the one with the detailed instructions and solutions of all tasks, is available only to teachers and professors registered in the EasyCargo to Schools program. To obtain it, please write to us at education@easycargo3d.com.

All tasks solved?

Congratulations! As soon as we issue another series of worksheets, we will notify you by email in case you are a part of the program.

While browsing our website you might have come across the term API. This abbreviation is closely related to the IT industry, so you may not fully understand what this service is all about and what benefits you can get from it. In this article, we will discuss what an API is and how it works. Did you know that it could help you to extend the functionality of your company’s software, for example?

We decided to create a three-part mini-series about an API. Today’s article is all about theory. The second part is going to be more practical. We will show you how to use the API to EasyCargo, among other things using our API client. You will see for yourself that appropriate queries to the EasyCargo programming interface result in the requested data. In the last part of the series, we will discuss what communication through the API with EasyCargo makes possible.

Source: https://bykowski.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/api-przyklad-dzialania-1.jpg

The diagram above shows the role of the API in a very simple way. However, it is worth answering the question beforehand – what is an API anyway? The extension of the shortcut is the application programming interface. There are different types of APIs – we have a REST API, the meaning of which should not matter much to you.

An application programming interface is a specific set of solutions that allows you to use the data of another service on your own website or software. What does it mean? If your company has an internal service for handling e.g. transport, you can download data from your account in EasyCargo, which will then be delivered directly to the company software.

However, to communicate with EasyCargo or other software via API, you still need a so-called API key. Key allows us to identify your site when it interacts with EasyCargo. If you would like to obtain it, please contact us using our contact form. Once the key is generated, you can find it under your user profile in the top right corner by clicking on the Show API Key button.

Note: handle your API key as you would your account password – don’t tell it to anyone.

With the most important information about APIs behind us, we can finally move on to explaining the role of the application programming interface. We created a simple table with technical steps to which we added simple, practical explanations.

We think that by this part of the article you have already understood the idea of how the API works. You can find the EasyCargo application programming interface at this link. We still want to draw your attention to the fact that all the query examples in the API documentation are written using HTTP. We recommend using the more secure HTTPS protocol.

As Microsoft officially terminates the support of Internet Explorer this year, we would like to let you know that EasyCargo will stop supporting logging into the application using Internet Explorer in the upcoming months as well.

If you would like to keep using our container load planning tool EasyCargo, please switch to the latest version of the following web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Microsoft Edge.

In case of any questions, please get in touch with our support.

Do you need more container load planning licenses for multiple users or even multiple company branches? Do you require professional service and administrative documentation? Then our Enterprise licensing program is perfect for you! All you have to do is place an order with us with a value of more than $2400 (or 2100 €) and you can take advantage of all the benefits of the program.

Program benefits

If your order exceeds the amount of $2400 (2100 €, respectively), you will receive a 30% discount from us. At the same time, you can request additional administrative tasks, such as creating a quote or filling in a GDPR form. We will be happy to arrange everything for you completely free of charge.

I want to become a member

To become a member and obtain the 30% discount, you need to contact us, tell us that you are interested in the program, state the company’s name, how many licenses you need, what type of license you require, preferred currency, and payment method. You can read all the requirements, terms, and conditions on the Enterprise licensing program for container load optimization page.

There are several ways to view the final load plan in EasyCargo, from simply sharing the container load plan via a link to creating complex print reports. In this article, we will look at all types of load plans and discuss their functions in more detail.

3D Load Plan Visualization

The most important, and probably the most noticeable part of the application, is the interactive 3D view of the load. It’s a simulation in which you can view all the items loaded into a container.

In this 3D load plan, it’s possible to zoom in or out, find out the load on the axles, or examine the loaded items in detail.

Other useful features that may not be so well known are the ability to move the entire cargo area left or right by clicking the right mouse button and displaying item groups by clicking on the color of the desired group in the left sidebar.

Basic views are another great way of visualizing the plan, showing the weight distribution, and, if necessary, allowing you to adjust the angle or zoom in or out.

It is also possible to view the individual steps of the loading process of the entire shipment. This feature is called Step by Step load plan. You can stop the animation at any time to examine each step in greater detail.

Another helpful tool is the manual load plan editor. In this mode, you can move, rotate, add or remove any items. You can activate this mode by clicking on one of the items directly in the load plan. The green area shows where you can place the selected item and the arrows allow you to rotate it. You must be careful when manually editing because the item restrictions set at the beginning are deactivated in this mode. For example, you might move one item on top of a non-stackable one.

Public Link to Load Plan

A practical and quick way to share your load plan with anyone is to generate a public link. It can easily be done by clicking the Generate public link to shipment right next to the Load button in the bottom right corner of the app. You can find all your created links in the Shipment & Reports tab.

After creating the link, you can choose which load plan you want to share. The link to the shipment and report allows you to view an interactive 3D load plan, along with the option to view the step-by-step report or create a print report. The link to the report only is suitable for mobile devices because the 3D plan is not displayed. You can only see the pdf print report with the option of exporting to Excel. You can send both types of links to anyone, even people who are not registered in EasyCargo.

For the correct display of the plan, the user who created the public link must have at least one active license. If the link does not open after clicking, it is because the license has expired. Therefore, to access the loading plan via the link, you must activate the license or ask the person who sent you the link to activate it.

PDF Print Report

For those who prefer a printed or pdf version, EasyCargo offers the option of creating print reports from the Basic or Current view.

If you choose to create a report from the Basic view, EasyCargo displays two views of the loading area (right and left), the name of the cargo space (with dimensions), the weight of the load, the volume, how much space should remain free from the left and also the remaining free meters. Attached to all this is a complete list of loaded items and their restrictions.

If you select the option to create a report from the Current view, EasyCargo will show you a report with the same load plan view as in the application when creating the print report. All other information about loading remains the same as in the first case.

Excel Print Report

By clicking on the printer icon, you get the option to create a print report in pdf format and export it to Excel. This format contains the same information as a pdf report with the difference that the data is in cells and allows you to further work with it.

The Excel file contains three tabs: the first one shows all loaded items with their restrictions, the second one shows the load plan with cargo space data (for example, space size, free meters, etc.), and the last tab is a combination of the two – you can see all the items together with cargo space data and load visualization.

Do you want to know more about exporting a load plan to Excel? Then you shouldn’t miss our post.

Step-by-step Print Report

The last report you can create in EasyCargo is the Step-by-step print report. This report is great for visualizing the loading process and makes work easier for e.g. warehouse personnel. It contains all the information as a regular print report, as well as offers a view of the individual loading steps.

This report can also be printed or exported to pdf format. Are you interested in this way of visualizing your final plan? Get to know it here.

Create load plans for oversized cargo directly in EasyCargo! In our container optimization calculator, it’s now possible to create overhangs or reduce usable cargo space only with a few clicks.

Tips for adjusting container loading size

The number one reason for adjusting loading size in EasyCargo, of course, is to reduce the layout size of your container cargo space. By lowering the ceiling of the space, you can enforce loading into layers. This enables you to specify how many layers or how many other items you can place on a particular item.

The possibilities don’t end there. This new feature is a powerful tool you can do so much more with! For example, the exact opposite of overhangs – create a bigger loading space layout for your oversized cargo.

How can I create an overhang or reduce container loading size in EasyCargo?

Setting up an overhang is very straightforward. To enable loading with an overhang, click on the truck icon located in the lower right corner, next to the weight limits button.

Three more icons will appear: with the help of the first one, you can choose how many centimeters or inches you want to increase or decrease the selected cargo space layout (if you want the layout to be smaller, simply add “-” before the number). The second icon allows you to change the absolute loading size layout of the entire cargo space. By clicking the last icon, the dimensions of the cargo space will return to their default size.

The following animation summarizes the entire process of working with cargo layout adjustments:

What is an overhang?

A truck or load overhang is a portion of a load or vehicle attachment that projects beyond the front or rear wheels of a vehicle, sides, or the front or rear bumper of a vehicle if it’s equipped with a front or rear bumper.

Hauling overhanging cargo poses a danger to your vehicle, transported goods, and other drivers on the road. To keep everybody safe, a number of rules concerning how far items can overhang apply. Those rules differ from state to state, and the carrier is obliged to know and follow them. Failure to do so can result in tickets or high fines. On top of that, if an overhanging object on a truck violates the state regulations and is the cause of an accident, the driver may be liable for damages.

While EasyCargo won’t help you learn applicable laws, it can make your load planning way easier by allowing you to plan cargo overhang properly.

For our container stuffing software, adjusting the cargo loading size layout is another huge step for better and more realistic cargo planning. Thank you for supporting us. We can’t wait to further improve our application together with you!

We have already written a lot about optimizing the container loading; that’s why we wanted this article to be a little different. We have prepared for you some exercises that will test your container load planning knowledge of EasyCargo.

The exercises below, although slightly modified, are part of the handbook for teachers and professors involved in the EasyCargo to schools program. These materials will soon be available for download on our website.

If you are a school representative and are interested in being a part of our program, please read the terms and conditions and send us an email.

You can find the results of all tasks at the end of this article.

Before you start optimizing the cargo…

… You need to register or log in to EasyCargo (registration is free and without any obligations).

Choose metric units (metric system) and the most frequently used cargo spaces (you can then change these settings at any time).

Task No. 1

In the first task, you will learn how to load a 20′ container with three articles and then interpret the results.

1. Choose the Container 20′ cargo space and mark it as your favorite space.
2. Create items with the following properties:
   • • Item A (120 cm x 80 cm x 103 cm), ten pieces, the total weight of all items: 500 kg, this item cannot be tilted.
     • Item B (120 cm x 80 cm x 115 cm), eight pieces, the weight of each item is 15 kg, this item cannot be tilted.
     • Item C (23 cm x 15 cm x 31 cm), 150 pieces, the weight of each item is 6 kg, this item can be tilted.
3. Load the items and answer the following questions:
   1. 1. How many kilograms do all the items to be loaded weigh?
      2. How many kilograms do the loaded items weigh?
      3. How many % of cargo space does your cargo occupy?
4. Name the final load First load and save it.

Task No. 2

You will load the truck and then manually adjust the load. You will see the weight limits on each axle and create a step-by-step load plan.

1. Open the previous load named First load.
2. Select the Standard 2-axle lorry cargo space and add it to your favorite cargo spaces.
3. Load.
4. Go through the load plan as much as possible: zoom in, out, view the load from above, right, or left.
5. View the weight distribution on each axle. What do the three numbers on each arrow mean?
6. Answer the following questions:
   1. 1. What is the maximum permissible weight on the back axle?
      2. What is the actual weight of the load on this axle?
7. Move the items in the cargo and try to rotate them. Remove them from the load or add more to the load.
8. Activate the step-by-step function and create a print report for each step.

Task No. 3

You will learn how to import cargo items from an excel file, divide articles into groups according to the place of unloading, and then share the final plan with your colleague.

1. Download our import template in the application.
2. Don’t delete any already existing products, only add one more:
   • • Malbec wine, Paris group, number of pieces: 50, length: 23 cm, width: 15 cm, height: 31 cm, the weight of all boxes: 300 kg, do not stack, do not tilt, do not rotate.
3. Name the shipment Second load.
4. Import the shipment to EasyCargo.
5. Load the cargo on a standard 2-axle semitrailer for Scania G440 truck; stacking of priority groups is not permitted.
6. Send the final plan to your colleague or friend.

Results

You can download the file with the results of all exercises here.

These short tasks show how easy it is to work with software that simulates loading and how effective its use can be. Of course, we couldn’t show you everything that one can do in EasyCargo, such as using our cargo items database, creating your own cargo space, and much more. Thanks to these exercises, we hope that you can already see how to get the most out of our program for your company or logistics class.

If you have any questions, please write to us; or you can just let us know how you liked our exercises.

From now on, you have the option to purchase EasyCargo tickets and licenses through our new webshop. This new way of ordering is not only faster but also more suitable for those customers who are not able to place an order directly in the EasyCargo application.

What license keys can I buy in the online store?

You can order 24-hour Tickets, one-month licenses, or one-year licenses. Tickets can only be purchased as a pack of 10. If you need a different quantity, you can make an order in the EasyCargo application, or contact us. The minimum order of 24-hour tickets is always 10.

What should I do after ordering a license/ticket?

You will receive a license key, which you simply enter in the appropriate field in the EasyCargo application.

Let off some steam!

In addition to licenses, you can purchase our popular “Container Challenge” puzzle, too. It’s great entertainment not only for schools, but also for your customers, employees, or colleagues.

P.S.: The game may seem simple at first glance, but believe us, it’s not!

How to start with container load planning? Our tutorial video No. 10 Settings options when optimising a load plan has all the answers!

As the name implies, the video shows the options of load planning, from setting up the application to introducing the elements of the application. It guides you through the entire container loading process and continuously alerts you to existing videos that describe the features shown in more detail.

If you would like to watch other tutorial videos about the EasyCargo container planning application, head to the How-to videos section.

You often ask us whether it is possible to set up a gradual loading or unloading of items in EasyCargo in case the truck is visiting multiple destinations during one transport. The answer is yes; for those situations, there is a function called Priority Groups. With this function, you can easily create up to 50 groups which can be useful not only for different destinations but also for adjusting the order in which the items are loaded. The following video shows how to do this:

Working with cargo spaces is much easier now, thanks to a new EasyCargo container load planning software update. What’s new?

You have the option to add your most-used cargo spaces to the favorites and have them at hand at the beginning of the Cargo spaces list. All pre-prepared spaces are always available, without the necessity of adding them from any special list, too.

Whenever you create a new cargo space, it becomes automatically marked as your favorite. Thanks to that, you will see it among the first in the Cargo spaces list.

Another new functionality is the filtering of cargo spaces. You can filter our containers, trailers, or your favorite items.

New cargo space can be added using the “+” button directly in the Cargo spaces list. You can also manage all spaces on the Cargo spaces tab – for example, you can edit the exact internal dimensions of a standard semi-trailer or flatbed.

If you’re using EasyCargo for the first time, an initial setup table will appear with the choice of measurement units and the most used cargo spaces. The spaces you select are then automatically filtered. The initial settings can be changed at any time in the Cargo spaces list.

Are you unsure how to properly load containers in EasyCargo? Our Handbook will help you answer all your questions and guide you through the whole process of loading step by step. You can download it and keep it at hand or send it to your colleagues.

The manual is available in English and Spanish only, and you can download it in PDF or text document. Since we update the application quite often, don’t forget to check for new versions of Handbook from time to time.

EasyCargo container loading software was once again improved with a new, very important functionality which allows you to import the most used items into the application and easily add them to the container load plan. These items are managed on the new Cargo items tab.

Here you create or import a list of items, which you can then add to each load by entering only a part of the item name – all properties of the item will be automatically pre-filled from the database. The cargo item database API is already available.

This functionality enables you to create your load plan even faster. Together with the export and import of items from MS Excel, this feature is among those that are definitely good to know for efficient container load planning.

We are proud to announce that EasyCargo has improved once again!

This week, a new version of the application has been released, where a “step-by-step” report can be created for each loading plan.

What does a “step-by-step” report mean?

“Step-by-step” report Is using animation to demonstrate the order in which the individual items are loaded in the container. This animation can also be easily shared with your colleagues via Public Link. “Step-by-step” report for your container can also be created in PDF format, where you can find step-by-step pictures to show you the process of loading.

How does the report look like?

The step-by-step report differs from the ordinary one in terms of displaying the cargo. In normal reports, you can only see the overview with the cargo loaded, while the step-by-step report shows all the individual steps.

• You can download the complete report in PDF format here.
• View the step-by-step load plan online in 3D here.

How do I create the “step-by-step” report for the load plan?

Just login in EasyCargo, create your regular container loading and then click on the video icon next to the Load button. After clicking, the animation showing how to load the individual items will start.

If you wish to create a print report, the procedure is the same as generating normal reports by clicking the print icon next to the Load button. A window with report types will pop up, select the “Step by step Report – Basic views” option and that’s it! You can also save your report as a PDF file to share it offline with your colleagues.

And the last step, to share your optimized container via the Public Link click the share icon, confirm the report creation and you can share it with your colleagues.

Container packing software EasyCargo announces new licensing for schools and universities!

We’ve been seeing interest in our container loading calculator from schools for quite some time now but we’d been always dealing with the demand individually. In the last couple of months, the demand has increased so much that we came up with an offer tailor-made for schools and universities.

Who is the offer for?

The offer applies only to schools, universities and other educational institutions. The license can be used for educational purposes only.

How does the offer differ from your regular subscription?

The main difference is in the length of the free trial version. If you’re a teacher/professor, we will give you a one-year license completely for free. Students can try our container stuffing and optimization software for free for 14 days (please make sure your students will create their accounts under your main account).

How about the pricing? Is it cheaper?

Yes, our program provides better prices for schools and educational institutions. When you buy one license, you will get 19 more licenses with all the functionalities for free!

What are the rules?

You can find detailed information, including terms&conditions at the EasyCargo to Schools page. Make sure to check it out – part of the offer is our popular Container Puzzle worth USD 59 completely for free!

The sixth most wanted functionality is out!

The newest version of EasyCargo container load plan calculator allows you not only to import from Excel but also to export your load plans to Excel. How to do it? Simply load your items, create a Print report or Public Link to the load plan and click on the ‘Export to Excel‘ icon in the Shipments & Reports tab.

Not everyone knows that the import of items from Excel has been a huge part of EasyCargo container planning app for a while now. Watch this video for a reminder:

Of course, exports to Excel can be imported back to EasyCargo. This could be useful if you want to archive the documents on your disc or provide them to colleagues for further editing. For the preview itself, it is sufficient to share the Public Link to the calculated load plan.

Be sure to visit our Facebook page from time to time to never miss another update of EasyCargo container planning software.

If you need help creating the export file, please contact our technical support.

We have created two new video tutorials to make your work with the container stuffing software EasyCargo even easier.

The first one, User and License Administration will teach you how to add users to your EasyCargo account and explain different types of users. You will also learn everything about assigning or removing licenses. There is also a section explaining how to change your personal data and manage your account.

The second video named Ordering licenses and tickets provides a step-by-step guide through the entire ordering process. It will teach you how to correctly fill the order form and explain the difference between a subscription and one-off license. You will also learn which payment method is the fastest and what should you keep in mind when paying by a bank transfer.

Now you know everything about the administration. Do you need a quick recapitulation on how to work with EasyCargo? Then have a look at the rest of our tutorial videos.

The latest EasyCargo – Load efficiently update introduced several new types of cargo spaces. We expect that these will be appreciated mostly by our users in North America and Australia.

Specifically, these are flatbeds with 1, 2 and 3 axles, trucks with semitrailers with 1, 2 and 3 axles and prime movers (tractor units) with 2 and 3 axles. For the full set of provided cargo space types, check this list.

Watch the following demo to learn how to add new spaces to your EasyCargo account. We then recommend adjusting the cargo space parameters to your liking.

Here are our new flatbeds:

Plus, the semitrailers:

When correct dimensions, empty per axle weights and proper limits for truck and trailer are filled in, then weight distribution can be verified in accordance with the regulations. For more detailed information about axle weight distribution regulations for your state, you can visit www.bigtruckguide.com.

After an excellent previous experience, we once again participated in the International Engineering Fair, the largest industrial fair in Central Europe.

We had a great success among schools. Students tried our “Container Challenge” game, and teachers liked functionalities of our application.

Not only the students came to load the container. Interest in our game has been across generations, and age has not been decisive for success. That’s why our EasyCargo app exists and helps with container optimization hundreds of companies all around the world – you don’t have to drive around and try what fits or not. EasyCargo clearly shows you and your colleagues the placement of items in the selected cargo space.

If you didn’t have the chance to visit our booth, here’s a short video showing how our Container Challenge game works:

We often get asked if EasyCargo can plan container loading with regards to the weight distribution. The answer is yes, it can, and now even with an improved display of the results!

In the right panel, you simply choose the angle of your container you want to view. You will see green arrows highlighting the load ratio – if you hover over them with the cursor, three values will be displayed: the maximum allowed load, current load of the cargo, and load in an empty container (minimum load).

Another new functionality is the option to change the colour of boxes. Click on the coloured area in the item settings panel. After clicking, you will see a range of pre-defined colours to choose from. You can also enter an entirely new colour in the form of HTML code.

Another improvement is the possibility to create a public link to the loads, including those that were already saved without this link. This is done directly in the Shipments & Reports panel.

Your accounting department will surely appreciate our new overview of all orders and invoices in the Licences panel.

At the beginning of June, we participated in the most extensive logistics fair in the world – Transport Logistic 2019 in Munich. Since the only experience we had so far was with smaller fairs, we were curious about what to expect. The exhibition grounds surprised us not only by the size of the pavilions but also by the number of visitors who stopped by at our stand.

The main topics were the trade war between the US and China, the lack of drivers, but also the New Silk Road, and of course, artificial intelligence in logistics.

What intrigued us? For example, MetriX Freight, an innovative volume measurement solution. How does it work? The camera sensors are mounted on a cross-beam beneath the hall ceiling. Objects up to 2.5 meters in width are captured with absolute precision and in less than one second. The packages can even stay on the forklift in the process. For each measurement, the system generates a barcode that the driver transfers to the system using a handheld scanner. After this process, you know the exact size of the items, and nothing prevents you from creating a container load plan with EasyCargo.

Another point of interest was CakeBoxx – a container that is accessible from all sides (even from the top) for easier loading and unloading. That is suitable, for example, when unusually large items do not allow normal loading of the container.

We also had the opportunity to meet our Swedish colleagues who are developing a similar app Cargo-Planner.

Finally, we would like to thank the Ministry of Industry and Trade for providing facilities within the Czech Republic’s presentation at Transport Logistic. We hope that the competition to load the container at our stand was a pleasant experience at such a large fair. We are already looking forward to the next year 😉

We have some beautiful memories of the Logistik & Transport fair in Göthenburg, Sweden. Many thanks to Svenska Mässan for the flawless organization and, of course, to those who came to talk to us there!

It was fun presenting EasyCargo in Sweden and we can’t wait for the next exhibition: Transport Logistics in Munich, Germany which will take place from June 4th to June 7th, 2019.

By the way, we’ve localized EasyCargo into Swedish, and because of significant interest from Italy, we’ve also added Italian localization!

Thanks for visiting us during the International Engineering Fair 2017 in Brno, where our company was presenting EasyCargo for the first time. We had many opportunities to seek new partners and to spend a lot of time talking with our existing customers to get feedback on EasyCargo container load planner.

We were pleased to receive so many positive reactions – you were very kind! However, it was also essential for us to learn about areas where EasyCargo could perform better – we’ve listened to all your comments and suggestions and are already working on improving our app. You can look forward to new functions that will make using our software even more comfortable. Don’t forget to follow us on our Facebook page to be the first to hear about those functions!

In July, we’ve released a vital EasyCargo update. Thanks to this update, the application offers much smoother performance. It’s faster in processing the calculations and opening saved shipments. The responsiveness in the manual load plan editor was improved as well. On top of that, EasyCargo now runs on https:// protocol used for example for online banking.

We’ve also extended our how-to videos library. You and your colleagues can use EasyCargo for container load planning in up to 9 languages now. Watch the tutorial videos in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Polish, Hungarian, Finnish and Czech.

One of the most wanted features was the possibility to manually adjust the placement and rotation of the boxes in the final container load plan. We proudly announce that this functionality is now available for all EasyCargo users.

How to adjust your final container load plan? It’s really easy!

When you finish optimizing your container load plan in EasyCargo, then:

1. To activate the manual editor, click the left mouse button while pointing at the box.
2. A green area will appear. This area illustrates all the free space where you can place your selected box.
3. Click again to confirm the new position of the box.

If you need to rotate the box, click the right mouse button to switch to manipulation mode. By clicking on the arrows, you can rotate the box into the direction of your liking. Confirm by clicking the left mouse button.

Note: No constraints are respected when you manipulate the items in the manual editor. It is solely up to the user to respect the loading rules!

The tutorial video for manual load plan adjustments is also available on our YouTube channel. You can also subscribe to the EasyCargo YouTube channel, so you won’t miss any updates!

You can optimize containers in all of the following languages:

• Czech
• German – NEW
• English
• Spanish
• French
• Hungarian – NEW
• Portuguese – NEW

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, where you can find the latest updates on EasyCargo, such as “manual load plan editor” which will be ready later this year.

To learn how to get the most out of EasyCargo, visit our new how-to videos page. You can find out how to optimize your first container in EasyCargo, how to add cargo items, how to plan into more containers, how to import your data from MS Excel, how to manually adjust the final container plan or some other useful information about creating a new account or paying for a license.

At the end of the year, we’ve released a new version of EasyCargo container capacity calculator. Many internal improvements have been carried out for an upcoming functionality, which will be presented in 2016. However, you can already notice way faster calculating and loading of your load plans (see the picture and link below). Imports from MS Excel sheets have also been improved; for example, you can skip all rows with zero items so that you can use the Excel template as a product database.

See the 3D container load plan right here in your browser.

The EasyCargo online container capacity calculator placed 2nd in the UPC Ignite Your Business competition 2015 and we’d like to say thank you for your support. That’s why during the next two weeks, you can purchase EasyCargo licenses discounted by 22 %.

This award means a lot to us. Why? UPC Ignite is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs with real vision and business plans and potential to succeed in international markets. Winning means that we are doing something meaningful and beneficial to others.

We couldn’t have done this without the support of you, our customers. Thank you very much!

More photos from the event can be found on our Facebook.

Buying or prolonging an EasyCargo license is simple. You have two options on how to do it: either through the webshop or directly in the EasyCargo application.

Buying a license/tickets through the webshop

This way of ordering is faster and better for those customers who are not able to place an order directly in the EasyCargo application. Webshop offers all three types of licenses: 24-hour Tickets, one-month licenses, and one-year licenses. Tickets can only be purchased as a pack of 10. In case you need a different quantity, you can place an order either the old way in the EasyCargo application (see below), or contact us. Keep in mind that the minimum order of 24-hour tickets is always 10.

After placing your order, you will receive a license key, which you simply enter in the appropriate field in the EasyCargo application.

Buying a license/tickets through the EasyCargo app

Sign in to EasyCargo and click on the button “Order more Tickets or Licences” on the Licenses tab or your Profile tab.

Then you are just a few steps away from creating your 3D container load plans.

For detailed instructions, please watch our tutorial video below.

EasyCargo is on Facebook now. If you will give our EasyCargo App Facebook Page a “like”, you could be the lucky winner of a Cubebot.

On September 1st, 2015, we will randomly select 3 of our Facebook page fans. We will list their names in the comment and contact them via Messenger. They will receive one of these 3 cute little Cubebots for free.

(if UPC or DHL delivers to the provided shipping address)