API Documentation

// FreightUtils API — JavaScript example
// Calculate loading metres for 10 Euro pallets

const response = await fetch(
  'https://www.freightutils.com/api/ldm?pallet=euro&qty=10'
);
const data = await response.json();

console.log(`LDM: ${data.ldm}`);
console.log(`Utilisation: ${data.utilisation_percent}%`);
console.log(`Fits: ${data.fits}`);

All endpoints work the same way. No auth, no signup. Full reference below ↓

Composite endpoint that chains CBM, chargeable weight, LDM, ADR compliance, and UK duty/VAT estimation into a single call. Accepts a unified Shipment object and returns comprehensive results based on transport mode.

Mode Parameter

Example Request

Mixed 3-item road shipment with a DG item and HS code:

Example Response

Pro tier endpoint. Free tier: 25 calls/day. Subscribe for higher limits.

Calculate the loading metres (LDM) required for a consignment on a UK/EU road freight trailer.

Parameters

* Either pallet (preset ID) or both length and width must be provided.

Example Requests

12 Euro pallets on an artic:

Custom dimensions, stackable, with weight check:

cURL example:

US 53ft trailer:

Response

Calculate the cubic metre (CBM) volume of a shipment. Returns total CBM plus equivalents in cubic feet, litres, and cubic inches.

Parameters

Example Request

5 boxes, 120×80×100 cm each:

Calculate air freight chargeable weight — whichever is higher between actual gross weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. Supports custom volumetric factors for all carriers.

Parameters

Example Request

2 pieces, 120×80×100 cm, 500 kg total, IATA factor:

Calculate how many boxes fit on a pallet using a layer-based algorithm. Returns boxes per layer, number of layers, total boxes, orientation used, and volume/weight analysis. Optional weight constraint caps the result at the pallet's maximum payload.

Parameters

Example Request

Look up ADR 2025 dangerous goods by UN number, search by substance name, or filter by hazard class. The dataset contains 2,939 entries from the ADR 2025 Dangerous Goods List (Table A). Responses are cached for 1 hour (s-maxage=3600).

Query Modes

Provide exactly one parameter per request. Omitting all parameters returns a 400 with usage hints.

Example Requests

Exact UN number lookup:

Search by substance name:

Filter by hazard class:

Calculate whether the ADR 1.1.3.6 small load exemption applies to a dangerous goods consignment. Supports single-substance GET queries and multi-substance POST requests. Checks both total points threshold (1,000) and per-substance quantity limits per ADR 1.1.3.6.3.

GET — Single Substance

Example — 200 litres of petrol:

POST — Multi-Substance Load

Request body:

Response structure is identical to the GET endpoint, with multiple items in the array.

Response Fields

Check whether dangerous goods qualify for ADR Limited Quantity (Chapter 3.4) or Excepted Quantity (Chapter 3.5) concessions. Accepts up to 20 items per request and returns per-item pass/fail status against ADR Table A limits.

Request Body

Example — check LQ for 0.5 L of petrol:

Response Fields

Search airlines by name, IATA code, ICAO code, AWB prefix, or country. The dataset contains6,352 airlines including 390 cargo airlines with AWB prefixes.

Query Modes

Example Requests

AWB prefix lookup:

IATA code lookup:

Name search:

Response Fields

Look up INCOTERMS 2020 trade terms. Returns all 11 terms by default, or filter by code or transport category. Each term includes seller/buyer responsibilities, risk and cost transfer points, insurance obligations, and practical guidance.

Parameters

Omit all parameters to return all 11 INCOTERMS 2020 terms.

Example Requests

Single term lookup:

Filter by transport category:

All terms:

Shipping container specifications — internal/external dimensions, weights, door openings, and pallet capacity for all 10 standard ISO container types. Optionally calculate how many items fit in a specific container.

Query Modes

Example Requests

List all containers:

Single container specs:

Loading calculation — how many 60×40×40cm boxes fit in a 40ft HC:

Convert between freight-relevant units — weights, volumes, lengths, and freight-specific conversions (CBM to chargeable weight, CBM to freight tonnes).

Parameters

Supported Unit Codes

Example Requests

Standard conversion:

CBM to chargeable weight (IATA 6000 divisor):

CBM to freight tonnes (W/M rule):

Search and browse Harmonized System (HS 2022) commodity codes. Supports text search by product description, exact code lookup with ancestor chain, and section browsing. Covers all 6,940 codes across 21 sections and 97 chapters.

Query Modes

Provide exactly one parameter per request. Omitting all parameters returns a 400 with usage hints.

Example Requests

Search by description:

Code lookup with ancestors:

Browse section:

Calculate total CBM, gross weight, LDM, and chargeable weight across multiple mixed items in a single consignment. Supports road, air, and sea modes with mode-specific chargeable weight calculations.

Request Body (JSON)

Item Object Fields

Example Request

Estimate UK import duty and VAT for a commodity code using live GOV.UK Trade Tariff data. Accepts customs value, origin country, freight/insurance costs, and INCOTERM for CIF adjustment.

Request Body (JSON)

Example Request

Search and look up UN/LOCODE transport locations — 116,129+ seaports, airports, rail terminals, inland depots, and border crossings worldwide. Responses are cached for 24 hours.

Query Modes

Example Requests

Search by name:

Exact code lookup:

Filter by country and function:

Look up air freight Unit Load Device (ULD) specifications. 15 types including LD3 (AKE), PMC main deck pallet, temperature-controlled containers, and more. Returns dimensions, weights, volume, and aircraft compatibility.

Parameters

Example Requests

Single ULD lookup:

Filter by category:

All ULD types:

Look up road freight vehicle and trailer specifications. 17 types covering articulated trailers, rigid trucks, and vans. Returns internal dimensions, payload limits, pallet capacity, and features.

Parameters

Example Requests

Single vehicle lookup:

Filter by category:

Filter by region: