cargo bed
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cargo bed
The open or enclosed area of a transport vehicle such as a truck, flatbed truck, or trailer, onto which the goods to be transported are loaded.
Die Umzugskartons füllten die gesamte Ladefläche des Transporters.
The moving boxes filled the entire cargo bed of the van.
'Ladefläche' (cargo bed) is a compound noun made from the verb 'laden' (to load) and the noun 'die Fläche' (the area/surface). So it is literally the area onto which you load something.
Die Ladefläche des Lastwagens war komplett leer.
The cargo bed of the truck was completely empty.
Pay attention to the case after the preposition 'auf' (on/onto). Movement is expressed with the accusative ('auf die Ladefläche' — onto the cargo bed), while a location uses the dative ('auf der Ladefläche' — on the cargo bed).
Der Gabelstapler hob die Palette auf die Ladefläche.
The forklift lifted the pallet onto the cargo bed.
Typical actions connected with a cargo bed are 'etwas auf die Ladefläche laden' (to load something onto the cargo bed), 'die Ladefläche entladen' (to unload the cargo bed), and 'die Ladung auf der Ladefläche sichern' (to secure the load on the cargo bed).
Vor der Abfahrt müssen wir die Möbel auf der Ladefläche gut sichern.
Before departure, we have to secure the furniture well on the cargo bed.
trunk
'der Kofferraum' and 'die Ladefläche' both have to do with transporting things in a vehicle. 'Kofferraum' is used for a car: that is where you put luggage, groceries, or other smaller items. 'Ladefläche' fits better with transport vehicles such as trucks, flatbed trucks, or trailers. It is the area onto which larger goods or materials are loaded. Learners may confuse the words because both refer to storage space. Pay attention to the vehicle: with a normal car it is usually 'Kofferraum'; with a transport vehicle it is usually 'Ladefläche'.
Für den Umzug stellen wir die schweren Kartons auf die Ladefläche des Transporters.
For the move, we are putting the heavy boxes on the cargo bed of the van.
Die Einkäufe liegen noch im Kofferraum, weil ich sie zu Hause vergessen habe.
The groceries are still in the trunk because I forgot them at home.