Shipping
heavy or oversized cargo is hardly a smooth, stress-free process. Whether you
are transporting outsized items for business or personal reasons, expect to
face a few challenges as you go through each step.
Since
oversized cargos are different, they
come with unique requirements. These include the need for special equipment
and specialists for handling them.
And even if
you have shipped the same items before, if you need to send them to another
place, you’ll need to deal with different international shipping rules that you
are required to comply with to avoid delays.
These
various intricacies and challenges, though, shouldn’t deter you from shipping
heavy cargo. With the right strategies and tips, you can minimize the issues
and hassles you will have to deal with.
Many
private jets are modified to hold and
transport heavy and oversized cargo. They have spacious cabins outfitted
with safety harnesses that can keep even the bulkiest item securely in place.
Air charter
companies are also usually subjected to
fewer or less strict restrictions, especially when compared with sea and
road freight services. Because of this, they can accommodate more types of
cargo.
Once you
have chosen your service provider, follow these practices and tips for
successful oversized cargo shipment by air:
1. Take accurate measurements of the cargo.
Knowing
the precise size, dimension, and weight of your cargo is crucial when shipping
oversized items. This is because your air
charter company needs these details to plan how to load and unload the freight
and balance its weight.
Aircraft load planning engineers require a clear, accurate, and understandable packing list to proceed with their assessment.
This
packing list should include the content
of each box or pallet, the number of pieces in each container, individual
weight, and overall dimensions.
Load
planning is a crucial process wherein the engineers work with you to carefully
map out a plan of action. As such, be prepared for them to speak with you often
to get the information they need.
You
may even have to provide your service provider with technical drawings,
including those of the cargo base you will use. Because of this, make sure you
prepare these documents.
2. Check the aircraft’s lashing equipment.
When
shipping outsized cargo by air, you need them to be stable and prevent them
from moving at any time for the safety of the crew, aircraft, and your payload
as well.
Because
of this, your air cargo charterservice provider needs to plan the proper and secure fastening of your outsized item.
Most
air cargo charterservice companies useaircraft lashing chains to secure containers and other loads. The number of
chains applied to the cargo depends on its weight.
Your
service provider will also give you advice on specific requirements for your
particular cargo. You have to follow these recommendations to keep your
shipment safe and secure at all times.
3. Avoid scrimping on the packaging.
Transporting
cargo is a lengthy process. As the shipper, you want to keep your shipment’s
integrity no matter what happens while it is in transit.
When
packing your cargo, ensure that the
packaging meets the ICAO and IATA requirements for air transport packages.
Cargo inside boxes must be secure and fixed regardless of the aircraft’s
movement.
If you
are shipping large quantities of
perishables, ensure their packaging is not airtight. This is because the
temperature and humidity in the cargo cabin change when the aircraft climbs and
descends.
Your
cargo will be damaged if the air pressure inside and outside of the package is
not equalized.
4. Ask about the equipment and practices used in loading.
Different
types of cargo require a variety of loading and unloading methods, equipment,
and tools. Some payloads are suitable to be loaded into an aircraft with an onboard crane system, while others
may require the use of forklifts andother warehouse apparatuses.
Find
out if the service provider has a crane system so that you and the staff will
have no difficulty loading and unloading the cargo regardless of its size and
weight.
Your
air cargo charterservice provider should also have the appropriate packing and
unpacking tools to use for moving the shipment once it reaches its destination.
Also,
find out if the staff are trained to
operate all pieces of machinery they need to use in handling your cargo.
This will give you the assurance that your shipment will be handled carefully
and that you don’t need to hire another company to assist with transporting it.
If you
are shipping vehicles or complex bulky items, find out if your service providercan design and manufacture special
frames and other features to load, unload, and move the cargo more efficiently.These
can include building a ramp or rail system.
5. Find out if the air cargo charter company accepts dangerous cargo.
If you
are shipping dangerous goods, such as
explosives, compressed gases, and flammable liquids, check if your preferred
air cargo charter service provider accepts them.
This
is because dangerous or volatile goods require
special preparation and packaging that should meet ICAO and IATA regulations.
Also,
some types of dangerous goods are restricted so no airline or private charter
can transport them under any circumstances.
The
earlier you inform the air cargo charter company about the type of cargo you
want to ship, the earlier you will know if they can accept it or not. If they
don’t, you can look into other options.
6. Check the other offered amenities and services.
Lastly,
knowing that your air cargo charter company can cover all bases throughout the
shipping process is part of being anagile leader.
All
countries have their own regulations and procedures regarding the issuance of
flight permits. Your air cargo charter company should be familiar with all these to ensure they get the approvals and necessary
permits to fly and transport your shipment within the given timeframe.
Also,
ask your service provider if the airport where they are headed has
infrastructures that can accommodate your bulky cargo.
It
should have proper loading and unloading
areas and taxiways that can facilitate easy movement of your shipment.
With these
practices and tips, you can avoid various headaches that come with shipping
outsized, heavy cargo, regardless of what it is and where it is going.
