Essentials of Pallet Dimensioners: Density-based dimensioning with vMeasure Pallet Ultima
NMFC changes could be the opportunity to simplify your freight classification process. But it demands accuracy. And accuracy is hard to come by without pallet dimensioners.
Read further to know why you need a pallet dimensioner in a density-based freight pricing landscape.
The Right Time for Pallet Dimensioners!
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)’s “Classification Reimagined” initiative is set to simplify LTL freight management. While most shippers, carriers, and freight forwarders put off their plans to automate their pallet dimensioning process, the time has come to reconsider as the pricing moves towards density.
This guide explores the importance of pallet dimensioners, with a focus on vMeasure Pallet Ultima, and how they can help logistics businesses in adapting to these changes.
Impact of density-based pricing on the industry
Traditionally, freight classification relied on the density, stowability, and liability of a product. With the transition towards a density-based pricing model, the NMFC asserts the space occupied by a product in relation to its weight. This shift strikes a balance between simplicity and fair pricing structure.
Density-based pricing impacts the industry players in the following ways:
- Shippers
- Cost Implications: Shipping costs will increase for lightweight, high-volume items due to their low density while products like metal parts may see decreased rates.
- Freight Forwarders
- Pricing Strategies: Freight forwarders review their pricing models to suit the density-based classifications by analyzing clients’ freight profiles and adjusting rates to fit the new structure.
- LTL Carriers
- Revenue Management: LTL carriers can optimize trailer space by charging appropriate rates for low-density products that take up more space, improving their revenue per shipment.
Why accurate pallet dimensioning is important?
Accurate freight measurements are not just for compliance purposes. They become the solid ground upon which your bottom line and operational efficiency is built. Whether you are a warehouse manager, a shipper, a carrier, or a freight forwarder, precise pallet dimensions are key to ensuring you keep costs under control.
1 - Avoiding reclassifications
Density-based pricing directly ties freight dimensions to shipping costs. Carriers will reclassify freight when the measurements are off, leading to additional costs or penalties. For instance, overestimated measurements lead to overpaying, while underreported dimensions attract surcharges.
2 – Higher revenue per load
Accurate freight measurements play a pivotal role in a carrier’s revenue. When the loads are optimized to fill the total capacity of the trucks, the carriers would be making higher revenue per load without expansion of any form. While precise measurements encourage revenue gain, they also prevent revenue loss as the freight is billed accurately.
3 – Transparency in pricing
The logistics industry ensures transparency and fairness in shipping charges only with precise freight dimensions. A shipper pays for the exact worth of the shipment. A carrier knows the exact nature of the shipment and prepares accordingly. A freight forwarder improves client retention by eliminating unnecessary disputes.
What is a pallet dimensioner?
Definition and purpose
A pallet dimensioner is a tool that accurately measures the length, height, and width of a freight. It also records the weight by integrating with floor scales and forklift scales. These dimensioners are also mounted over pallet wrappers to record dimensions with weight as the freight is prepared for shipment.
Pallet dimensioners speed up the measurement process by not only automating data recording but also data input. They push the recorded dimensions to WMS, TMS, and shipping software instantly after measurement.
Benefits of pallet dimensioners
1. Reduction in billing errors
The most instant benefit of a pallet dimensioner is the elimination of billing discrepancies. When accurate dimensions are at play:
- You pay for the actual space occupied by your freight
- The time spent disputing charges with carriers become very minimal since the dimensions are free of errors.
2. Handle complex freight easily
A tape measure would not be able to accurately measure irregular freight. But a warehouse associate can measure freight within seconds using a pallet dimensioner. This ensures both speed and accuracy of dimensioning.
3. Fulfill regulatory compliance
Be it a carrier, or an international shipping regulation, make sure you have the exact data to comply with these regulations. Moreover, generate audit-friendly reports of all the freights measured at your warehouse for quality checks.
Introducing the vMeasure Pallet Ultima
vMeasure Pallet Ultima is a simple-to-setup pallet dimensioner that uses computer vision technology to capture the length, width, and height of a palletized freight within 2 seconds. Get to know more of vMeasure Pallet Ultima’s capabilities and its features in the upcoming sections.
1. Users of vMeasure Pallet Ultima and their use case
Shippers – Avoiding Surprise Surcharges
Shippers often face unexpected fees from carriers because of inaccurate dimensions. These errors arise during manual pallet dimensioning which becomes the reason shippers’ freight undergoes reclassification or adjustments.
With vMeasure Pallet Ultima, the shippers precisely measure every pallet, ensuring they have the correct data before shipping the freight.
LTL carriers – Maximizing Revenue Per Truckload
The major challenges for LTL carriers include billing discrepancies and underutilized truck space. When they work with inaccurate dimensions, there is a risk of undercharging the shipper or sub-optimal truck loading, which impacts their bottom line. Therefore, with vMeasure Pallet Ultima, they can charge shippers for the exact volume occupied by their freight.
Freight forwarders – Meeting carrier guidelines
Freight forwarders must comply with carrier regulations concerning freight size and documentation. Incomplete or inaccurate data might result in shipment delays, additional fees, or penalties. An automated freight dimensioner ensures accuracy and provides the required freight images for documentation. This eliminates compliance risks and builds trust between clients and carriers.
Why is vMeasure Pallet Ultima different from other pallet dimensioners?
vMeasure Pallet Ultima is an all-in-one solution that automates everything from data capture to data entry. Explore the unique features that make vMeasure Pallet Ultima an obvious choice when comparing pallet dimensioning solutions.
Full view of the freight
In addition to providing accurate dimensions, vMeasure Pallet Ultima renders a 360-degree view of the freight with annotations and timestamps. This becomes indisputable proof for billing, compliance, or damage claims.
Seamless Workflow Integration
vMeasure Pallet Ultima does not require any reconfigurations in your existing operational setup. Place it anywhere at your receiving, shipping, or crossdocking stations and get to your first scan within hours of assembling the device. vMeasure Pallet Ultima uses standard API integration and webhooks to pass freight dimensions and images to WMS, TMS, shipping software, or OMS.
Cloud-based pallet dimensioning solution
vMeasure Forge is the cloud platform that comes with every vMeasure device. It enables the user to manage multiple pallet ultima devices from a single dashboard, customize workflows and push them to the desired system from any location, and access real-time freight data.
ROI-focused subscription-based model
You can own a vMeasure Pallet Ultima device without paying its full price upfront. This helps you get the best financial use of the device right from day one for a monthly subscription fee that includes regular updates, maintenance, and 24/7 global support.
Experience the ease of Pallet Dimensioning in <2 Seconds
Know your product: The vMeasure Pallet Ultima
Dimensioning Specifications
vMeasure Pallet Ultima measures a wide range of regular and irregular freights, meeting the requirements to accommodate typical freight sizes measured in the industry.
| vMeasure Pallet Ultima Specifications | |
|---|---|
|
Max Dimensions |
180 x 180 x 240 cm 70.9 x 70.9 x 94.5 in 5.9 x 5.9 x 7.9 ft |
|
Min Dimensions |
30 x 30 x 30 cm 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 in 1.0 x 1.0 x 1.0 ft |
|
Dimensioning Time |
2 seconds |
|
Measurement Accuracy |
Length & Width – 2 cm / 0.8 in Height – 1 cm / 0.4 in |
|
Installation Height |
4.1 m / 13.4 ft (Complete Setup) 3.6 m / 11.8 ft (Camera Height) |
What can it measure?
vMeasure Pallet Ultima can measure all types of palletized freight in 2 seconds except for pallets that are shrink wrapped in black or reflective materials. The dimensioner can also detect protrusions that might later lead to additional charges if left undetected during shipping.
Where to install the vMeasure Pallet Ultima Dimensioner?
Receiving Area
The receiving area is the first touchpoint with the freight. The incoming goods must be properly sized and documented appropriately for inventory management purposes. Accurate dimensions keep the data error-free, and the 360-degree view of the freight enables the warehouse manager to assess freight’s condition upon receiving it.
Shipping Area
Deploying a pallet dimensioner at the shipping area is key to obtaining precise freight measurements. The fairness of the shipping bill is directly tied to the accuracy of the quoted dimensions. It is not only about shipping charges but also a matter of compliance.
Cross-docking area
Quick pallet sizing and error detection is crucial at cross dock stations. The freight stays at the warehouse for only a short time and within that period, the freight needs to be measured to figure out the optimal loading plan to quickly process the goods. Decisions like these require instant accurate data that only an automated pallet dimensioning solution can provide.
How does vMeasure Pallet Ultima work?
vMeasure Pallet Ultima makes freight dimensioning effortless. It works on the concept of being accurate and being quick at it while keeping things simple. Check out how the dimensioner works in real time.
Pallet Placement
Place your pallet in the ROI region beneath the camera.
Trigger Measurement
Use the barcode reader or API call to trigger measurement.
Freight Dimensions and image captured
The system will capture the freight measurements along with the images.
Simplify freight management with vMeasure Pallet Ultima
Amidst the evolving LTL industry, it is not just staying compliant that matters but also getting a competitive advantage by reducing operational costs and improving transparency in logistics.
The vMeasure Pallet Ultima is an all-in-one solution that is an investment which is beyond just cost savings. With its ability to capture freight dimensions and images within 2 seconds, simplified integration with existing systems, and cloud-based pallet dimensioning system, it makes freight measurement effortless.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a demo to see how vMeasure Pallet Ultima can transform your LTL operations.
