What is load factor or fill rate for a transport fleet?
Load factor is the load actually carried divided by the vehicle's capacity, by weight, volume or pallet positions, multiplied by 100. A truck carrying 8 tonnes on a 10 tonne capacity has an 80 percent load factor.
It matters because carrying air or partly filled loads raises cost per unit moved.
Commonly misread:
- A vehicle may be full by volume but under weight limit, or the other way round. State which constraint you measure.
- Averaging outbound and return legs hides the empty return.
- Chasing 100 percent can cause overloading, which is illegal and unsafe.
Use load factor alongside cost per drop and empty running. Together they show whether you can combine loads, change vehicle sizes or reprice small shipments.
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