Pallet Positions: CCG1, CCG2 and Double-Deck Loading

A semi-trailer leaves the yard with 24 pallet positions instead of 33, because the load was stacked higher than necessary and left no room for a second level. Avoiding that comes down to two decisions: the pallet load height under CCG1 or CCG2, and whether double-deck loading is even possible.

In brief: A pallet position is the footprint a Euro-pallet occupies on a truck's load area, a standard semi-trailer holds 33 to 34 of them. The CCG1 standard caps pallet load height at 1,050mm, CCG2 allows up to 1,950mm. Only the lower CCG1 height leaves enough room for a second loading level, known as double-deck loading, which can nearly double the number of pallet positions in a suitable trailer.

What is a pallet position?

A pallet position is the footprint a Euro-pallet (800 x 1,200mm) occupies on a vehicle's load area. It works as a fixed unit in freight calculations, regardless of how high any individual pallet is actually loaded.

The number of pallet positions, together with total weight, determines how many shipments fit onto one vehicle. In practice, people often cite it alongside loading meters, which measure load area in the direction of travel. You calculate a loading meter as cargo width divided by usable vehicle width (typically 2.4m), multiplied by length in the direction of travel, and it matters most for non-palletized or very bulky cargo.

For importers, this connects directly to how the goods reached this point in the first place through procurement logistics. If goods arrive by ocean freight, the container loading choice already affects how smoothly things continue. At the destination port, that determines whether enough pallets fit onto one onward-transport truck, or whether the shipment splits into partial loads.

How many pallet positions fit in a truck?

A standard semi-trailer with 13.6m of interior length holds 33 to 34 Euro-pallets in a single row, depending on whether you turn the pallets lengthwise or crosswise. Smaller vehicles and swap bodies hold fewer positions in proportion to their interior length.

Similar capacity questions come up earlier, during ocean transport: the choice between FCL and LCL directly affects the later pallet-position planning on land, depending on whether a shipment fills a whole container alone or shares one with other cargo. For comparison, a 40-foot container holds roughly 20 to 24 Euro-pallets in a single layer as a rule of thumb, depending on the loading pattern, noticeably fewer than a semi-trailer. The reason is interior width: a standard container is only about 2.35m wide inside, versus 2.48m for a semi-trailer, so it doesn't fit three Euro-pallets side by side as cleanly. Knowing how many pallets a container holds lets you plan the partial load at the destination port realistically before the shipment even arrives.

In our sourcing projects, we regularly see buyers only work out a trailer's exact pallet positions once a shipment doesn't fit as planned. Coordinating the pallet-position count with the freight forwarder during packaging planning, rather than after, avoids last-minute rebooking and extra freight cost.

What do CCG1 and CCG2 mean for pallet load height?

CCG1 and CCG2 are two pallet load heights for Euro-pallets. The CCG ("Centrale für Coorganisation," today part of GS1 Germany) developed them in 1984 together with industry and retail. Both have been part of the ECR "Efficient Unit Loads" recommendations for Germany ever since, and remain in use in German consumer-goods logistics today.

CCG1 caps a pallet's total load height, pallet plus goods, at 1,050mm and is the height predominantly used in Germany. CCG2 allows up to 1,950mm, considerably more per pallet. Shippers use this extra height mainly for bulky or lightweight goods, where the additional space pays off economically. Internationally, people compare both heights against the European classes EUL1 and EUL2.

In November 2025, GS1 Germany launched a harmonization project intended to gradually align the national CCG1 standard (1,050mm) with the European EUL1 standard (1,200mm). For procurement projects with European supply chains, it's worth checking which load height your current partners actually use.

How does pallet load height affect the number of positions?

The chosen pallet load height directly decides how much vertical space is left in a trailer for a second loading level. At a typical interior height of 2.70m in newer trailers, a CCG1 pallet capped at 1,050mm leaves enough clearance for a second level built from load beams. A CCG2 pallet at up to 1,950mm, by contrast, fills most of that space on its own.

If you pay attention to a lower load height during packaging planning, you keep the option of later double-deck loading open, even if that particular shipment doesn't use it. This decision is typically made well before the actual loading takes place.

As a rough guide, use this checklist before committing to one of the two load heights:

What is double-deck loading, and when does it pay off?

Double-deck loading means using a second loading level inside a truck trailer. Height-adjustable load beams or strap systems usually make this possible, letting you carry additional pallets above the first layer. In a suitable trailer, it comes close to doubling the usable number of pallet positions without adding a second vehicle.

In practice, double-deck loading pays off mainly for lightweight, dimensionally stable goods that won't deform under their own weight. For heavy or pressure-sensitive components, the permitted load per beam is usually the limiting factor, not the available floor space.

One long-established example is the height-adjustable trailer from Schmitz Cargobull, which adds up to 33 additional pallet positions on a second level to the 33 standard ones. Each load beam is rated for 600kg, each additional pallet for 400kg. The system stays certified to EN 12642 XL throughout.

What load-securing requirements apply to double-deck loading?

For load securing on German road vehicles, VDI guideline 2700 counts as the recognized rule of the trade. It isn't a legal requirement itself, but courts and police regularly use it as the benchmark for whether a load was secured adequately.

Double-deck loading adds further requirements:

• The load beams need to be rated for the actual combined weight

• The second level needs its own protection against slipping

• Not every type of goods suits stacking on an additional level

Anyone regularly importing goods by container from the Far East, followed by onward ocean freight transport, should clarify these requirements with the freight forwarder before finalizing packaging.

Who's responsible for the onward transport also depends on the agreed Incoterm clause. Under clauses that leave the leg into the destination country to the buyer, the decision on pallet load height and double-deck loading sits with the buyer directly, not with the supplier in the Far East.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CCG1 and CCG2?

CCG1 caps a pallet's load height at 1,050mm, CCG2 allows up to 1,950mm. CCG1 is the height predominantly used in Germany, CCG2 is mainly used for bulky or lightweight goods.

How many pallets fit in a truck?

A standard semi-trailer with 13.6m of interior length holds 33 to 34 Euro-pallets in a single row. Smaller vehicles like swap bodies or solo trucks hold correspondingly fewer positions.

When does double-deck loading pay off?

Double-deck loading pays off mainly for lightweight, dimensionally stable goods loaded at a CCG1 pallet height, since that height leaves enough clearance for a second level. For heavy or pressure-sensitive goods, the permitted load per beam is usually the limiting factor.

Which standard governs load securing for double-deck loading?

VDI guideline 2700 is the recognized rule of the trade in Germany. Specially certified double-deck systems additionally meet the EN 12642 XL code for structural body strength.

Conclusion: plan pallet load height and double-deck loading together

Pallet positions can't be optimized in isolation. The choice between CCG1 and CCG2 already decides, at the packaging-planning stage, whether room remains for a second loading level later. Double-deck loading in turn decides how many pallet positions a single trailer actually delivers.

Line Up factors pallet load height and loading optimization into the packaging specification of your Far East imports from the start. 👉 Schedule a no-obligation consultation.