Question 1

Is the 3D Load Planner free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes - completely free with no sign-up required. Every cargo preset, custom dimensions, Auto-Pack, the full 3D view, and plan exports are open to everyone. Fair-use protections apply: Gateway's monitoring system detects VPN abuse and IP manipulation, which may result in a permanent ban across all services.

Question 2

I only need the Load Planner. Is that possible?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The public planner is fully usable for real load planning, free. Shipping with Gateway gets you the same planner inside your customer portal at app.gatewaylines.com - wired to your live quotes, bookings, and shipment documents. When you ship with Gateway, the entire platform is free.

Question 3

What container sizes are supported?

Accepted Answer

The load planner supports four standard shipping container types: 20' Standard (5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m), 40' Standard (12.0m x 2.35m x 2.39m), 40' High Cube (12.0m x 2.35m x 2.70m), and 45' High Cube (13.6m x 2.35m x 2.70m). These cover the vast majority of ocean freight shipments worldwide.

Question 4

What cargo presets are available?

Accepted Answer

All presets are free: US Standard Pallet (48" x 40"), EUR (EPAL), UK, Half, and Quarter pallets, carton boxes, 30- and 55-gallon drums, IBC totes, and a plain Crate option for machinery or irregular cargo. You can also enter fully custom dimensions in imperial or metric - the selected cargo type keeps its true 3D shape at any size.

Question 5

Can I load multiple cargo types in one container?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use "+ Add to Cargo List" to queue up to 10 different SKUs (pallets, boxes, and drums mixed freely), then Pack All loads the whole list together - biggest and heaviest SKUs first - and reports any per-SKU shortfalls that did not fit. You can also click any placed unit in the 3D view to drag, rotate, or delete it manually.

Question 6

How accurate is the 3D visualization?

Accepted Answer

The 3D engine uses exact internal container dimensions from ISO standards. Cargo placement follows real-world packing algorithms that account for weight distribution, stacking constraints, door-opening clearance, and rotation optimization. The efficiency percentages reflect actual volume and weight utilization.

Question 7

What does "Allow Stacking" do?

Accepted Answer

When enabled, the packer places cargo on multiple layers inside the container, stacking items on top of each other to maximize volume utilization. When disabled, all cargo is placed on the container floor only (single layer).

Question 8

What does "Allow Rotation" do?

Accepted Answer

When enabled, the packer can rotate cargo 90 degrees (swapping length and width) to find a better fit. This often improves efficiency by 5-15%. Disable it if your cargo must face a specific direction.

Question 9

Can I export or download the load plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes - screenshots, shareable plan links, and branded PDF export with full container details, weight distribution diagrams, cargo manifest, and a step-by-step loading sequence are all free.

Question 10

What is the Weight Distribution chart?

Accepted Answer

The weight distribution divides the container into 4 zones (rear to doors) and shows what percentage of total weight is in each zone. Balanced loading (green, under 30% per zone) is optimal for safe ocean transport. Uneven weight distribution can cause container shifting and safety hazards.

Question 11

What advanced features are included?

Accepted Answer

Everything is currently unlocked free on the public planner: all cargo presets, Heatmap density visualization, Center of Gravity marker, Allow Overweight toggle, PDF notes, and branded PDF export. Gateway customers get the same planner integrated into their portal at app.gatewaylines.com - connected to live quotes, bookings, and satellite tracking - plus early access to new features.

Question 12

What other tools does Gateway offer?

Accepted Answer

Gateway offers free public tools including the Tariff & Duty Calculator at tariff.gatewaylines.com, AI-powered HTS Code Search, a CO2 Emissions Calculator, and this Load Planner. Gateway customers get the full freight platform free: quotes, bookings, live satellite tracking, documents, and customs compliance. Book your ocean freight with Gateway at gatewaylines.com to unlock it.

Question 13

What browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

The 3D load planner uses WebGL and works in all modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. A desktop or laptop is recommended for the best experience.

Question 14

How do I get more credits or unlimited access?

Accepted Answer

The public planner is already unlimited and free. For the integrated version - your own saved plans connected to live quotes, bookings, and shipment tracking - become a Gateway customer at gatewaylines.com/sign-up; the whole platform is free when you ship with Gateway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ship with Gateway

Free Trade Tools