MakeCargoFit user guide

01Start here

Start at https://makecargofit.com/ and choose “Start planning free” or “Open in browser”, or open https://makecargofit.com/app/?lang=en directly. Use a regular browser window, not private/incognito mode. Local planning needs no account. The two main buttons are “Start a new project” and “Load demo data”. The first creates an empty project for your cargo; the second creates a separate training project with 30 boxes in a van, for demonstration only. “Upload Excel or CSV” and “Open workspace” are secondary actions below them. To continue earlier work, open its workspace file or use My Space. Both main buttons remain available while you work: a new or training project is added separately, and existing projects and plans are preserved.

Add cargo: type a name, choose the shape, enter length × width × height (diameter for a cylinder), the number of units and the weight of one unit in the project's units. If you do not know the weight, leave the field empty: it stays unknown and is never counted as zero. Rotation, stacking, “floor only”, load on top, unloading order, centre of mass, bearing area, colour and note are under “Advanced”; while that block is folded, a short list of the restrictions already set stays visible below it. Then choose transport: 20DC, 40DC, 40HC, van (3.5 t), euro trailer or your own; “All transport types and parameters” opens the full catalog, other profiles and every dimension. Choosing a card changes only the draft; “Apply and calculate” starts the calculation.

The result states how many units were placed, how many are left and in how many transport units, followed by the weight (or that it is unknown) and the volume fill. Unplaced units, unknown weight and what to check appear directly under it. A short result does not confirm that the load is safe or secured: securing, actual weight, VGM and permission to transport are checked separately. For the loading crew choose “Export → Loading instructions · PDF” (stage diagrams, an ordered checklist and paper checkboxes); “Loading Plan · PDF” remains the detailed technical report. A current plan with unplaced units can still be exported; the PDF lists them with the warnings. Paper checkmarks do not update loading status in the application.

The “Language / 语言” field in the top bar sets the interface language: English, Русский, 简体中文, Español, Deutsch, Polski, Українська, Română, Lietuvių, Norsk bokmål, Nederlands or Français. For a link in English or Chinese use the app address with ?lang=en or ?lang=zh-CN; when reopening, the language in the link takes priority, otherwise your latest choice is kept, and opening a complete workspace file restores the language saved in it. The document language is separate: next to the PDF buttons you see “Document: …”, and “Document settings” changes the main and the second language of the PDFs without touching the interface language. “Same as interface” is the default for older projects. The choice is saved in project JSON and workspace files, is free, and does not recalculate or change the accepted layout. Cargo names and notes keep the text you entered.

02Measurement units

Open Project Settings using the pencil beside the project name. Under Measurement units choose centimeters/kilograms or inches/pounds, then click Save. The setting applies to this project and its PDFs only after saving. This is a project preference, independent of the interface and document languages. Inputs, 2D/3D measurements, warehouse views and PDFs follow this choice. Inches use decimal numbers. Volume is shown in ft³, support area in in², floor area in ft² and floor loading in lb/ft² (mass per area). Safety checks and calculation data remain in centimeters and kilograms. Switching units does not recalculate or move cargo.

Project JSON, complete workspace files and shared snapshots remember the selected units. Older files default to metric. CSV/XLSX columns without explicit units remain centimeters/kilograms. For imperial tables, use length_in, width_in, height_in, weight_lb, max_top_load_lb, cog_x_in, cog_y_in, cog_z_in and bearing_area_in2. Do not include both metric and imperial columns for the same field. CSV templates and CSV exports keep explicitly labeled metric columns for reliable exchange.

03Transport catalog

Open the Transport tab to browse sea containers and road vehicles. Search by name or code, such as 45HC, or use the category buttons. The catalog includes 20′/45′ High Cube, 20′/40′/45′ reefers, mega and curtain trailers, and 7.5/12/18 t rigid trucks. “Custom transport” keeps the current dimensions for manual configuration. Choosing a preset changes only the form draft: click Apply parameters or Apply and recalculate loading to save it. Choose one fleet member to change only that unit.

Each new preset links to its source and states whether it is a specification example or a typical reference. Vehicle class denotes gross weight, not cargo payload. Verify the actual internal dimensions, rear door opening and payload. Reefer height follows the usable load line; temperature and airflow requirements are checked separately. Mega and curtain trailer presets check rear access; side/top access, open tops, flat racks and aircraft contours are not modeled by these rectangular presets.

The picker follows the project measurement units and works offline; opening an external source needs a connection. Saved custom dimensions and names are retained. The existing server scenario comparison still uses its bounded legacy candidate list; this catalog does not automatically choose the cheapest or smallest fleet.

04Find transport

After entering cargo, choose Find transport. Select up to four catalog types and a maximum number of vehicles for new alternatives. The comparison runs locally in a Worker, checks real packing and can be stopped. It compares repeated units of one type with the current fleet; it does not search every possible mixed combination. Pins and loading policies remain in force. The current fleet may appear as a reference above your selected limit, but cannot be recommended or applied above that limit.

Choose fewer vehicles, or enter your own unit rates, currency and rate date to compare transport cost. Empty rates mean unknown cost, not zero. Changing currency clears the rates; the app does not convert exchange rates or fetch market prices. Additional services and taxes are excluded. “Best among tested” is a bounded heuristic result, not a proven global minimum. The report states when the search budget was reached; a single packing attempt may take longer than the target time, and Stop terminates it.

Review each candidate’s placed/unplaced cargo, vehicle count, fill, price and layout checks. Partial candidates are preview-only. Applying a complete eligible candidate creates a history version with both fleet and layout; Undo restores the previous plan. Applied rates and settings remain in project JSON and complete workspace files. They are omitted from public warehouse snapshots. New vehicle types require their own measured axle and floor-load settings; these are not copied from another vehicle. Advanced mixed-fleet search and managed tariffs remain future work.

A catalogue type's rate is stored under its code; for your own transport it is stored per body profile (internal dimensions, door opening and payload): different bodies get different rates, identical bodies share one, and renaming or reordering vehicles does not change the rate. A previous shared “Your transport” rate from older files is kept but never applied to every body automatically — you can insert it for a specific body. If saved comparison settings do not fit the current limits (a removed type, more types or vehicles, a rate above the limit, another currency), the comparison window shows what needs review; the project, transport and accepted plan stay unchanged, and a rate above the limit is not used and not clipped.

05Prepare MakeCargoFit for offline work

1. While online, open App (Wi-Fi icon) in the top bar.
2. Wait for Ready to work offline. If needed, choose Save app for offline use and wait for completion.
3. Save a workspace file through My Space before moving devices or clearing browser data.
4. Turn off your connection and reopen MakeCargoFit in the same browser or installed app. Open a project, calculate a load and try Export → Loading Plan · PDF.
5. Reconnect when you need AI or updates. If a resource is missing, reconnect and use Save app for offline use to repair the app copy.

In My Space, choose “Protect local storage” to ask the browser to protect this site’s local data from automatic eviction. Check the displayed result: the browser can grant, decline or not support the request. This does not replace your workspace JSON backup; manually clearing site data still removes local copies.

Reference: developer.mozilla.org

06Install the web app on a computer (PWA)

Chrome: open MakeCargoFit, choose its address-bar install icon or the install command in the browser menu, and confirm.

Reference: Chrome: install a web app

Microsoft Edge: open the browser menu, find More tools → Apps, and choose the command to install this site as an app. Confirm the app name, then launch MakeCargoFit from your applications.

Reference: Microsoft Edge: install and manage apps

Safari on macOS Sonoma 14 or later: open MakeCargoFit, use File or Share → Add to Dock, then confirm. Open the resulting app from the Dock.

Reference: Safari on Mac: web apps in the Dock

If your browser has no installation command, keep using the website. The offline feature depends on browser support and available device storage; installation is not required to calculate loads.

07Desktop app

Desktop installers are available at https://makecargofit.com/#download: Windows x64 (EXE), macOS Apple Silicon (DMG), and Linux x64 for Ubuntu 24.04 (DEB or AppImage). Compare the downloaded file’s SHA-256 with the official page before opening it. You can also use the browser or installed web app (PWA).

Load calculation, the 3D editor, Excel/CSV import, PDFs and workspace files are free and run locally without an account. Cloud and AI need internet. Save independent workspace backups regularly and before installing an update.

1. Choose Open (Ctrl+O, Cmd+O on macOS) and pick a .makecargofit file or an older complete .json file. The app shows only the file name, never the folder.
2. Save with Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on macOS) and use Save as with Ctrl+Shift+S (Shift+Cmd+S). A save counts only when the system confirms that the file was written. If you cancel the dialog or an error is shown, nothing is marked as saved.
3. To move work from the browser, choose “My Space” → “Save workspace” there, copy the file to the computer and open it in the app. The app does not read the browser's data.
4. To move work back, save a .makecargofit file in the app and open it in the browser with “My Space” → “Open workspace”.

If you close the window, start a new project or open another file while there are unsaved changes, the app asks: Save, Do not save, or Cancel. If saving fails or the Save dialog is cancelled, the window stays open and your work is unchanged. The app also keeps an automatic recovery copy on this computer. If that copy cannot be read, the app leaves the original untouched and lets you save it separately, open another file, or start a new session on purpose; it never resets by itself.

Signing in to Cloud in the app is separate from signing in in the browser. Creating an account, confirming the email and resetting a password happen on the website in your browser; afterwards return to the app and sign in. Signing in loads nothing: saving, restoring, synchronization and sharing are separate choices. “Forget the sign-in on this computer” removes the saved sign-in here and does not contact the server. “Sign out on the server” ends the sign-in on the server; under the current service rules this may also end your other sign-ins, including the browser. If the app says the sign-in is being verified, choose “Check again” and do not retype the password or code. For previous spaces the app shows members and renewal read-only. To remove a member, revoke an invitation or cancel a renewal, choose “Open the website in the browser”, sign in there separately and select the space manually.

Your OpenRouter key is saved only if you choose “Remember in the system's secure storage” (Windows Credential Manager, macOS Keychain or the Linux secret service). Otherwise it lasts until the app closes. A saved key cannot be shown or copied again; you can replace or delete it. AI requests are never sent automatically after a restart or a reconnect, and you still confirm each one. If the system's secure storage did not allow an old key or sign-in record to be deleted, the app says so: the record is not used and is deleted when the storage is available again; if it could come back after a restart, the app offers to repeat the deletion.

The guides are built in. Choose “Help and guides” and then “Save PDF” next to your language to write the PDF to any folder; no internet is needed. The online guide is a separate page that opens in your browser.

Updates are installed manually. Save your workspace, then download and install a newer version from the official page. To uninstall on macOS, move MakeCargoFit from Applications to Trash; elsewhere use the system’s uninstall procedure. Your saved .makecargofit files are separate. Recovery copies and settings remain in the app’s data folder unless you remove them; save your files before deleting that folder.

Reference: Apple: safely open apps and app-specific security exceptions

08Install on Android, iPhone or iPad

Android / Chrome: open MakeCargoFit, use the browser’s Install or Add to Home screen command, and confirm.

Reference: Chrome for Android: install a web app

iPhone or iPad with Safari: open the site in Safari, open Share (possibly inside the page menu), choose Add to Home Screen, enable Open as Web App if offered, and tap Add.

Reference: Safari on iPhone: open a website as an app

09Create your OpenRouter key

1. Open https://openrouter.ai and sign in or create your own account. MakeCargoFit does not create this account for you.
2. If your chosen model requires paid credit, add credit through OpenRouter’s account billing controls. Check the current terms and prices there.
3. Open https://openrouter.ai/settings/keys and create an ordinary API key for model requests, not an administrative/management key.
4. Give it a recognizable name, such as MakeCargoFit, and set a provider-side credit limit appropriate for your own usage.
5. Copy the key into a private location or directly into MakeCargoFit’s key field. Never put it in a cargo note, shared project, screenshot or public message.

Reference: OpenRouter: API keys and credit limits

10Connect Personal AI

1. In the planner toolbar, choose Personal AI (key icon).
2. Expand Settings if needed. Paste your key into Personal OpenRouter key and choose Connect key.
3. Wait for Your key is connected. This connection check validates the key and does not invoke a model.
4. Choose an OpenRouter model. Only models compatible with this feature appear; availability and prices can change. Use Refresh models and prices when prompted.
5. Review Limit per request, USD and Maximum response tokens. Start with the defaults and choose a model whose estimate fits your limit.

11Ask questions and review proposed changes

1. Enter or import cargo and choose Calculate loading so that the plan is current.
2. Select the cargo unit on the drawing, or select a cargo row when discussing the whole row. Check the selected context in the Personal AI panel.
3. Write one clear question or change, with actual dimensions or coordinates if relevant. For example: “Why is this cargo here?” or “Find a layout with a lower centre of gravity.”
4. Read the estimate and data notice. Sending discloses relevant project data, the selection and recent conversation to OpenRouter and the selected model provider.
5. Choose Send with your key once. One send starts one model request; proposals are checked locally.
6. For a proposal, choose Compare. Inspect its positions, quantities and conditions. Choose Apply changes only when you accept it; otherwise use Cancel proposal or continue the conversation.
7. Save your workspace after accepted changes or useful conversation. Applied changes become a new history version; undo changes the plan but does not refund a provider request.

12Save your projects, settings and optional key

1. Open My Space (disk icon) → Save workspace, or Save as for a separate copy.
2. Choose a name ending in .makecargofit, such as my-workspace.makecargofit. This file contains all personal projects, the cargo catalogue, layout history, interface and AI settings, and saved personal conversations. The .makecargofit file contains the same versioned JSON envelope, optionally encrypted. Older complete workspace files ending in .json still open; a single-project JSON is a separate export.
3. To include the API key, enable Encrypt file with a password, then explicitly select Include my OpenRouter key.
4. Enter Workspace password and Repeat password. Keep the password separately from the file; forgotten passwords cannot be reset.
5. Choose Save file. Depending on browser support, select a destination or complete the downloaded file save. Find the file on your computer or phone.
6. Watch the status: an up-to-date local recovery copy does not mean your portable file includes the latest changes. Save the file again before moving it elsewhere.

Ctrl+S saves; Ctrl+Shift+S opens Save as. Use Command instead of Ctrl on macOS. Where direct file access is supported and permission is granted, later saves can update the selected file. Other browsers download a new copy; use the newest completed file.

13Reopen, move, lock and recover

1. On the target device, open MakeCargoFit → My Space → Open workspace and choose the complete workspace file. The .makecargofit file contains the same versioned JSON envelope, optionally encrypted. Older complete workspace files ending in .json still open; a single-project JSON is a separate export.
2. If protected, enter its password. Projects keep their identities; reopening the same workspace continues the existing work instead of importing duplicate projects.
3. For a protected workspace, choose Lock workspace when finished on the current device. The app saves an encrypted recovery copy and reloads to the password prompt.
4. If the browser finds an encrypted recovery copy after restart, enter its password to resume. Ordinary local recovery is restored automatically.
5. If a recovery copy cannot be opened, keep the original using Download original recovery copy when available, then open a known-good file. Start a new local session replaces that recovery only after your confirmation.

14Apply app updates

1. Reconnect to the internet. In App, choose Check for updates.
2. When Update app appears, save the latest workspace file first.
3. Close other MakeCargoFit tabs and windows, then choose Update app in the remaining window. The app reloads only after the update is ready and your workspace is saved.
4. After reopening, check your project and offline readiness before disconnecting.

15If something does not work

Still stuck? Write to support@makecargofit.com in your own language. The email works without JavaScript and without the feedback form on the website. Do not send passwords, keys, a complete workspace file or private project data. A reply time is not guaranteed.

16Before you finish

• The app says Ready to work offline in the actual browser/app window you will use.
• Your latest workspace file is in a folder you can find, and you have a separate backup when needed.
• If that file includes the key, it is encrypted and you know its password.
• OpenRouter has your chosen credit limit; AI works only while online.
• You checked the selected model, request estimate and any proposed plan before applying changes.
• You can reopen the workspace on the intended device. Installing the app has not replaced saving your work.

17Optional Cloud: synchronization, backups and 3D links

Cloud is optional and provides synchronization, backup copies and protected read-only 3D warehouse links. Sign in to connect your personal cloud storage. Connecting creates an empty storage space; it does not upload or replace local projects. Explicitly save a copy or enable synchronization when ready.

Choose Sign in → Create account, enter your email and a password of at least 12 characters, then use the Check your email screen. Check Spam and the address. “Send confirmation again” sends another message only after your explicit click; respect the displayed retry delay. Open the email link and confirm; your account email then appears in the header, even before you have an organization. The account menu opens account settings and sign-out. Forgot password requests a one-use recovery link; set a new password in the opened app. Do not forward confirmation or recovery links. A temporary service error does not prove a link is invalid: check account status or try ordinary sign-in before requesting another message. Passwords and sessions are excluded from workspace backups.

Cloud copies contain your projects, cargo templates, layouts and project history. They exclude the personal OpenRouter key, AI chats, account credentials and device preferences. Restoring a cloud copy replaces local project data after confirmation while retaining this device’s key and preferences. Keep a private .makecargofit backup separately.

Automatic synchronization starts only after you explicitly enable it for a saved or loaded cloud copy. If local and remote versions both change, synchronization pauses instead of overwriting your work. Save a workspace file, inspect both versions and choose which one to keep; there is no automatic merge. Opening another workspace pauses synchronization.

If you already have cloud data, open “Previous cloud spaces”, explicitly select the intended space and use “Open previous data” to read or export it. Older team data is kept; it is not moved into personal storage automatically. Return to personal cloud storage explicitly. New personal-cloud setup does not invite members or create a team. Once a previous space is selected, “Members and renewal” appears below it: the owner can remove a member, revoke an invitation that was already issued and cancel an existing renewal. This is clean-up only: new invitations, role changes and purchases are not available, and nothing is loaded until you press the button. The personal cloud never shows this block.

Cloud history retains up to 50 snapshots for download or local restoration. Shared copies exclude personal keys and chats. Restoring replaces local project data after confirmation; uploading the restored state creates a new version. A shared workspace is limited to 4 MiB. Other storage, transfer and request limits are shown by the service; save a local backup and retry later if temporarily limited.

AI uses your own OpenRouter key and its provider balance. MakeCargoFit does not sell AI credit; managed cloud AI is off. Internet is required. Review the model, data to be sent and maximum estimated cost, then confirm sending separately. OpenRouter may charge your account. AI suggestions never approve or apply a loading plan automatically.

Cloud needs internet. Local planning, the cargo catalog, history and PDFs remain on your device and work offline after preparation. Personal AI independently uses your OpenRouter key and needs internet; it is not a Cloud subscription or a requirement for calculations.

18Documents, plan links and AI import

In Export, choose Document language and, optionally, Second instruction language. The primary language is independent of the interface; the second adds labels beneath key headings and terms in the loading instructions. Full explanatory text remains in the primary language. The choice is saved in the project and travels through JSON or workspace files without changing the accepted layout. Bilingual instructions and the standard PDF are free. Once the app is prepared, documents can be generated offline; Chinese labels use embedded fonts.

Open Export → Logo and company details in PDFs and save your company profile. Use PNG, JPEG or WebP up to 256 KB and 2048 × 2048 pixels; SVG is rejected. The checked image is converted to PNG. The profile is stored in workspace files and explicitly saved cloud copies. Branding is free; safety warnings always remain visible.

Share an immutable snapshot of the accepted plan. A confirmed account can have up to 3 active warehouse links , each for up to 30 days. Notes and branding are included only if selected; safety rules and warnings are always included. Keys, personal chats, other projects, history and the shared catalog are excluded. Later edits do not change the snapshot.

Copy the new URL immediately: the database stores only the capability token hash, so a lost URL cannot be recovered from the list. The recipient needs no account and can rotate the default 3D view, choose a transport and loading step, switch to 2D and download the instruction PDF. An optional link password is separate from a local file password; send it separately. Opening a link needs internet. Revocation or expiry blocks new access but cannot remove downloaded PDFs or copies.

Import a document, text or draft first reads the document on your device. Supported inputs include text PDFs, scanned PDFs, PNG/JPEG/WebP, TXT, CSV and XLSX, including spreadsheets with unusual headings. Text is extracted locally; scanned pages and photos are prepared as images for a vision model. For PDFs with tables embedded in images alongside text, enable Recognize PDF pages as scans before choosing the file. Select the file again after changing this checkbox; the 6-image limit applies in this mode. The checkbox itself does not send an AI request. Current limits are a 10 MB file, 20 PDF pages, 6 images and 100,000 text characters per import; split larger documents. AI uses your own OpenRouter key and its provider balance. MakeCargoFit does not sell AI credit; managed cloud AI is off. Internet is required. Review the model, data to be sent and maximum estimated cost, then confirm sending separately. OpenRouter may charge your account. AI suggestions never approve or apply a loading plan automatically.

The import result is a draft for review. Check every field, dimensions, quantity, weight per unit, orientation and stackability; unknown weight stays unknown (null), rather than becoming zero. Sources include page and quotation: text quotations are checked automatically, while scan quotations need checking against the image. Once confirmed, applying the result creates one undoable history entry. You may save quotations in cargo notes. Canceling or timing out does not guarantee that the provider stops charging. Check OpenRouter activity before sending again.

19Prepare cargo from text, dictation or an assistant’s draft

AI import has three sources. “Document” is the PDF, photo or table described above. “Text or dictation” takes a cargo description that you type, paste or dictate. “MakeCargoFit draft (.json)” takes a MakeCargoFit-draft.json file that an assistant prepared. All three end in the same review: nothing is applied before you approve it.

1. Open Import → Import a document, text or draft and choose the source: Document, Text or dictation, or MakeCargoFit draft (.json).
2. For Text or dictation, type or paste the description, or dictate it with your system’s dictation, then choose “Use this text”. For a draft file, choose the .json file.
3. Review every row. A catalog item found by its code is only a suggestion to check, and a similar name is never merged automatically. If the code matches but the dimensions, mass, shape or loading rules (upright, stacking, floor only, load on top) differ, the saved item cannot be used and does not change: correct the values or add a new item, which keeps the rules from the draft. A similar name with different loading rules is marked as a conflict too. Unknown mass stays unknown and is never treated as zero.
4. Read the summary of changes, approve it and save. The load is then calculated for exactly the data you approved. If the project or catalog changed while you were reviewing, or saving fails, nothing is applied and you review again.

A draft file can be prepared by an assistant, for example through the local MakeCargoFit MCP adapter for developers. That adapter only proposes: it returns a MakeCargoFit-draft.json file or a CSV, and it never opens, reads or changes your workspace, is not connected to the open desktop app and cannot approve anything. You import the file yourself. Sources quoted in an external draft are not verified by the app: check them against the document.

20Warehouse links from your local JSON

Use Cloud with a confirmed account to create a warehouse link. You do not have to synchronize or upload your full workspace: Share by link publishes only the selected accepted plan. Three links means three simultaneously active snapshots per account. Revoke an old link or let it expire to free a slot.

1. Calculate and save the accepted layout in your offline app first.
2. In the sharing dialog, choose Open local JSON for link and select a project JSON or portable workspace file.
3. If the file is encrypted, enter its file password. Decryption happens on this device; the password is not sent to the server or reused as a link password.
4. Review the active project, document language, expiry and optional notes/branding. Only that current validated snapshot will be published; the local planner is not replaced.
5. Optionally set an 8–128 character link password, create the link, then copy the URL and send its password separately.

The viewer contains only the loading visualization, steps, safety information and instruction export. It has no cargo editor, account controls, AI, catalog or payment tools. The public snapshot is not added to the recipient’s workspace and is not stored for offline viewing.

21Previous team data: Shared plans, catalog and approval

22Previous team data: Warehouse execution and confirmation

23Axles and vehicle measurements

Axle and axle-group calculations, limit reserves, warnings and axle-layout search are free. The search runs locally after the app is prepared. A better layout is not guaranteed and must be reviewed before applying.

1. In the vehicle tab, open the axle and empty-vehicle model and enable axle calculations for the chosen vehicle. Select a semitrailer, rigid truck or trailer with two supports.
2. Enter the actual support positions, empty-vehicle mass and its longitudinal center of gravity. X starts at the closed end of the cargo space; enter a negative coordinate for a position in front of it. Initial support positions illustrate geometry only.
3. Enter support and gross-mass limits from your vehicle documents. The app does not automatically assign country-specific legal limits or an empty-vehicle mass. An empty field means unknown.
4. For a semitrailer, optionally add the tractor: wheelbase, fifth-wheel position from the front axle, measured unladen axle loads and separate limits. Do not count the semitrailer mass again as unladen tractor mass.
5. Save the settings. Changing only axle measurements keeps accepted coordinates and pins; changing dimensions, doors or other packing inputs may require recalculation. Calculate a current layout and open the load checks for the selected vehicle.
6. request an axle-layout search and compare current and proposed figures. A preview changes nothing. Apply a chosen candidate separately or close it; an improvement may not be found. Applying creates an undoable history entry. Pins, height, orientations and supports are preserved.

The technical PDF and loading instructions include configured axle models, entered measurements and limits, calculated loads and warnings. Export → Document language controls these pages independently of the interface. Axle settings travel through project JSON and complete workspace files; older projects without an axle model keep it absent.

When you increase the number of vehicles on the transport tab or through an AI proposal, new vehicles repeat the body of the last vehicle but do not receive its axle model or container balance data: those measurements belong to one specific vehicle. Enter them for each new vehicle; until then the axle and balance checks are not performed for it. Saved data of existing vehicles does not change.

24Build pallets and hand the diagrams to the warehouse

Single-SKU and mixed-SKU pallets, diagrams and label PDFs are free. Calculation checks declared rotations, support, stacking, top-load limits, gap, height and mass, with no overhang. A pallet cannot contain another pallet.

New pallets prefer the available deck and then lower layers; heavier boxes take priority among allowed placement choices. The contents of one pallet move together in X/Y toward the center as far as the bounds allow: known masses use their moments, otherwise the occupied footprint is centered. With known masses, the app can also swap equal-size boxes within the same layer to move the center of gravity closer to the center; each candidate is rechecked for geometry, support and top-load limits. Orientations, heights and original instances are preserved.

1. Enter or import ordinary rectangular boxes, then open Pallets above the scene. Select the source rows. Cylinders, existing pallets and unselected cargo stay unchanged. Unpin selected cargo before palletizing it.
2. Choose EUR 120 × 80, 120 × 100, US 48 × 40 or custom dimensions. Check deck height, actual empty-pallet mass, maximum overall height, gross-mass limit and gap. A declared tare is required for calculation. EUR dimensions and approximately 25 kg are an editable EPAL 1 reference, not a measurement or strength certificate for your pallet; the other limits are editable planning inputs.
3. Enable mixed pallets if needed: heavier boxes are considered first subject to bottom-layer rules, and different unloading groups stay on separate pallets.
4. Calculate the pallets. Review source-unit, pallet and unplaced counts, top/side views, contents and mass of each pallet. Floor-only means the bottom layer on its deck. A partially fitting list cannot be applied; change the settings and calculate again.
5. Apply pallets separately. Only this action replaces selected boxes with composite physical pallets, creating one undoable history entry. Each pallet has quantity 1. Return to the version before palletizing to build a different composition. A project supports up to 2500 original packages, including boxes inside pallets.
6. Calculate loading to place the pallets in the container or vehicle. Finished pallets stay on the transport floor, turn horizontally only and are not stacked on one another. Verify deck, feet, packaging and restraint strength separately; the app does not invent the feet contact area.
7. Choose the document language and Export → Pallet labels · PDF. Top/side diagrams, pallet number, full contents and mass map each original box ID and instance to its pallet, vehicle and loading step. Before vehicle placement, the location is explicitly unassigned. Composition pages are also appended to the technical PDF and loading instructions; long names and notes continue on later pages.

Reference: EPAL: Euro pallet dimensions and approximate tare

After preparing the app, these calculations and PDFs run locally without AI. Branding is free. Diagrams describe checked geometry, not a forklift trajectory or pallet certification.

To check floor pressure, open Pallet contents and enter the measured Actual support area in cm²: the total floor contact of the feet or runners, greater than zero and no greater than the rectangular pallet footprint. The deck area is not substituted for contact. Empty means unknown support area. The value is kept in project JSON, workspace files and shared snapshots. This field does not edit the pallet composition or geometry.

Imported saved pallets are not rebuilt: their contents, coordinates and previous numbering are preserved. Review an older diagram before use. The new heuristic applies when calculating new pallets from source cargo, not by silently changing an old file.

25Large loads: up to 2500 units

The project limit is 2500 original units, including pallet contents, and 500 cargo rows. Enter repeated boxes as one row with the required quantity. CSV/XLSX row limits and file-size limits remain separate. Automatic planning above 500 units currently requires a complete layout of one identical box type in Compact mode; unsupported constraints or insufficient transport produce an explicit error without replacing your accepted plan. Large manually placed plans currently support boxes without pallets.

Large 3D views use batched drawing while retaining each individual box and its selection. Labels are limited to a readable sample and the selected unit. Playback advances in groups; the slider and previous/next controls still reach individual units.

For more than 500 placed units, loading instructions use compact stages and rows. A row lists an inclusive range of steps and instances, per-unit dimensions and mass, and the first and last coordinates. Load every unit in step order and tick the row only after all its units are loaded. Full notes and all unplaced units remain in the document. Save a complete workspace file after changes; public sharing still requires the configured cloud and its existing byte/traffic quotas.

26Two-factor protection for your cloud account · free

You can enable a TOTP second factor for your cloud account free of charge, using codes from an authenticator app. No subscription is required. Setup and cloud sign-in need a connection; local projects, JSON and a prepared PWA continue to work separately from cloud sign-in.

1. Open the account menu → Open account → Security, then open two-factor protection.
2. Start adding an authenticator and give the device a recognizable name so you can distinguish the primary factor from a backup.
3. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app. If scanning is unavailable, enter the displayed setup secret manually in that app.
4. Enter the current six-digit code and confirm setup. The new factor is not active until verification succeeds.
5. At your next sign-in, enter your email and password first, then select a configured factor and enter its current code. Cloud data and actions remain unavailable until the second factor is verified.

While your primary authenticator is available, add a second independent factor on a backup device and verify it with its own code. Keep the backup device separately. If you lose the primary device, you can select another verified factor on the sign-in screen.

A password recovery link and access to email do not disable the second factor. If all verified authenticators are lost, the app has no automatic MFA recovery. The service operator would need to verify your identity separately under its own procedure; access restoration is not promised. This release does not issue one-time recovery codes.

1. To remove an authenticator, open the two-factor settings and select the factor.
2. Confirm the action with a fresh code from an available verified authenticator. Signing in with a password alone is insufficient.
3. Check which factors will remain. Removing the last verified factor requires separate explicit confirmation and disables two-factor protection for the account.

This section applies to the cloud account on this website. MFA for a separate self-hosted team server and corporate SSO/SAML sign-in require their own setup and are not enabled by this setting.

27Container balance and center of gravity

Cargo balance indicators are free. Configure a profile for the selected transport unit; the profile does not rearrange cargo or replace the other loading checks.

1. In Transport settings, open Container balance profile and enable checking. Cargo CoG values remain available without a profile.
2. For a sea container from the catalog, explicitly choose CTU 2014 or custom limits. Other transport uses custom limits. Record the operator’s document or internal source.
3. For the combined CoG, enter the measured empty-container mass and all three tare CoG coordinates. Leave unknown values blank.
4. Review a current calculated layout. Export the loading instructions or technical PDF to include the configured balance appendix.

Reference: wwwcdn.imo.org

• Coordinates: X from the closed end, Y from the side wall, Z from the floor. Y and Z limits are not assigned automatically.
• Unknown unit mass prevents confirmation of the full cargo CoG. The known mass portion is shown separately.
• The combined CoG requires measured tare data; road axle settings are not reused as container tare.
• A unit crossing the midpoint produces mass intervals for the halves. Its internal mass distribution is not assumed. Half-mass shares are not equivalent to CoG offset.

Four-corner lifting reactions are not calculated. A value within the selected reference is not handling approval; check operator conditions, securing and equipment separately.

The settings and results use the project’s display units, including in/lb. Stored values remain cm/kg, and the document language stays independent of the interface.

28Securing reference worksheet

The securing reference worksheet is free. It compares a top-over lashing alternative for one stable, rigid box resting directly on the floor. It does not certify EN 12195 compliance or confirm that restraints have been fitted.

1. Open the Verification tab in the project, then expand “Securing reference calculation”. Add a case and select the cargo unit and the IRU 2014 road reference profile explicitly.
2. Enter the documented friction, strap, measured pretension, angle and anchor data. Confirm only physical conditions that you have actually checked; a tick is your statement, not an inspection by the app.
3. Calculate the case. Read the directional results and any missing-data or out-of-model messages. Alternative cases are independent; do not add their strap counts or capacities together.

The sliding estimate takes the greatest directional requirement, rounds upwards and respects the entered operational minimum. Credited pretension is capped by the lowest of labelled STF and the two measured leg tensions. Forces use daN or lbf, not kg or lb of mass; saved force values remain in daN and dimensions/masses remain metric.

Save the case with the project JSON or full workspace. A change to the physical plan makes the measurements stale. Inspect the changed plan and explicitly recheck the binding before recalculating; a saved case must not silently authorize a different arrangement.

This worksheet refers to public IRU 2014 road guidance. The full paid standard is not bundled, and the worksheet is not a complete implementation of EN 12195-1:2010 plus its corrigenda. Obtain an independent engineer’s review of the applicable rules, equipment and actual arrangement before production use.

Reference: www.hsa.ie

29External codes and SSCC in the warehouse

An external code is assigned to a specific physical unit, not a product name or SKU. This free part of the local project preserves the internal unit ID. Each unit can have one code, with limits of 2,500 assignments and 256 characters per code. A code does not grant access to the project.

1. Calculate the plan. Open “Verification → External unit codes” and choose “Assign an external code”. Select the placed unit and check its vehicle and instance number.
2. Choose SSCC or an external code, then paste the text or read it with a USB/Bluetooth scanner. Enter only validates the input; click “Assign code” separately to save it.
3. Save the project JSON or full workspace. In a previous team space, publish and approve a new revision: a run already in progress continues using the assignments from its own revision.
4. Scanning during loading is available in the warehouse run of a previous team space: open the correct run there and choose “Scan a code”. Paste the code, use a scanner that sends Enter, or turn on the camera on request. Check the selected unit against its label, then confirm loading separately. For a personal plan, the codes are listed in the PDF.

Assignments belong to the saved project revision and survive changes to an existing unit’s size, mass or position. Removing a physical unit, including by reducing quantity, removes its assignment; Undo or re-adding the same ID does not revive it. Assign the code again explicitly. An explicit initial JSON import can restore saved assignments.

The camera starts only when requested and needs browser permission, a suitable device and lighting. If unavailable, use pasted text or a USB/Bluetooth scanner. Offline use relies only on a previously saved context for the correct run; syncing warehouse marks requires a connection.

Existing MakeCargoFit QR codes continue to work with loading-context checks. A QR code with loading parameters cannot be assigned as an external code, and scanned URLs are not opened. The PDF lists exact codes from the saved plan and warns about duplicates; the app does not invent SSCCs or generate barcode images. Select the PDF language independently of the interface.

30Previous team data: Organization loading analytics

31Closed pilot: Test API and organization keys

32Closed pilot: API PDF and protected 3D viewing links

33Closed pilot: Webhooks: ERP/TMS notifications

34Closed pilot: Embed a calculator on a website

35Closed pilot: Connect an AI assistant through MCP

36Closed pilot: Agent journal

37Closed pilot: Agent proposals

38Closed pilot: MakeCargoFit Connect: free container transport network · TEST