When exporting goods from the U.S., there are two main Transportation Security Administration (TSA) cargo screening programs set up to ensure the security and safety of air cargo. A separate program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in conjunction with TSA, handles security and screening for imported cargo arriving in the U.S.
Air freight shipping is often the mode of choice for urgent deliveries, high-value cargo or sensitive product that can’t survive a lengthy trip at sea. In 2021, as ocean shippers deal with long delays and soaring rates, air freight has become a smart choice in a wider range of situations.
For small shippers, here’s a quick introduction to air cargo.
The shipping of hazardous materials is a discipline all its own, demanding special certification. When it comes to air freight shipping of hazardous goods, it’s important to understand whether that shipment includes hazmat, also called “dangerous goods.” If it does, you’ll have to follow very specific regulations on packaging, labeling and documentation.
How much is fast transportation worth to you? Sometimes speed matters so much, you don’t mind paying air freight rates. But what do those rates actually look like, and how do they compare with the cost of less-than-containerload (LCL) ocean service?
Ocean is the cheapest way to transport cargo from the US to Poland, or vice versa. But for some shipments, “cheap” won’t do.
Say you’re shipping a sensitive product that can’t withstand three weeks on the ocean in summer or winter temperatures. Or say it’s crucial to deliver that product in just a few days. That’s when air freight provides the best solution.
