Cargo Air Freight

Cargo air freight is the movement of commercial goods by aircraft, from small boxes of parts to pallets, crates and machinery. It flies in the lower holds of passenger aircraft, on dedicated freighters, or on chartered aircraft, with trucks usually handling pickup and delivery. Shippers use it when speed matters more than the lowest freight cost, such as for production parts, electronics, medical devices and other high-value or time-sensitive goods. Cargo air freight is priced on chargeable weight and service level, and it is far faster than ground or ocean over long distances.

Air cargo is usually split into general cargo and special cargo. General cargo covers everyday commercial goods that need no special handling, such as parts, electronics, retail products and machinery. Special cargo needs extra care and includes dangerous goods, high-value goods, oversized or heavy pieces, perishables, pharmaceuticals and live animals. Each special type has its own rules for packing, documentation and handling. The type of cargo affects which flights will accept it, how it must be prepared and how much it costs to ship by air.

General cargo is freight that can be handled, stored and flown without special conditions. It includes most manufactured goods, such as machine parts, electronics, clothing, printed materials and packaged consumer products. General cargo can usually fly on passenger aircraft or freighters, subject to normal security screening and size limits. Because it needs no special handling, it is the simplest and often the least expensive type of air cargo to ship. Good packaging and accurate dimensions are still essential to avoid damage and surprise charges.

Special cargo is freight that needs extra handling, documentation or conditions beyond general cargo. Common types include dangerous goods, such as batteries and flammable materials; high-value goods; oversized or very heavy pieces; perishables that need temperature control; pharmaceuticals; and live animals. Airlines set specific rules for each type, and some special cargo can only fly on freighters or with specialist carriers. Shippers should declare special cargo at booking so the right aircraft, handling and paperwork can be arranged before the shipment reaches the airport.

Next flight out is a service that books cargo on the first scheduled flight with available space between two airports. A truck collects the cargo and delivers it to the airline before the tender cutoff, and another truck recovers and delivers it at the destination. It is one of the fastest scheduled options and costs far less than chartering a whole aircraft. Next flight out depends on airline schedules and space, so a charter or hand carrier may be needed when flights are full or none meets the deadline.

Consolidated air freight combines shipments from several shippers into one larger load booked with an airline, usually by a freight forwarder. Because the forwarder buys space in bulk, each shipper typically pays less than booking alone. The trade-off is time: the consolidation must be built before it flies, and it is broken down and sorted at the destination. Consolidated freight suits shipments with some slack in the schedule. Urgent cargo is usually booked individually, on a priority basis such as next flight out.

Dimensional weight is a calculated weight based on how much space a shipment takes up. For US domestic air freight measured in inches and pounds, it is commonly found by multiplying length, width and height and dividing by 166. Airlines charge the greater of dimensional weight and actual weight, known as chargeable weight. Light, bulky cargo is charged for its size, while dense cargo is charged for its weight. Compact packaging and accurate measurements keep dimensional weight, and the final bill, under control.

In the United States, all cargo carried on passenger aircraft must be screened under Transportation Security Administration rules before loading. Screening can use X-ray, explosives trace detection, physical inspection or other approved methods. It may happen at the airline's terminal, at a certified screening facility before the cargo reaches the airport, or at a shipper's own certified facility. Cargo from known shippers can fly on passenger flights once screened. Accurate descriptions and packaging that can be inspected help screening go quickly and keep cargo on schedule.

An air waybill is the shipping document for cargo moving by air. It serves as the contract between the shipper and the airline and as the receipt for the goods. It lists the shipper and consignee, the departure and destination airports, the number of pieces, weight, dimensions, a description of the contents and any special handling instructions. Each air waybill carries a unique number used to track the shipment. Unlike some ocean bills of lading, it is not a document of title and cannot transfer ownership of the goods.

A ULD, or unit load device, is a standard aircraft pallet or container used to group cargo so it can be loaded and secured quickly. Pallets are flat platforms with nets and straps, while containers are enclosed boxes shaped to fit the aircraft's hold. Each aircraft type accepts specific ULD sizes in specific positions. Airlines and ground handlers build shippers' pallets and crates onto ULDs at the airport. The size and shape of the ULD positions, along with door sizes, set the practical limits on what can be loaded.

Cargo often moves better by truck on shorter lanes, where driving straight to the destination beats the time spent on airport cutoffs, screening and recovery. Trucks also suit very heavy or oversized freight, dangerous goods that cannot fly, and shipments with flexible deadlines, because ground usually costs less per pound. Dedicated options include cargo vans, box trucks, straight trucks, hot shots and full truckloads. A good rule is to compare the delivery time and cost of both modes for the specific distance and deadline before booking.