Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Advantage of UPS Air Freight

UPS air freight is one of the leading names in world-class delivery services today. This is because UPS air freight has continually shown that they can exceed the standards set by other shipping industries. It is because of UPS air freight that many people today are able to meet their freight deadlines. They are able to deliver the merchandise when it is needed.

What are the advantages of UPS air freight?

First of all, UPS air freight operates in major business centers across the world. This means that the people who need delivery services the most have access to them. It is a known fact that most businesses today need to deliver or receive materials and merchandise in order to continually operate. We no longer live in a world where a business can survive isolated in its own locality. UPS air freight connects businesses to major centers and thus, ensures the delivery of the needed goods.

UPS air freight also has the advantage of technology. Everyone today has at least an idea of what technology can do to change a business. It is often the case that small businesses can get ahead of competition by simply having better technology. UPS stays ahead of the game by employing technology that allows people to track their cargo online. This means that wherever your cargo is, you can see it through the internet. This, of course, helps reassure people that their cargo is safe with UPS air freight. This also serves the purpose of keeping the personnel on their feet. Because of the visibility of the shipments, the personnel of UPS air freight will do their best to make sure that your cargo is taken care of.

There are also different types of services to choose from. This means that people will be able to customize their delivery service as they see fit. They will be able to actually choose the service that they think will be right for their cargo. Some of these services are:

1) Urgent Shipments – this service is designed for people who are in a hurry. The shipments are given priority to ensure that they arrive long before the deadline is due. This UPS air freight service can be availed of by people who are willing to pay a little extra cash for a great burst of speed. Urgent shipments also have sub-categories to further accommodate the rushing customer.

2) Routine service – if you opt for the routine service, your cargo is still assured to arrive quickly. It is through this transportation and shipment service that UPS air freight first attracted its customers. After all, in order for the special services to become truly special, then the regular service must be exemplary.

3) Customized service – if your cargo needs some sort of special handling then this is the UPS air freight service for you! There are certain things in life that we know need special care. Because of this, we often take it upon ourselves to device ways to truly make sure of the safety of these things. UPS air freight provides people with an opportunity to assure themselves that the things they are shipping will remain to be safe, even in a journey around the world.

As you can see, many are the advantages of UPS air freight over other services. That’s the reason why UPS air freight remains to be one of the major players in the world of delivery today.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Choosing the Best Shipment Company

Air freight and cargo have been important in the industry. They play a crucial role in providing business solutions and supporting the global chain. There are lots of air shipping companies that provide better services. But only a few of them can give you kind of service you want at a competitive shipping cost.

In choosing the best air freight company, you must understand first some important points before deciding for one. Below are some helpful points you should look for before dealing with an air freight company.

1. Look for the shipping benefits they offer.  An air freight company should offer direct access or contact to an advanced cargo shipping network at a reasonable shipping price. They should give variety of integrated shipping services. And more importantly, the company must be supported by known air freight shipping companies in the shipping industry. Example of this big time air freight companies are the American airlines, Roadway Corporation and Kitty hawk.


2. Find out the shipping services available. Look for the shipping freight that will suit your needs. It must provide a complete line of transportation process, from pick up to delivery. The arrival of shipment must be ensured, and should not exceed 5 days. You can visit the website of the shipping freight to find out more of their products and shipping services. You can also talk directly to their customer care representatives.

3. Know the sizes of the cargo, the company accepts. Most would accept any shipment size, but practically you can save almost 50% on some shipments greater than 200 pounds.

4. Be economical in choosing the shipping company. You must be sure that you get the best service that’s worth your pay. Shipping companies must only compute for the transportation fee, the service level, and some factor like the time of the day and the day of the week. There are also additional fee such as the air freight tax, regulatory fees and some special services needed.  It is vital to canvass first the shipping cost before dealing with such company.

5. Always check the shipment location of the air freight. Some would only offer seamless service to respective places.


6. Look for a company that provides easy access. There are some that needs online registration while others may require you to call their customer care. You can also apply for credit card so that you easily start shipping your products after registration. By doing these, you can won’t waste lots of time and effort.

7. Be sure that the company operates a 24/7 customer care service. This is important so that you can easily track your freight shipments by inquiring at the customer care center. It is always advisable that you track all shipments ensuring that they are visible all through the shipment transit. Check the status of your shipment from the pick up until you get the proof of delivery.

8. You can always create shipment reports. This is beneficial for you so that you can have an easy access of the summary of all the shipping you made.

Shipping can be convenient if you know how to choose the best shipping company. It is quality that counts. Opt for the air freight company that uses state of the art cargo engines with competitive shipping rates to provide chain needs and business solutions.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Smart Tips for First Time Exporters

Even before, exporting has been rampant in the industry. The internet being the mode of transaction acted as a useful force in meeting the needs of the customers. The supply of chain always starts with an exporter, then to the buying agent, then to the distributor, next to the stockiest and finally to the retailer.

The faultless, inexpensive but complex communication chain through different continents created a rapport between the buyer and the retailer. Both suddenly found out how much to benefit they will incur on the process of importing and buying of the products.

Today, the conventional supply chain is still useful for major morsel of exportable goods. But the direct transaction between the overseas retailers and exporters and overseas retailers is growing rapidly. Wise exporters have now planned and organized themselves the ideal ways of serving the best for overseas retailers.

Here are some smart ideas for fast and convenient exporting services:

Retailers Purchase in Small Quantity. Get only small scale retailers and disregard those load quantities. Retailing means overlooking those large purchases that can hinder the flow of money, putting your business at risk. But if your merchandise is not for small order, retailing is not for you.

Frequent Orders. It may be usual that retailers will order the same goods every time he comes back to you. He may have enough money for a large inventory or can keep the goods in a rack space. Export orders are in demand during peak season like Christmas.

The Margin Level can be higher. You may pay back smaller quantity at a higher price. Unlike the price in the local market, the retailer may feel considerable pinch and can lower down the price if you know how to communicate well.

The issue of trust matters. Importing from other countries may lead to tremendous profit, but it may be risky than purchasing from a local market. The issue of giving trust will always be the mindset of the retailer. During the first few transactions, the retailer will always have the chance to negotiate with the exporter. Thus, the former should be careful in taking his orders.

Air Freight is Preferred. Some small scale retailers don’t have a freight engine that’s why they are having difficulty with huge shipments and long period of delivery in sea freight. Opting for Royal Air Freight is a bit expensive but is ideal. Royal Air Freight will surely meet the retailer’s needs better. First time retailers however may not be aware of these concerns. It is the exporter’s responsibility to quote for the air freight and inform the retailer if needed.

Getting the right information about the Retailers. There are lots of retailer’s associations in across Europe and USA. The easiest way is to find them using a directory. You can contact them to be able to get the complete list of retailers. The Great Indian Bazaar is one of the famous associations which has piled up a directory of almost 2500 overseas retailers. The retailers are composed of convenience stores, small retail markets, large retail outlets and drop shippers.

Exporting to whether small or large overseas retailers do not demand considerable investment. Shipment can be easily handled by Royal Air Freights. Therefore, exporters especially those new in this field shall find the above opportunity worthwhile. Keep in mind that a periphery from a particular shipment may not gain much, but lots of active retailers can assure a small exporter busy all through the year.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Imagine How Huge International Air Freight Can Get

From letters to air planes, it is now possible to ship just about anything through air freight services.

All these stuffs can be carried through commercial airplanes to various mammoth-like flying machines.

International air freight can be divided into simpler categories though. While just as we have said, everything can be shipped via air there should always be some form of separation between items so that various risks can be avoided.

The three basic categories of air freight are:

Air freights that are carried through passenger air lines
Air freights that are carried through special cargo planes, and
Air freights that are huge enough to be carried by super cargo planes

Along with the passengers, international air lines can also carry with them stuffs that would be stationed to various air freight service locations. These then will be delivered via rail or road to their proper recipients.

The United States Postal Service has leased some 15 000 to 25 000 passenger planes daily to haul freight. This takes up 5 to 10 percent of all air freight revenue.

This type of international air freight are packed along with other shipments on special containers that are designed to fit the storage area beneath the passenger compartment. However, some air freight can be put on pallets while other relatively smaller items can be made to fit on remaining open spaces.

The Boeing 747-400 is usually used as the freight carrier in the passenger air line category. However, it can also be made to hold 10 000 cubic feet of cargo when on the Combi mode. This is when some of the passenger compartments are partly turned into cargo areas.

But when configured, this plane can be transformed into a huge cargo plane which can then haul as much as 5 semi trucks.

Since Boeing 747-400s are not specifically made as air freighters, there is not as much room as with a cargo plane to fit a forklift truck for loading pallets, special electric rollers are equipped on the load floor. These rollers are used to move the cargoes into the inner chambers of cargo areas.

However, for hauling huge items, a super transporter is needed. It is used for transporting helicopters and planes and is purely designed to perform such tasks.

Such planes are built in a way that when an object fits comfortably through the door then it can fit into the body of the plane. The plane is large enough to carry terribly hugr stuffs. It carries up to 47 ton stuffs but still not large enough to carry military tanks.

For such big-time requirements, Antonov AN-225 can do the job.

For this monster-air transporter, three military trucks is just about as easy as for a Boeing 747-400 to carry international air freights at its own limits.

This was originally a Russian space shuttle. With a wingspan as huge as a football field, this air freight super transporter can send to any destination some 80 cars or 3-4 military trucks. Well, if this isn't huge enough for your air freight service requirements then you might as well arrange multiple sending of stuffs.

Now you've seen your options of air freights. From sending your niece her birthday present to shipping military tanks, you are sure to find your way of sending cargoes from coast to coast.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Graf Air Freight Tips and Tricks

Graf air freight is one of the leading air freight services that many business and companies have relied on for years now. This is because of the highly competitive service that Graf is known for. They are famous for providing logistic solution in transporting time-sensitive materials both internationally and domestically.

In addition, they have a highly trained customer service support present 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. These people are ready to answer any queries and eager to help their customers plan out the best strategy so that their package will be delivered on time and in the best condition.

What makes Graf air freight service different from the rest is that they maintain strict standards regarding shipment. This is because they know that there is a constant need for things and materials to be moved around. With the many issues that involve these kinds of services, it is important that customer satisfaction is first in mind.

Graf is continuously formulating new strategies to improve their service. The one thing they focus on is to avoid the many problems that are related with air freight shipment.

But then it is not only the air freight service that is responsible transporting cargo effectively and efficiently. It can be noted that customers have to do their part so that their package or cargo will be shipped effectively and efficiently.

Below are some tips to help avoid air freight problems.

1. Pad all fragile items.

If you are shipping breakable items with unbreakable ones, it is important that you pad the fragile items carefully. Rough handling cannot be avoided especially if you do not make a note regarding the contents of your package.

Even if you are assured that your package will be handled right, unavoidable circumstances are sure to happen. Rather than take the risk that chance, it is best to provide additional safety measures so that none of the materials will be compromised.

2. Fill up your box.

It is not advisable to ship partially or half filled boxes. This is because boxes are filed on top of another. When this happens, your box has the tendency to be crushed by heavier boxes.

The best option would be to put your package in a smaller box. This way, all the space will be consumed and the materials will be made intact and immobile.

3. Pack perishable items properly.

If you want you package to arrive fresh and edible in their destination, you have to make sure that you put them in the proper package before shipping them.

There are rules and regulations that customers should adhere to when they want to ship perishable items. Make sure that you know about these rules beforehand. You can always contact their customer service so that you will not violate one or two of their rules.

4. Infectious substances and dangerous goods.

Most air freight services have strict standards regarding the shipment of dangerous chemicals and goods. Some of them do not even accept these kinds of shipment.

For those who do, you are required to provide the necessary documentation that will support the safe shipment of these materials. Be prepared to provide these documentations.

These are some of the tips that Graf air freight are providing their customers. In doing your part, you can be assured that the company will do the rest.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Pros and Cons of Air Freight Forwarding and Integrating

With the global arena opening its arms on all people ready to take its offers and take aways, there surely have emerged newer forms of forwarding businesses. The pace at which globalization has taken center stage is lightning quick that you can already consider yourself out once you fail a couple of times.

Time is the bane and relief for all businessmen. It wont wait for you, and that is a fact, yet it will always spar you to move faster than what you have first done. If you would not want to be left behind from the current trend, advises will tell you to utilize the fastest ways of arranging and doing stuffs.

With the massive effects of internet in our common and business life, there is no telling how much faster trend can be in the nearest future. This is often why businessmen are pushed towards maximizing the facilities provided by air freight forwarders.

Reliability is probably one of the main qualities shippers are looking for among air freight forwarders. Luckily, this is what exactly air freight forwarders offer and even sizing their efforts to accommodate the doubled demand on forwarding services.

This has been quite the trend for the last several years. Express consignment carriers had been bulking up their efforts to meet the tremendous needs of shippers by creating various services and products. Add to this the fact that most of them had been bombarding improvements on transit times, provisions of quality service and simplifying the construction of assigning costs while continually reaching out various points worldwide.

Worldwide marketing, selling and manufacturing are simply becoming intensified. Frankly, the game is not simply on having better prices of shipments but of making shipments faster and lesser bent to risks.

For long, air freight forwarders had dominated the business yet much effective means of sending products to consumers are being devised to optimize services, says some experts.

This job is then being taken by integrators who seem to have cut off various processes in intensifying the speed of delivery. This gives the shippers some leverage over their competitors especially in the area of heavy weight shipping.

Traditionally, heavy weight shipments are done by consolidating various items into single shipment. This can obviously take off some crucial time before the goods approach the market. And with competition at hand, you are sure to have lost some sales if your competitors are making use of faster means of sending their products towards the end consumers.

While air freight forwarding had been useful for so many years the necessity to amplify the pace of doing business is placed above all. Thus, when there come other options for doing exactly that, businessmen easily take sides and go for one that will give them the best.

What seems to be the failure of air freight forwarders is that they normally have longer processes than air freight integrators. Instead of having goods handled by various people, integrators create a system wherein the exact trailer to which your goods were loaded in is the trailer that will dispatch your items later. This cuts off all other entities that perform the job.

But you see, in the end it will always fall down to which option you choose. It is just a matter of seeing which has the greater value- doing business with air freight forwarders or with integrators?

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Essence Behind that FedEx Air Freight Guy on TV

Ever seen one of those FedEx air freight commercials on TV? You have probably laughed at the extreme measures the actors were going through just to have the packages delivered. And you were maybe thinking that those are exaggeration.

Maybe what was portrayed there was exaggeration. But the essence behind each of advertisement is clear. It depicts the efficiency that the company is very much known for. The important thing is the package should be delivered on safely and on time.

FedEx air freight has been recognized and awarded for providing the best air freight service in the US and in any part of the world. The company had long been known to provide reliability, exceptional service and punctual performance.

Not all air freight services can adhere to the many meticulous and strict standards that people want in their shipping company. It can be noted that once they do not find satisfaction in the service, they tend to look for another that will prove competent.

FedEx is one of those companies that have shown efficiency in their business. For years, the company have proven their worth and competitiveness in air freight service. The success of FedEx can also be attributed to the customers that have continued to enlist their services. By working together, problems are avoided.

Below are some things that FedEx is advising people to do to ensure that there packages will be delivered in the rightful manner.

1. Proper labeling.

All packages should be labeled not only on the outer part. For added security, you should also place a label on the interior side of the box.

Even the best air freight service can encounter situations that are beyond their control. Damaged or torn boxes can happen. In cases like this, the label will become undecipherable. So you cannot blame the service for not being able to bring to package to its destination.

If there is another label available, the problem will be solved instantly.

2. Handle with care.

If you want fragile materials to be delivered intact and in their original condition, it is best to note them down so the handler will take the necessary precaution in shipping them.

By writing the note clearly and boldly, you are assured that rough handling will be minimized because the handler is forewarned. It is also a good idea to tell the air freight employee about the matter as an added caution. They will be the one who can plan out the best location for your package.

3. Keeping it dry.

Instead of using ordinary boxes, you can use water-resistant boxes. This is an additional protection for your package in case of shifts in weather conditions.

If you do not have this available, you can wrap your box in a plastic bag. You will be assured that your package will arrive to its destination safe and dry; just the way you want it to be.

4. Double protection.

Make use of two boxes. Put your box in another box to ensure that the package will remain intact. Pick a box that is not much larger than the first one so it will not become too bulky.

Take note of all these important things so that you package will be safe and secured. After that, you can sit back and let FedEx air freight do the rest.

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Expansion of the Emery Express Air Freight

The Emery Express air freight was founded in 1946. It was the air shipping forwarder to operate with a license from the CAB or the Civil Aeronautics Board. The Emery Express had been working in partnership with famous airlines and was given a certification as the universal air shipping carrier.

By that time, the Emery Express carrier operated out of New York headquarters with a flotilla of automobiles that specifically two Ford class wagons. Since then, the express air freight has produced over $2.9 billion ocean, global air customs brokerage and other logistics company.

After ten years, the company had expanded its services overseas. Its first international agency was built in London and had established transatlantic service. The express air freight advanced to the edge of modern technology. The computerized tracing and tracking system known as the Emery Control or the EMCON was developed.

Unfortunately, fuel crisis arise during the time of early 70s. The company had prompted to charter its own airliner and consecutively launch the famous Emery Air Force in the mid 70s.

The company now offered additional services such as closed-loop operation of the transportation process, from pick up to delivery using the Emery aircrafts and trucks.

In 1987, due to an offer for expansion in the letter market, the Emery Express coordinated and get hold with the “Purolator Courier”. But the acquisition turned to be unsuccessful. The Emery exerted more effort to carry on its services until it was purchased by the famous airfreight known as the Consolidated Freightways Inc.

The CF Inc. eventually merged Emery with CF airfreight- CFI’s Inc. present air shipping company. CF that time became the parent and owner of Emery. Thus, the new Emery known as the Emery Forwarding was founded.

After 2 years, the new Emery, known as the Emery Forwarding again struggled monetarily. In return, the CFI Inc planned and implemented marketing and management restructuring that paved way for Emery to become the share leader in the air freight business.

By 1992, new marketing strategies and operations had begun to turn the air freight industry around. Little by little, it had brought back the confidence of the costumers. The company had received several awards from known companies as the “primary carrier”.

Undeniably, the company has set to its good financial setting. Its profit gained and at the same year, it won a 10 more years of $1 billion contract from the US postal office to carry out express mails.

The Emery Forwarding has launched its logistics services in 1992. It also improved its air global and ocean customs brokerage. In addition, the company upgraded its information system to meet the needs of the customers.

On the other hand, the Emery’s parent company- the CFI Inc, reorganized itself with the development of new motor carrier unit. Eventually, it was renamed CNF Inc. with its existing company, the Emery, Menlo Logistics, and the Con-Way Transportation Services.

In 2001, Emery Forwarding was merged with Vector SCM. It has been part of the Menlo integrated group of service providers.

Today, Emery Forwarding still looks forward to dealing with more customers in a different direction to a better strategy and more supply of good services and business solutions. The company as part of the Menlo group now proffers ocean forwarding and global air services. It is reported to have a record of 12,000 employees providing 200 countries with chain services and business solutions.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Some Services Offered by Delta Air Freight

Delta Air freight is one of the leading companies in the cargo industry today. They offer many services that enable people to acquire goods or send their goods from anywhere and to anywhere in the world. Let’s face it: that kind of service is in high demand today. Delta Air freight provides this service through different means:

1) Domestic shipments – Delta Air freight can deliver your cargo to any place within the United States and in some Canadian provinces through their domestic shipment service. This Delta Air freight service comes in two options:

a) Priority first freight – this Delta Air freight service is perfect for those whose cargos exceed weight and size limitations. This Delta Air freight can deliver your items when you need it delivered. The service is guaranteed to deliver your cargo. The only problem you will be having is fitting the capacity of a certain flight. This means that if Delta Air freight can find room for your cargo, it will be delivered.

b) DASH – if you want speed instead of convenience then Delta Air freight DASH might be the best service for you. This is because Dash guarantees delivery the same day! Isn’t that just amazing? Of course, on order to get this speed, you will have to sacrifice the convenience of being able to ship anything you want. You’ll have to restrict your cargo to those which comply with the standards set by Delta Air freight.

2) International shipments – items that are shipped internationally are handled with different standards of high quality care. These Delta Air freight services are:

1) Equation – this Delta Air freight service is designed for the express delivery of items that are less than 70 Kilograms in weight. These shipments are prioritized so people expecting packages can get them as quickly as possible.

2) Variation – this Delta Air freight service is used to deliver sensitive cargo such as livestock, pets, pharmaceuticals and artwork. This Delta Air freight service features dedicated procedures with the shipping. It also features specialized containers so as to prevent any damage to any goods.

3) Dimension – This is the standard airport-to airport cargo transportation. It, of course, features the acceptance of any type of item that does not require any special handling. Because the items do not require special handling, this means that Delta Air freight will be able to utilize the space as much as possible. This Delta Air freight service is perfect for people who are just getting tired of having their luggage lost by airlines.

3) Special shipments – there are many items that cannot be considered into these categories. Here are some special shipments offered by Delta Air freight services:

a) Delta cares – people who need to have the remains of their loved ones shipped often worry about the treatment that the body receives during the delivery. This Delta Air freight service is designed for the peace of mind of the bereaved.

b) Pet shipments – if you need to have pets shipped, then this Delta Air freight service is for you. You need to follow a certain set of guidelines in order to have your pet delivered. Delta Air freight will deliver your pet with the best of care and in the most comfortable way possible.

So what are you waiting for? Call Delta Air freight today.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Eyes on Your Package with Air Freight Tracking

Sending packages is now worry-free with air freight tracking. As long as you have the waybill number with you, you can check the exact location of your shipment when it has not yet been delivered to its destination.

There was a time when people were not too happy with freight services. A lot of issues have been tackled regarding lost, damaged or late packages. This is the reason why freight services are continuously developing their methods of shipment in order to gain and retain the loyalty of their customers.

One of the developments is air freight tracking. This method is made easier now with the use of the internet. Most of these freight services have their own websites already. You do not have to go to their nearest branch just to check where your package is at the moment. The process can be done by just logging into the internet and doing the tracking online.

Tracking packages is only one of the considerations that are important in an air freight service. Another consideration that you should be noted is how your packages are shipped.

Air freight shipment comprised of 3 main categories based on the mode of shipment.

1. Cargo planes.

Major air freight companies like UPS and FedEx own various kinds of cargo planes. These planes are exclusively used for their air freight services.

One of their largest cargo planes is a Boeing 747. It can hold up to 30 pallets of packages in the main level alone. They have special containers available for those who are shipping animals and other live cargoes.

Cargoes and packages are loaded using rollers which are built-in into their load floor area. Once the packages are brought into the rear of the plane, it will be rolled straight up to the rear or the front of the cargo hold.

2. Super cargo planes.

These planes are also called the super transporters. They are specially designed to hold all moving huge and heavy cargos. Helicopters are being transported this way.

These planes can hold up to 47 tons of loads. It is built with a large cargo area that fills up most of the space inside the plane. Large cargos can fit effortlessly through the giant door located at the front of the cargo hold.

3. Passenger cargo planes.

Almost all passenger planes carry freight with them together with passengers and all their baggage. One of the major companies that are using passenger airplanes to ship their packages is the US Postal Service. It can be noted that a percent of the revenue that is generated by airlines are from air freight.

Packages are put together will all other packages and baggage in the compartment area.

These are the methods of shipment that is being used by air freight services. Knowing what method your service is using is important if you want to know how you packages are being handled and shipped.

Moreover, the mode of air freight tracking is dependent on the schedules and the strict compliance that each cargo methods.

If you want to make sure that you package will arrive safety and on time, pick the best method that you think will give you the best service. Choose the one with the best air freight tracking service. This is your assurance that you will have complete track of your package until it arrive at its destination safely.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Know the Costs and How To Save on Air Freight Shipping

Air freight shipping, in most cases, is fairly complicated when it comes to pricing. But there are of course some areas when all you need is to look at the price list and voila- your parcel is already in mid air.

Letters and parcels are often priced based on the weight, size and the service level the shipper chooses. These are often fixed and seldom would one find great discrepancies in pricing. But as for air freight shipping prices, it is no good to be surprised at how high one item can cost.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association has provided a system of pricing shipments known as the National Motor Freight Classification. This works on the principle of creating classes for items and for each class are some general prices.

Items are basically grouped into various types to make listing easier. This grouping is based on qualifications like loadability, mixed-environment appropriateness, density and a number of other factors. In general, freight classes apply to all items- from express letters to huge machineries including helicopters and planes. Freight classes range from 50 to 500.

Freight shipments are rated by means of "per one hundred pounds" parameter. However, other air freight forwarders make use of per hundred weight system and cwt.

Each freight class is able to provide discounts on the base rate. Plus, there is always a discount given on the transportation rates.

Nevertheless, such discounts can be set off by charges that are often treated as accesorial yet crucial to the base rate that would later come up for the shipment. The most commonly found accesorial charges and surcharges are discussed below.

To save on these charges, it is best to know your grounds first and study in full the terms and conditions of air freight shipping as provided by the freight company.

Lift gate- When there is no forklift or loading dock available, a lift gate service is billed to help drivers load and unload the shipments for residential pickups and deliveries or commercial pick up and deliveries. To avoid complications during the process, it is best that you notify the air freight service provider in case you see the need of a lift gate since trailers are rarely equipped with this item.

Additional fees in reconfiguring routes- Most air freight shipping are designed to follow a route of some sorts. If you require the company to take another route apart from what is earlier set, they would most likely charge you with additional fees for this extra work.

Extra charges on inside pick up and delivery- When you need to have your shipment picked up or delivered inside an establishment or a building, this will impede the carrier to finish his route on schedule. Thus, to set off the expenses they are likely to use, carriers will require you of some additional charges.

Residential pick up and delivery- To off set the costs incurred for transferring shipments to smaller trailers, most air freight shipping companies require extra charges on residential pick ups and deliveries. This is the case since most local laws restrain larger sizes of trucks from entering residential areas.

There are literally hundreds of possibilities for extra payments that would stock up on your final bill. For Less-than-Truckload and Truckload shipments, it is advisable that shippers seek for intermediaries who would not only guide them through the process but would also realize for them some forms of savings.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Your Guideline for Choosing the Type of Air Freight Services You Need

One's choice of air freight must be dictated by their immediate and long term needs which maximize the services provided by air freight companies. Obviously, one only has to avail of certain services that he truly needs.

There are various types of air freight services specially designed for specific purposes. While many may perform multiple objectives, it is still best not to tax yourself with money and time just by choosing the service that you don't actually require.

Since not all packages have the same size, weight, type of delivery and duration of delivery, air freight industry has created various methods and categories wherein customers may choose their needed type of service. In this article we would try to discuss in brief the various air freight services that you may choose from. Please read on.

The simplest form of cargo shipment falls under the household goods category which include items such as furniture, house accessories and pieces of goods similarly typed in this section. Since these don't normally require special services, your cargo may be delivered on the same day it was sent or depending on the service option chosen.

The second class of air freight is the express or overnight express delivery. These normally cover items such as mail letters, small envelops and other smaller items. Since they are relatively light, cargoes of this kind come in air freight company packaging. Two of the most notable air freight company rendering this service are the FedEx express and the UPS.

Depending on the available service options, prices and type of delivery may vary including the duration of travel. Most items in this category travel some distance through air and may go coast to coast in a couple of days or overnight.

The next category available is the ground or parcel shipment. Since items in this type are slightly larger and heavier than the first two categories, the shipping of items may take a number of days and may move anywhere from 500 miles a day to 700 miles. Most ground shipments weigh around 100 pounds or less and each item don't normally exceed 70 pounds.

Depending on the service provider, parcel shipments may either travel by road, rail and air. However the latter is rarely offered.

This shipment covers most of the business-to-customer type of service and is often used by companies that make use of cash-on-delivery system of purchase.

When you need is the service of shipping much larger and much heavier stuffs, you might want to look into your options covered by the freight shipments.

Less-than-Truck-Load is the service that you must avail if you have cargoes of less than 15 000 pounds. Most shipments of this kind cover business to business shipment and are often referred to as motor freights.

This type of air freight service often comes in mixed freight environment which means that cargoes are combined with some other shipments and can be transferred from one carrier to another, depending on the type of service the shipper has chosen.

Shippers are required to arrange for their packaging since most air freight carriers don't give any form of assistance in packaging the cargoes.
Meanwhile, Truckload Freights are the largest of this kind. They go anywhere from 15 000 pounds to 43 000 and length can extend up to 53 inches long.

This type of shipment is often mixed with other shipments in one equipment and arrives at the exact trailer they were shipped on.

Monday, November 1, 2010

How Does Air Freight Service Work

Our present day living is driven by the need to communicate, to be informed and to send various items worldwide. And due to time constraint and the immediate necessity to transfer everything in the fastest mode of transportation available, the airline and cargo industry devised ways of carrying cargoes while maximizing time incurred during the process.

Cargo shipment by air is now termed to as air freight service. Items shipped at this mode range anywhere from a couple of pounds to as much as 43 000 pounds. Therefore accommodating almost all items that need for immediate shipment.

Parcels and express letters are typically the easiest to ship due to relatively handy size and weight. For larger-sized items however, various methods of shipment are required for travel and services vary depending on the number of categories including:

§ The size and weight of the item
§ The duration (number of days) required for shipment
§ The type of item

There are four basic categories for shipments namely:

a. Household goods which cover items such as furniture and the likes.

b. Overnight express or express shipments that deliver personal and business items which are observably lighter and smaller in size. These often come in the packaging of the carrier or the service provider and are often delivered overnight or within a couple of days, depending on the choice of service the shipper agreed on.

Parcel delivery, on the other hand, covers those items that are typically boxed. The services vary and packaging may be provided by the company or should the shipper chooses, may be shipped on the box of their own.

The duration of delivery varies yet typical of this kind is the speed of 500 to 700 miles per day, providing it a coast to coast travel of around 4 days.

Beyond this types are the LTL and TL freights. These are the actual air freight services and obviously cover cargoes that need big-time shipments.

Items covered in this category often weigh 15 000 pounds to around 43 000 pounds and have lengths not exceeding 53 inches long.

For each type of service level comes different corresponding prices. Parcel and express packages have pretty simpler system of pricing as compared with cargoes covered in the Less-than-Truckload-Freight and Truckload Freight which have more complicated systems of pricing.

National Motor Freight Classification is the system of pricing that monitors and dictates what price must be given to each item depending on its loadability, density, mixability and a number of other factors.

Theoretically, fragile items require higher costs of shipment since they fall in the freight class 125 to 500.

Denser items such as industrial machineries and steel require lesser care yet take most of the weight falls under the freight class 50 to 85.

Generally, these freight classes have assigned prices for which the assigned class corresponds to the base rate given.

While most air freight service providers can be contacted directly, heavier cargoes require freight brokers for easier arrangements and for the facilitation of savings. Such brokers can be contacted through online marketplaces. They have the hand for directly arranging shipments at much lower rates since they act as intermediaries between carriers and shippers.

It is good to remember that when shipping cargoes with any type of air freight service chosen, you must know in full all the terms and conditions included.