Buzz
At times, you may encounter the need to transport items too large for postal services and too urgent for sea or ground transportation. Air freight emerges as the most efficient and expedient method for shipping goods, whether relocating to another state or country, dispatching bulk shipments, or requiring swift package delivery. Numerous factors come into play when opting for air freight, spanning from methodologies to valuations, from insurance to packaging. Exploring all air freighting options, from shipping services to airlines, ensures the most accurate estimates of cost and time. Regardless of your timeline or budget, there exists an air freighting solution tailored for you.
Procedures
Selecting a Shipping Service
Evaluate cost and time. Air freight typically offers the fastest means of transporting goods, albeit at a higher expense. Assessing the urgency of your shipments, their destination, and your budget aids in determining the suitability of air freighting for your consignment.
- As a general rule, expedited shipments incur higher costs.
Opt for air freight through airlines. Airlines often provide cargo freighting services for an extra fee, allowing you to air freight your package in the plane's cargo hold. This option is especially convenient if you're traveling with your shipment. However, not all airline shipping services offer residential deliveries and pickups.
- Contact your airline to inquire about their cargo freighting methods, costs, and customs policies. Ask questions such as, 'Can I freight a package weighing around 300 lbs. on my flight?', 'What are the restrictions on the plane's weight and size?', and 'How many packages can I ship on my flight?'
Evaluate global carrier and freight services. There's a plethora of carriers and freight services available domestically and internationally, such as UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL. Most of these carriers offer global web-based support. Research and compare different carriers to determine which one best suits your shipment needs.
- Compare the pricing and methods offered by different carriers. Most global carriers provide various options, from next-day priority air freighting to standard air freighting.
- Many carrier websites allow you to get an estimated quote on the cost and delivery time of your shipment. However, you'll need to provide details such as dimensions, weight, and shipping method to get an accurate quote.
Measuring and Weighing Your Shipment
Determine the weight of your shipment. Use a scale to weigh the items you intend to ship. You can do this at your chosen shipping service, like UPS or DHL, or at home using a bathroom scale. Place your item on the scale and record its precise weight. Some carriers may only require whole numbers for package weight. If so, round your package's weight up to the nearest whole number. For instance, if your package weighs 18.5 pounds, round it up to 19 pounds.
- If your item is too large to fit on the scale, you may need to weigh it at one of your shipping carrier's stores. Alternatively, you can weigh yourself, then weigh yourself while holding the package, and subtract your weight to estimate the package's weight.
Measure your shipment's dimensions. Measure the length, width, and height of your shipment in inches. Use a tape measure to determine the dimensions of your shipment and choose an appropriate package or box for it.
- If the item you're shipping isn't square or rectangular, measure the largest points of its length, width, and height to determine the necessary box size.
Choose an appropriate box and pack your items. Select a box suitable for the items you're shipping, considering their nature. There's a wide range of shipping packages and boxes available, some designed for specific items. Consult your shipping service for recommendations on suitable packages and inquire about purchasing them.
- While some shipping services offer packing services, many prefer customers to pack their own boxes.
- Ensure you provide extra padding for fragile items, such as foam, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap.
Shipping Your Package
Take your package to your chosen shipping service. Once you've received a quote and selected your shipping service, bring your package to one of their stores. An employee will help you finalize the weight and dimensions, and discuss rates, values, and shipping methods.
- If your package is being picked up from a residential area, ensure you print and attach the shipping label. Verify that all fees are paid, values declared, and insurance arranged before arranging pickup.
Declare the value of your package. Declaring the value of your package allows the shipping service to determine their liability. You can opt for maximum declared value, usually with an associated fee. There's no fixed rule for declaring value; it depends on factors like sentimental or monetary worth. Use your judgment to assess your package's value.
- Each shipping service has its own policies. Inquire about their liability, maximum declared value, and recommended value range for shipping without insurance.
- Ask questions like, “What's the maximum value I can declare?”, “What are the fees for maximum declared value?”, or “What value range do you suggest for my items?”
Get insurance for your package. While not mandatory, obtaining insurance ensures coverage for damaged, lost, or misplaced goods. Carriers typically have limits and exclusions, but for global air freighting, a general rule is coverage of $500,000 per shipment for approved commodities. Contact your shipping service to check if your shipment qualifies and to discuss recommended policies.
- Ask about additional coverage provided by the insurance, the recommended coverage in relation to declared value, and the cost and terms of the policy.
Select a shipping method. Different shipping services offer various methods, typically including air freighting options. Consider both cost and time constraints when choosing. Most services provide choices like priority or next day shipping, standard or economy shipping, and cargo or oversized package shipping.
- Ask your shipping service questions such as, “Is my package oversized?”, “How long does standard or economy shipping take?”, or “When can my package be guaranteed to arrive?”
Inquire about international customs policies from your shipping service. Shipping internationally often requires additional paperwork. Seek guidance from your shipping service regarding export and import declarations, customs policies, and air waybills. Most global shipping services and airlines have representatives who can assist with paperwork.
- Customs policies for import and export vary between countries. Your shipping service should be knowledgeable about your country's customs policies and those of the countries you're shipping to.
- Cargo air waybills are tracking documents used specifically for airline air freighting.
Tips
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Make sure to have your shipping service's customer service information handy in case you have any questions during the process.
