Glossar

The volumetric factor is a conversion factor used to calculate the volumetric weight of a shipment. It determines the ratio by which the measured volume is converted into a weight used for billing purposes.

The volumetric factor is set by transportation companies and organizations depending on the mode of transport or shipping method. It is used in particular when high-volume but lightweight shipments take up more cargo space than their actual weight would warrant. Modern DWS systems automatically calculate the volumetric weight based on the recorded dimensions and the stored volumetric factor, and immediately make the data available for transport planning and freight billing.

Practical example:

When processing an air freight shipment, the DWS system automatically calculates the volumetric weight using the stored volumetric factor, which then serves as the basis for transport costs.

See also: Air freight, Dimensional data capture, DWS, Freight billing, Freight data, Freight measurement, Volume measurement, Volume weight