Guide · Decide
How to choose load planning software.
Before you choose, ask every vendor eight questions: which transport modes it covers, whether it checks the rules, whether it tells you what to fix, which equipment it includes, how you enter the load, whether it integrates with your TMS or ERP, how the plan is shared and what it really costs.
The 8 questions to ask any provider
Ask them in the first demo, and ask to see the answer with one of your own loads.
| Question | What to look for |
|---|---|
| 1. Which modes does it cover? | Container, truck, air or several. If you work with more than one, a single tool is better. |
| 2. Does it check the rules or only the space? | VGM, payload, axle loads and maximum authorised weight, stowage and securing, chargeable weight. Calculating how much fits is not the same as checking that it meets the rules. |
| 3. Does it tell you what to fix? | A “does not fit” or a “does not comply” is of little use without the reason and a specific fix. |
| 4. Which equipment does it include? | The containers and trucks you actually use, and whether you can add your own with their real dimensions. |
| 5. How do you enter the load? | By hand, in Excel or CSV, or straight from your packing list. The less you type, the fewer the errors. |
| 6. Does it integrate with your TMS or ERP? | Whether it has an API, so you can validate each shipment without leaving your system. |
| 7. How do you share the plan? | With the warehouse and with the customer: a PDF, a link or a 3D plan that the people loading can understand. |
| 8. What does it really cost? | Per user, by usage or API volume, and whether you can try it free with your own loads before you pay. |
Typical mistakes when choosing
The ones we see most often:
- Choosing a good-looking 3D view without finding out whether it checks the rules.
- Testing with a sample load instead of your own.
- Counting only the price per user and forgetting the cost by volume or of the integration.
- Thinking only about the person who plans, not about the people who load at the dock.
- Not asking what happens to your data: what is stored and who can see it.
How SendContainer handles it
SendContainer validates container, truck and air loads against the rules of each transport and gives a clear verdict, with the reason and fix for each warning. You import your packing list from Excel, CSV, PDF or a photo, share the plan with your brand and connect your TMS or ERP through the API. There is a free trial, and the Pro plan costs €50 per user per month, excl. VAT, and includes 100 API validations a month per company, which you can extend by +1,000/month for €79. More on the validator and on pricing.
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