Air Freight Shipping - Tips And Tricks

What's in this article?

Prep and Pack Your Boxes Properly
Take care with packaging
Double Check Measurements
Complete the Paperwork
An airway bill
An invoice
Label Your Shipment Clearly
Include a Commercial Invoice for International Shipments
Don't Re-Use Corrugated Fiberboard Boxes
Prohibited Items
Hazardous goods proceed with caution
Transportation Cost vs Actual Cost
Conclusion

Air freight shipping has become a popular method of transporting goods worldwide. It's fast, efficient, and cost-effective. However, air freight shipping also comes with its fair share of risks.

Are you looking for tips on how to ship air freight? Do you want to learn how to save money and avoid mistakes?

We have provided some crucial tips to help you avoid major mistakes and potentially lose money or even your license.

Prep and Pack Your Boxes Properly

Air freight is a great option but requires proper preparation and packing. Here are some tips for you to make sure your shipment arrives safely.

Take care with packaging

Packaging is one of those things you don't think about much until it breaks. Then you're left wondering how you'll ever replace it. Here are some tips for protecting your merchandise.

Double Check Measurements

The Transportation Security Administration says it sees more than $1 billion worth of cargo daily that must be checked. But some shippers aren't doing enough to ensure their goods arrive safely.

According to the agency, there are three major types of cargo shipments: air freight, ocean freight, and trucking. Each type requires different measurements, and TSA says it will take action against carriers that don't follow proper procedures.

For example, if you ship via air freight, you must measure your container's length, width, height, and depth.

If you don't measure correctly, TSA says it will penalize you. You could face fines or a holdover if you ship too much or too little cargo. A holdover happens when your shipment doesn't clear customs because of incorrect measurements.

And if you're caught trying to sneak something into the country without measuring correctly, TSA says you could lose your license.

Complete the Paperwork

When shipping internationally, you should never ship without completing the proper paperwork. This includes customs forms, airway bills, and insurance certificates. Failure to do so could lead to delays or even damage to your shipment.

The most common mistake is failing to fill out the correct form. For example

An airway bill

This does not require a signature; it requires a declaration stating that the goods are being shipped under contract.

An invoice

An invoice doesn't require a signature either, but it does require a declaration stating that the customer accepts delivery of the goods. You'll need to provide proof of insurance if you're sending something via express courier.

Ask your freight forwarder or carrier if you don't know what documents you need. They will be able to tell you exactly what you need to send along with your package.

Label Your Shipment Clearly

If you are shipping something overseas, it makes sense to label your package clearly. This includes labeling your packages according to international standards. Check out our guide here if you don't know what those standards are.

Labeling is important because it helps customs officials identify your items and ensure everything gets where it needs to go safely. But even if you're just sending stuff within the United States, proper labeling still matters.

For example, put the model number on the box if you want to ship a TV. You'll also want to include the serial number, manufacturer name, and warranty info. And if you're shipping multiple TVs, consider putting each one into its own box.

You might think that adding a barcode to your packaging will help speed things up, but no evidence suggests this actually works.

In fact, some studies suggest that having too many options slows down the process. So feel free to add a few extra stickers to your boxes, but don't overdo it.

Include a Commercial Invoice for International Shipments

Include a commercial invoice if your shipments are going international. If you ship internationally, include all necessary documentation, including the commercial invoice. Proper documentation includes the following:

A customs declaration form
An export permit
A packing list
A copy of the commercial invoice

Contact your local customs office if you don't know what documents to provide. They'll help you determine whether you need to file a customs declaration form, obtain an export permit, etc.

Don't Re-Use Corrugated Fiberboard Boxes

Corrugated fiberboard (CFB) is one of those materials you see everywhere around your house. You use it to ship products, store things in closets, and even build furniture. But what happens when you recycle it? Do you end up with something useful again?

Not necessarily. "Re-using corrugated fiberboard boxes is a big mistake," says Mark Tungate, director of recycling at the EPA. "They're designed to be used once and thrown away."

The problem lies in how corrugated fiberboard is manufactured. When it's produced, manufacturers add glue to ensure the material sticks together properly. This glue doesn't come off easily, though, and it can cause problems if you try to recycle it.

If you re-use a box, the glue gets into the crevices of the material and makes it difficult to separate the layers. As a result, the recycled material isn't suitable for many applications.

If you do decide to reuse a box, look for signs of wear and tear. Also, check the seams and corners. If there are any cracks or tears, discard the box immediately. Otherwise, you might be paying extra fees to dispose of it properly.

Prohibited Items

Most airlines will not ship hazardous materials like flammables, oxides, etc. Items that contain dangerous gases, such as chlorine gas, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, phosgene, etc., must be declared before shipping.

Certain countries require specific items to be labeled if they are toxic or harmful. For example, some countries require labeling of chemicals used in manufacturing explosives.

Hazardous goods: proceed with caution

The United States regulates hazardous goods under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Hazardous goods include chemicals, biological agents, radiation, explosives, and corrosive and flammable liquids.

These dangerous substances must be transported via air carrier. Airlines must declare hazardous cargo and provide the shipper with a manifest.

There are nine categories of hazardous goods. Each category requires a different type of declaration form. For example, there is a hazmat declaration form for chemical products, one for explosive products, and so forth. Airline carriers must obtain a HazMat Certificate from the FAA before transporting hazardous items.

Transportation Cost vs. Actual Cost

Air freight is much cheaper compared to ocean freight. But there are other costs involved, including insurance, fuel surcharges, taxes, etc.

Shipping times vary depending on whether it's local or long distance, what type of cargo you're transporting, and how far away you want to go.

Many factors influence transportation costs. Make sure to read up on all costs before assuming it's the cheapest method.

Conclusion

Air freight is the fastest, cheapest and safest way to ship goods around our planet. But it isn't always the best option for every type of product.

In some cases, there are better options. But if you are choosing air freight, it is vital to know all the details to avoid any mistakes and extra costs while shipping your goods.

For more valuable content, check out our blog full of great information. Additionally, why not skip the stress and potential mistakes altogether and hire a shipping company to do all the heavy lifting? At A-1 Transport Services, we have 35-plus years of industry experience. For a FREE quote, click here