5 Things to Consider When Choosing an Air Freight Company

It’s every company’s dream to do business on a global scale. An essential requirement for successful expansion is the import and export of goods by air.

In this guide, you will learn about air freight types and the main factors to consider when choosing an air freight company. 

What Are the Types of Air Cargo?

There are different types of air cargo, each with its own requirements and specificities: 

• Commercial planes: Most commercial planes carry freight, but in small quantities. These planes come with a cargo hold that allows them to handle both containerized and palletized cargo. Since commercial flights travel to many destinations during the day, this type of air cargo gives you a wide range of cost-effective options. However, because they also carry humans, these flights are subject to more restrictions than other air cargo. As a result, you will find that some airlines limit the weight and size of shipments and even the destination in some cases.
• Cargo planes: Also known as heavy transport aircraft, these are often fixed-wing planes converted or designed to carry cargo rather than passengers. As a result, they rarely incorporate passenger equipment and are equipped with one or more large doors to facilitate cargo loading. This type of air cargo generally carries heavier loads (approximately 26,000 cubic feet of freight). As these aircraft do not carry passengers, they are subject to fewer Transportation Safety Administration restrictions.
• Air charters: Frequently used in crisis or emergencies, this air cargo type gives you the exclusive right to the aircraft. You can, therefore, transport your cargo wherever and whenever you want. In fact, it is the most direct and fastest way to ship goods because it saves you from stopovers and other outside interventions.

Now you’re probably wondering how fast each of these types of air cargo can deliver your freight. It depends on the agreement you have with the air cargo charter company. But here are the three options available to you:

• Next flight out: As the name implies, this option allows you to transport your cargo on the next departure flight. It can be a commercial, charter, or cargo flight.
• Consolidated shipping: This option will enable you to transport your cargo according to a specific schedule. Usually, this cargo is put on passenger or cargo aircraft, but rarely on a charter flight.
• Deferred shipping: This option is by far the slowest. Deferred shipping means that your goods will be put on a plane when there is room. Here, the freight is not considered urgent and can be delayed for up to five days. 

Things to Consider When Choosing an Air Cargo Company

Now that you know the types of air freight, here is a list of things to consider before using these services.

Industry Expertise

When choosing an air freight company, the first thing to consider is its industry expertise because the last thing you need is a company that doesn’t know what it’s doing and is putting your cargo at risk. 

This is why you need a company that knows and understands the regulations for each type of shipment. It gives you the reassurance that your cargo will be handled in the safest and most satisfactory manner possible. 

Before making any commitments, you might as well make sure that the company has already transported products similar to yours. For example, it would be risky to entrust a local freight company with shipping goods to a foreign country. Instead, such tasks should be handled by a company that specializes in domestic and international freight services. 

In case you are looking for a company with the expertise mentioned above, air cargo charter companies in Dubai are well qualified to help you. 

Capacity

Depending on the type of products you want to ship, you need the air cargo company to have large, medium, or small capacity services. Sometimes you need a company that will deliver your cargo as soon as possible, but they will fail you due to the lack of aircraft. That is why you need a cargo company that has aircraft ready to take off at any time. 

So be sure to check the handling capacity of the freight company before signing any contract. You can do this by checking their daily, weekly, or monthly shipping volume. 

Experience

Another critical factor that should not be overlooked when choosing a freight company is their level of experience. Experience here is another form of expertise. Think about it: you may have mastered your craft but have less experience. That’s why in most cases, competence goes hand in hand with experience. 

As such, make sure you hire a company that has been active in the sector for some time. The advantage of working with an experienced freight company is that it knows all the necessary procedures to ensure the successful delivery of goods from one place to another–something of importance to you. 

Technology

As time goes by, equipment that is considered useful today becomes obsolete tomorrow. That’s why you need to hire a company that uses state-of-the-art equipment.

For example, if your product needs to be stored under specific temperature and pressure conditions, you need to hire a company whose aircraft is equipped with technologies that allow you to do that. 

It is also essential to hire companies that have technologies that allow you to track the itinerary of your cargo from your mobile phone or computer. This feature is useful when you are shipping sensitive products. By knowing where the freight is, you can prepare your team to receive it once it reaches its destination. 

Costs and conditions and policies

Last but not least, you should look at the terms and policies of the freight company as well as the way they charge you for freight. For the same expertise, always choose the company that offers the most advantageous rates and flexible conditions and policies.  

Always do your homework in advance and look at market prices. This will help you establish a reasonable budget and avoid unexpected expenses. Also, make sure that the conditions and policies are clear and, above all, fair.

As you can see, there are many things to go over when choosing an air freight company. But these are not meant to scare you. On the contrary, you should consider these things and make sure that the company you hire will get your cargo to its destination without any problems.