What are the internal dimensions of a 13.6m box trailer?

A standard EU 13.6m box trailer has internal cargo dimensions of 13,620 mm (length) × 2,460 mm (width) × 2,700 mm (height). These give approximately 90 m³ of usable volume. Mega trailers have the same footprint but an internal height of 3,000 mm, providing ~101 m³. External dimensions are approximately 13,620 mm × 2,550 mm overall width, and ~4,000 mm total height including the chassis and body.

How many Euro pallets fit in a 13.6m trailer?

A 13.6m trailer fits 33 Euro pallets (800 × 1,200 mm) in a single floor layer when loaded in a standard 2-wide pattern with the 1,200 mm side running across the trailer width. If cargo height allows double-stacking (typically pallets ≤ 1.35m), you can load up to 66 Euro pallets. Industrial pallets (1,000 × 1,200 mm) yield 26 floor positions due to their larger footprint.

What is the maximum payload of a 13.6m trailer?

The maximum cargo payload is approximately 24,000 kg. This is calculated from the EU maximum GVW of 44,000 kg for a tractor-trailer combination, minus a typical tractor tare of 7,000–9,000 kg and trailer tare of 6,500–7,500 kg. The exact available payload depends on your specific tractor and trailer — always confirm with your carrier before booking.

What is the difference between a standard and mega trailer?

Both trailers share the same floor length (13,620 mm) and width (2,460 mm internal). The only difference is internal height: standard trailers are 2,700 mm tall, while mega trailers are 3,000 mm tall — adding ~11 m³ of cargo volume (90 m³ vs 101 m³). Mega trailers require additional permits in some EU countries such as France and Spain. They are particularly useful for high-volume, low-density cargo such as furniture, clothing, or lightweight consumer goods.

What is LDM and how is it calculated for a 13.6m trailer?

LDM (Linear Deck Meters, also called ldm or loading meters) measures how much of the trailer floor length your cargo occupies. It is calculated as: LDM = cargo footprint area ÷ trailer width (2.4m standard). A full 13.6m trailer equals 13.62 LDM. A single Euro pallet (800 × 1,200 mm) placed with the 1,200 mm side lengthwise occupies 0.5 LDM (1.2m ÷ 2.4m × 1m = 0.5 LDM). LDM is the primary pricing unit for groupage (LTL) freight in Europe.

What is the maximum cargo height in a 13.6m trailer?

In a standard 13.6m trailer, the maximum internal height is 2,700 mm — this is the clear height from the loading floor to the roof beam. Mega trailers give 3,000 mm. When calculating your loading height, remember that a Euro pallet itself is 144 mm tall, so cargo on a pallet has a practical maximum stack height of approximately 2,556 mm (standard) or 2,856 mm (mega) before touching the roof.

Can I load a 13.6m trailer with a forklift?

Yes. Box trailers (and curtainsider variants) can be loaded from the rear via the tail doors, or — for curtainsiders — from the sides after opening the curtains. Standard rear-loading requires a dock leveller or tail-lift. Side-loading by forklift is common for curtainsiders at distribution centres. The trailer floor load limit of 5,000 kg/m² must be respected; heavy single points of contact (e.g. a forklift tyne) can easily exceed this on thin pallet boards.

Truck Dimensions Guide

Box Trailer 13.6m — Dimensions & Cargo Specifications

Internal and external dimensions, volume, max payload, LDM, and pallet capacity for the standard EU 13.6m box trailer

Interior length

13.62m

Interior width

2.46m

Interior height

2.70m

Max payload

~24,000 kg

Volume

~90 m³

Linear meters

13.62 LDM

Euro pallets

33 positions

Max GVW

44,000 kg

Standard vs Mega — Variant Comparison

Variant	Internal (L × W × H)	Volume	LDM	Max payload	Euro pallets
Standard	13.62m × 2.46m × 2.70m	90 m³	13.62	~24,000 kg	33
Mega	13.62m × 2.46m × 3.00m	101 m³	13.62	~24,000 kg	33

Standard

Internal (L × W × H)

13.62m × 2.46m × 2.70m

Volume

90 m³

LDM

13.62

Max payload

~24,000 kg

Euro pallets

Mega

Internal (L × W × H)

13.62m × 2.46m × 3.00m

Volume

101 m³

LDM

13.62

Max payload

~24,000 kg

Euro pallets

Note: Dimensions are industry-standard specifications for EU semi-trailers. Actual cargo space may vary slightly by manufacturer and body builder. Always verify with your carrier.

Explore the 13.6m Box Trailer in 3D

Interactive 3D model of the standard EU 13.6m box trailer — drag to rotate, scroll to zoom

Drag to rotate · Scroll to zoom

Loading Specifications

Pallet capacity, weight limits, and loading rules

Pallet capacity

How many pallets fit in a standard 13.6m trailer

Euro pallets (800 × 1,200 mm) 33 floor positions

Industrial pallets (1,000 × 1,200 mm) 26 floor positions

Double-stacked Euro pallets up to 66 (height permitting, ≤ 1.35m per layer)

Floor load limit 5,000 kg/m²

Typical for standard box trailers. Check your carrier's specific trailer spec sheet.

Weight limits

EU regulations for tractor-trailer combinations

Maximum GVW (EU) 44,000 kg

Typical tractor tare 7,000–9,000 kg

Typical trailer tare 6,500–7,500 kg

Net payload available ~24,000 kg

Axle distribution: EU regulations require the load to be distributed to keep the drive axle above 25% of the total train weight and within individual axle limits (steer: 7.5t, drive: 11.5t, trailer bogie: 21t for tri-axle). Always use a load plan to verify axle weights before departure.

EU dimension regulations

The 13.6m internal loading floor is the legal maximum under EU Directive 96/53/EC for semi-trailers operating under standard permits. Mega trailers (3.0m internal height) require specific national permits in countries including France and Spain. Maximum external width is 2,550 mm; height is 4,000 mm overall.

Max trailer length (EU) 13.62m

Max external width 2.55m

Max overall height 4.00m

Standard internal height 2.70m

Mega internal height 3.00m

Box Trailer 13.6m — Frequently Asked Questions

Your next load, perfectly planned.

Start free. No credit card. No install.

Plan a Container Plan a Truck Load