How Many Pallets Fit in a Truck? Trailer Sizes, Weight and Volume
A standard 13.6 m trailer takes 33 euro pallets or 26 industrial pallets. Curtain-sider, mega and reefer trailer sizes, payload and volume, a container comparison and how LDM works for groupage cargo.
How many pallets fit in a truck? A standard semi-trailer with a 13.6 m loading length takes 33 euro pallets (120×80 cm) or 26 industrial pallets (120×100 cm) on one level. Internal volume is about 90 m³ in a curtain-sider and about 100 m³ in a mega trailer. Payload is usually 22–24 tonnes in practice, depending on the weight of the tractor and trailer and on legal weight limits along the route. If pallets can be stacked, the pallet count can double, but then the limit is usually weight rather than space.
This guide is for buyers and shippers planning loads from Turkey to Europe, Russia and Central Asia. It covers internal trailer dimensions, pallet types, weight limits and the LDM (loading metre) calculation that decides the price of groupage cargo.
Pallet sizes: euro pallet and industrial pallet
| Pallet type | Size (cm) | Pallets in a standard trailer (one level) |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EPAL) | 120 × 80 | 33 |
| Industrial pallet (ISO) | 120 × 100 | 26 |
| Mixed loading | 120 × 80 + 120 × 100 | Depends on the loading plan |
Euro pallets are placed three across the 2.45 m internal width of the trailer: 11 rows along 13.6 m give 33 pallets. Industrial pallets go two across, so 13 rows give 26 pallets. Allow a few centimetres for stretch film and edge protectors; goods that overhang the pallet break the loading plan and can cost you a pallet place.
How many pallets fit in a truck by trailer type
| Trailer type | Internal size (L × W × H) | Volume | Euro / industrial pallets | Payload (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard curtain-sider | 13.6 × 2.45 × 2.70 m | ~90 m³ | 33 / 26 | 22–24 t |
| Mega trailer | 13.6 × 2.45 × 3.00 m | ~100 m³ | 33 / 26 | 22–24 t |
| Refrigerated (reefer) | ~13.3 × 2.45 × 2.60 m | ~85 m³ | 32–33 / 26 | 20–22 t |
| 20' container | 5.9 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | ~33 m³ | 11 / 9–10 | Subject to road and port rules |
| 40' container | 12.0 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | ~67 m³ | 24–25 / 20–21 | Subject to road and port rules |
Dimensions vary by a few centimetres between manufacturers and vehicles; use the table for planning and confirm the exact layout against the details of the truck assigned to your load. A mega trailer gives an extra 30 cm of height for light, bulky goods such as furniture, textiles and packaging. In a reefer, insulation reduces the usable space slightly; for cold-chain details see our guide to refrigerated transport from Turkey.
How much weight can a truck carry?
In Turkey the maximum gross weight of a five-axle tractor and semi-trailer is 40 tonnes. The empty weight of tractor and trailer is roughly 14–17 tonnes depending on trailer type, so the payload in practice is about 22–24 tonnes; reefers carry slightly less because of the cooling unit and insulation. Transit and destination countries can have different gross weight and axle-load limits, so on long routes the load is planned for the strictest country on the way. On routes to Russia and Central Asia the realistic payload is often closer to 20 tonnes.
Heavy, compact goods such as marble, metal and cement products reach the weight limit long before the trailer is full. For these loads, spreading the weight evenly along the trailer is just as important: weight concentrated in one spot can overload an axle even when the total is within the limit.
Can pallets be double-stacked?
Yes, if the goods and packaging allow it. With double stacking a standard trailer can take up to 66 euro pallets, but two conditions apply: the lower pallet must carry the upper one without damage, and the total weight must stay within the limit. For light goods such as empty packaging, plastics or textiles, a second level lowers the cost per pallet considerably. Heavy goods reach the weight limit on a single level, so stacking brings no benefit. Tell your forwarder at the quote stage whether your pallets are stackable, because it changes both the vehicle choice and the price.
LDM: how groupage cargo is measured
If your cargo does not fill a whole trailer, groupage (LTL) freight is usually charged by the length of trailer floor you occupy, the LDM (loading metre). The calculation is simple: the pallet's floor area is divided by the trailer width (2.4 m).
- 1 euro pallet (1.2 × 0.8 m) = 0.96 m² ÷ 2.4 = 0.4 LDM
- 1 industrial pallet (1.2 × 1.0 m) = 1.2 m² ÷ 2.4 = 0.5 LDM
- A full standard trailer = 13.6 LDM
Example: a consignment of 18 euro pallets is 18 × 0.4 = 7.2 LDM, more than half the trailer. At this point it is worth also asking for a full truckload quote, which often works out cheaper. If the pallets can be stacked, the LDM is halved. For very light, bulky cargo, carriers also apply a volume-to-weight rule; 1 m³ = 333 kg is common in European road freight, but the ratio varies between companies. Other factors behind a road freight price are explained in our article on international freight rates.
Truck or container?
When you compare how many pallets fit in a truck with a container, the difference is clear: a 40-foot container takes about 24–25 euro pallets, while a standard trailer takes 33. On destinations that trucks can reach by road, such as Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, a trailer usually wins on both capacity and transit time. For China and other distant markets, a container is unavoidable. For container sizes and the choice between FCL and LCL, see our guide to container shipping from Turkey.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a truck?
A standard 13.6 m trailer takes 33 euro pallets (120×80) or 26 industrial pallets (120×100) on one level. If the pallets can be stacked, the number can double.
How many tonnes can a truck carry?
With a 40-tonne gross weight limit in Turkey, payload is usually 22–24 tonnes after the vehicle's own weight. Reefers carry slightly less, and limits on the route can reduce it further.
What is the volume of a trailer in m³?
A standard curtain-sider has about 90 m³ of internal volume, a mega trailer about 100 m³ and a reefer about 85 m³.
How many LDM is one euro pallet?
One euro pallet is 0.4 LDM and one industrial pallet is 0.5 LDM. A full trailer is 13.6 LDM.
BNK Logistics (BNK Lojistik) plans full truckloads and groupage cargo from Antalya to Europe, Russia and Central Asia, and chooses the vehicle and loading plan for your pallet count, weight and stackability. Send the number and size of your pallets through our quote form or call +90 542 485 53 70 or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 485 53 70, and we will propose the best option with our reasons.
Updated: