Refers to goods loaded onto a vehicle, ship, or aircraft for transport.
トラックの積み荷が落ちた。
The truck's load fell off.
船の積み荷は主に穀物だ。
The ship's cargo is mainly grain.
積み荷 specifically refers to cargo that has been loaded onto a vehicle or vessel, while 荷 is the general term for any load or baggage.
積み荷 refers generally to cargo that has been loaded, while 上積み specifically refers to goods stacked on top of an existing load.
Standard kanji spelling; the okurigana み makes the reading clear.
Abbreviated kanji spelling; common in signs and documents.
Compound of 積み (つみ, 'loading', the continuative form of 積む 'to load') and 荷 (に, 'load, cargo').