How Does Your Cargo Move When in the Air?

Discover How Your Merchandise Travels To Its Destination

Over the course of one calendar year, airline transports report over 52 million metric tons of goods being shipped through their airlines annually. Cargo averages about 9% of airline revenue.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) deduces that, in 2018, the value of merchandise carried by air transport will exceed over $6.2 trillion. As a whole, this represents about 35% of global trade by value, though it still accounts for less than 1% of world trade by volume. Overall, this equals around $6.8 trillion worth of merchandise being shipped in the sky every year. That’s $18.6 billion being shipped via air freight a day!

Cargo Units of Measurement

To understand how your cargo moves once it leaves your facility, you must also understand the terminology freight forwarders use. When moving cargo in the air, the shipment is measured and transferred using a “unit load device,” more commonly known as just a ULD. This is just a pallet or container that can be used to physically move cargo onto either a wide-body or narrow-body aircraft. It is a tool used to help move large amounts of luggage, freight, or mail and consolidate it into one easily transportable unit.

As of today, there are roughly 900,000 ULDs in play that make numerous trips all over the world every year. With just under a million of these moving from one end of the globe to another at any given time, it’s no wonder that fast delivery services are becoming increasingly popular with consumers.

Since ULDs are removable parts, they are subject to strict civil aviation requirements from authorities in the areas of operations, design, production, testing, repair, and maintenance. For a ULD to be considered airworthy, it must pass many tests that determine whether it is capable of safely restraining the cargo loads without damaging the interior or exterior of the aircraft during flight. Many unregulated hands handle the ULD, as well, as they are often outsourced to 3PLs. Because of this, there have been increasing challenges with how airlines supervise and keep control over ULD operations.

The Process of Moving Cargo By Air

As a whole, the concept of airline transport is self-explanatory; airfreight refers to cargo that is transported by aircraft. It is by far the fastest shipping option, in addition to being more reliable and more flexible than other shipping options. Because you can get your merchandise to its destination in just a few days, versus a few weeks or months as with ground or sea transport, you can reduce the possibility of something going wrong. Even more so, you can offer your customers and clientele an option that reduces the amount of time between making a payment and receiving their goods. It’s an excellent option for anyone who needs to send time-sensitive materials, such as foods or pharmaceuticals.

Unfortunately, it also happens to be the most expensive method of transport for goods. You can expect to pay for things like fuel surcharge, container freight station fees, airline terminal handling fees, and more – all on top of the base cost. However, with a little care and effort, you can maximize this shipping option and reduce extra costs. The trick is to incorporate airfreight as an intermodal shipping option.

 You May Also Like: “Do You Know How Your Cargo Moves Overseas?” 

Typically, the process works like this:

1. Your warehouse/company/online shop fulfills an order for a client.
2. A trucking company is sent to your warehouse to pick up the merchandise you scheduled for shipment.
3. It is taken to an airfreight location, typically local to the area, where it is then fitted onto the appropriate ULD and loaded on the freight plane.
4. It flies to its destination, where it usually arrives at a sorting facility or warehouse. Then, someone sorts the merchandise for immediate pick-up and delivery, or it is deferred for later delivery.
5. Once more the item is loaded onto a truck, then delivered to the consumer’s home, business, storefront, etc.

At some point, if the merchandise is coming from overseas, it may be subject to inspection by Customs and Border Protection agents. To avoid any delays or additional fees, be sure to have all the necessary paperwork and duties taken care of ahead of time.

Types of ULD Used

A few different ULDs are used every day to facilitate air freight transport. Here is a brief overview of the container types and what their most common uses are:

Promptus LLC Can Help You Get the Best Deal

Not sure how to start implementing airfreight services without breaking the bank? Don’t worry – Promptus LLC has you covered! We offer full-scale freight forwarding services, including Customs Brokerage, and a variety of transportation options. Contact us at 1-877-776-6799 for a quote today!