Journal

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!