“Air-Packed Cargo: How to Prepare Your Cargo
For starters, you need to keep in mind that cargo is likely to be jostled at least somewhere in its journey as it moves from one place to another through various methods. Even with air freight, there is a lot of movement on the ground as well as during the loading and unloading phases. If you prepare your cargo in a way that doesn’t allow it to properly handle these movements, some of your items could end up being damaged or lost.
Once you have developed a healthy respect for the risks associated with air freight, you can begin to develop a plan that will appropriately meet your needs. What kind of materials do you need? Are there any specific risks associated with the type of items you will be shipping (eg fragile goods)? The success of air freight depends largely on planning and preparation more than anything else. Take the time to develop a good plan at the outset and you’ll be way ahead of the game.
1. Packaging materials suitable for air shipment
Use corrugated boxes:
Often mislabeled as a cardboard box or box. CFB is the most commonly used shipping container, but the vast majority of people are unaware of the advantages and disadvantages of packaging. The point of maximum compression on the box is within 1″” of the edge formed by two adjacent panels.
CFB also degrades over time – losing up to 50% of its strength within 6 months. 90% humidity can weaken CFB packaging by up to 60%. These are generally not robust enough to be reused and should be considered a one-time package.
Air Freight Wooden Packaging
Making air cargo helps protect your cargo and, if handled properly, allows for damage-free shipping. Here are some considerations for using wood packaging:
Always use interlocking corners on wooden boxes
Do not put fasteners in the end grain of wood – fastener resistance can be reduced by 35% when placed in the end grain; place them in the side or edge grain of the container
The knots should not be larger than 30% of the surface area where they appear
Do not knot fasteners
Use diagonal braces on each panel for added strength
air pallet
Pallets are usually made of wood or plastic. Pallets increase the efficiency of moving packages by assisting in consolidating and handling packages. Using pallets also reduces the risk of damage by moving goods around without direct contact with the package. Here are some notes about air pallets:
The pallet should be large enough to hold the cargo without overhanging
Broken pallets should not be used
Protruding fasteners should be removed before placing the package on the pallet.
The floor load of pallets on any shipment must exceed 100 pounds per square foot.
Know the rated capacity of the pallet; never exceed it.
Following these general best standards will ensure that your international shipments are safe and secure when using air freight. It is a good idea to properly cushion your cargo and reduce the impact of shocks on your cargo.
Understand aviation safety regulations
Airfreight safety regulations require that your shipments must be inspected before being exported.
2. Your shipment may be inspected:
Checked as a single item – each individual box, carton or other item is checked by a Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RACA).
Consolidated form – Homogeneous shipments are packed on pallets and boxes are stacked and wrapped in plastic or unit load devices (ULDs).
As an Approved Known Shipper – Airfreight shipments from these companies do not require further inspection before they are placed on the aircraft.
3. What if your shipment is not packaged properly?
Goods may be damaged
If your shipment is not properly packaged, it may not be safe to ship by air at all. This is especially true for hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods. Packaging instructions for dangerous goods usually require packaging that has passed the UN performance test specifications (if not limited shipments).
If you fail to pack properly, the consequences can be dire if shipped by air.
Goods may be rejected
If the cargo arrives poorly packaged, it may end up being rejected by the aircraft carrier. This leads to more fees and delays.
Shippers don’t just spend time, money and resources making sure their cargo is properly packaged. They will also experience delays throughout the supply chain, and overseas customers may not receive orders by their scheduled dates.”
