A DPE, also called an LD2, is a contoured air-cargo container, not a rectangular box. For cargo planning, distinguish its outside dimensions, loading doorway and actual clear interior. A shipment can have less cubic volume than the published capacity and still fail the doorway or contour check.
Planning limitation: the current CBM3 DPE profile is not verified against a complete internal-clearance drawing. Do not use its placement result as proof that a shipment fits the physical Lufthansa unit. This guide provides a reference checklist while that geometry is reviewed.
DPE / LD2 dimensions: what the Lufthansa reference says
The Lufthansa Cargo Pallets, Containers and Fleet brochure, dated September 2023, lists the following DPE values. These describe that reference, not every LD2 model or a current booking commitment.
| Reference field | Value |
|---|---|
| External dimensions, L x W x H | 154 x 120 x 163 cm |
| Shell top, L x W | 157 x 154 cm |
| Door opening | 104 x 150 cm |
| Listed volume | About 3.3 m3 |
| Standard tare / maximum gross mass | 69 kg / 1,225 kg |
Neither the external dimensions nor the top rectangle defines a cargo-clear cuboid. Wall thickness, the sloping side and the usable opening need separate checks. Confirm the actual equipment and document revision with the handling operator.
How much cargo weight can a DPE carry?
Using only the brochure’s two mass figures, 1,225 – 69 = 1,156 kg before any additional packaging, restraint material or lower operator limit. This subtraction is not a universal cargo allowance. Use the actual unit tare and the lowest applicable limit for the booked aircraft position.
Prepare a carton list without overstating fit
- Record each packed item’s outside length, width, height, quantity and gross item weight.
- Keep upright-only goods horizontal in the rotation settings. Enable Full 3D only when the goods and packaging permit it.
- Check the largest item against the actual door and the handling path, including turning space.
- Obtain the applicable internal contour before interpreting a 3D placement as a dimensional fit check.
- Have the handler confirm mass, restraint, condition and aircraft-position acceptance separately.
For a volume-only example, twelve cartons measuring 50 x 40 x 30 cm total 0.72 m3. That is cargo volume, not a finding that twelve cartons fit a DPE. Use the CBM calculator to prepare quantities and volume without treating the result as equipment approval.
Why does CBM3 show different dimensions?
Version 11.63.56 stores a 154 x 154 x 163 cm bounding profile and a simplified sloping cross-section. The published external and shell-top data do not verify that complete internal shape. The difference is a model-validation gap, not extra usable space.
Common DPE planning questions
Is the 1,225 kg limit cargo only?
No. It is the cited gross value. The container itself and other included equipment consume part of that allowance.
Can an LD2 estimate be reused for an LD3?
Do not carry the dimensions or placement result across equipment types. Compare the LD3 / AKE reference and the actual supplied unit.
Reference and review scope
Named reference: Lufthansa Cargo, Pallets, Containers and Fleet, September 2023, DPE table on printed page 11. Reference checked on 9 October 2026. This is a planning explanation, not certification, a complete internal drawing or a carrier acceptance decision. See the equipment guide directory for other loading spaces.
How to inspect and hand over a loading plan
Use the selected plan and the complete shipment data. Recheck the result after changing cargo, equipment or handling rules.
See every cargo unit in context
Search the cargo inventory, focus on an item and switch between realistic, operational, top and side views. Inspect pallet layers and height sections.
The inventory separates requested units, units in the selected container, units in other containers and unplaced units. Select a row to find its cargo in the scene; playback and height sections show only part of the complete plan.
Use pallet details to inspect full, partial and mixed pallets. A height section filters the view; it does not remove cargo from the plan. Vehicle bodies and wheels provide visual context.
Prepare clearer warehouse instructions
Use product colors and short codes, named groups and delivery stops. Choose a summary or warehouse PDF for the selected plan.
Assign product colors and short codes to connect the cargo table, 3D view and reports. Group and stop names improve instructions; apply the appropriate loading rules when a sequence must be enforced.
Compare verified alternatives and review any manual moves. A manual reallocation affects the current preview and PDF; saved or shared inputs recalculate the automatic arrangement when reopened. Export again after changes.
Read the estimated center of gravity
Review longitudinal, lateral and height coordinates from known cargo and pallet masses. Check the displayed origin and units before comparing plans.
The estimate assumes each item's mass is centered and excludes vehicle tare. Missing or stale additional-material records can leave the complete-load assessment unavailable; explicitly declare none when no extra materials are present.
Coordinates use the load-space frame, not road height. For Step Deck, X starts at the raised front end and Y at the lower-deck datum; axle-form distances run from the rear toward the cab.
Distinguish the loading unit from its carrying vehicle
This loading unit alone does not define an axle configuration.
Inspect cargo and pallet weight distribution in this loading space. A container, swap body or air-cargo unit does not identify the road chassis, rail wagon or aircraft carrying it.
Axle estimates are available after selecting a supported complete road or rail vehicle. Enter its actual mounting positions, full empty reactions and applicable limits; do not reuse a trailer reference as container or aircraft approval.