Solutions
Big items set the frame. Small items fill the gaps.
Mixed shipments are not a stacking problem - they are a sequencing problem. MachLoad plans large items first, then fills the leftover voids with small SKUs instead of shipping air.
200+
exporters onboard
Avg +18%
space utilization
IPPC
ready checks
CG
verified plans
The problem
Why generic calculators fail on machinery
Simple volume stacking wastes the gaps
Generic tools stack by volume. The 300 mm void above a machine frame stays empty while you pay freight for it.
Hundreds of SKUs, typed one by one
Mixed shipments mean long SKU lists. Retyping them for every plan is where errors - and abandoned tools - come from.
No box numbers, no accountability
Without unique box numbers and a packing list, missing parts at destination cannot be traced to a position in the container.
Unload order is ignored
The item the consignee needs first is buried at the nose. Unloading the whole container is their cost, and their complaint.
The gap is the product
Why we fill gaps instead of stacking volume
In a mixed shipment, the first pass is always the same: place the big items. Frames, crates and machines set the skeleton of the load. What decides your freight bill is the second pass - what goes into the 300 mm void above a frame, the dead zone beside a crate, the space under the last cross beam.
Volume-stacking tools never make that second pass. MachLoad prioritizes small SKUs into large-item voids explicitly, subject to stack limits, weight rules and unload order. That second pass is typically worth 10-15 points of utilization - roughly the difference between one container and two.
What you get
Built for irregular, heavy and fragile cargo
Gap-first optimization
Large items are placed to set the frame; small items are then fitted into the voids above and beside them - not just stacked by volume.
Excel batch import
One template imports hundreds of rows with dimensions, weights and constraints. Your cargo library keeps them for every future shipment.
Box numbers and printable lists
Every unit gets a unique box number matched to its 3D position, and the plan generates a printable packing list.
Unload sequence planning
Sort by destination port or delivery order. First-out cargo never ends up under last-out cargo.
Stack and weight discipline
Stack limits and per-level weight limits are enforced, so the light parts box on top does not crush.
Partial loads handled gracefully
If something does not fit, it is listed with a reason and a suggestion - change container, reduce count or allow a rotation - instead of a dead-end error.
How it works
Select container, add cargo, get plan
- 1
Select container
20GP, 40GP, 40HQ or a custom box your carrier supplies. Door apertures and load limits come with it.
- 2
Add cargo
Pick from your cargo library or import from Excel. Dimensions, orientations and stack limits are per-SKU.
- 3
Get plan
3D layout, utilization, center of gravity, axle split, compliance checklist and an export-ready PDF.
Real shipment
Real shipment: 62% to 79% utilization
An equipment exporter shipping one production line as 32 mixed SKUs.
The line shipped as 32 SKUs of frames, crates and part boxes. Volume-based planning promised 14 machines per container but delivered 62%. Gap-first sequencing - frames set, crates mid, small parts filling voids - brought the same cargo to 79% in one container, with box numbers matching the packing list at destination.
62% -> 79%
Space utilization
1 x 40HQ
Containers saved
approx. $2,400
Freight saved
Honest comparison
How we compare
| Aspect | Generic free tools | MachLoad | Manual experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-item placement | Stacks by volume | Fills gaps after large items set the frame | Skill-dependent |
| SKU import | Manual entry | Excel template, hundreds of rows | Paper lists |
| Box numbering | None | Unique numbers + printable list | Handwritten labels |
| Unload order | Ignored | Per-destination sequencing | Unloaded and re-sorted |
| Unfit items | Silently dropped | Listed with reason and options | Discovered mid-load |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
No. Import the Excel template once and the cargo library holds everything. Plans then just tick items and quantities.
From $19/mo
Stop guessing. Start planning your next container in minutes.
No credit card required.