Air Freight Forwarding: Mistakes You Should Avoid

When it comes to international freight transportation, you can hardly find a better solution than air shipping. This mode has lots of advantages. The most significant of them include extra fast delivery speed, awesome security measures, and reduced storage requirements.

Yet, the greater part of modern businesses does not deal with this type of transportation for two reasons. The first one is price. Air shipping is rather expensive. Not all companies can afford to deliver their parcels via planes. Business owners prefer to cooperate with cheap freight shipping agencies. The second reason is the complex process of preparation for transportation. There are so many requirements and limitations you should take into account.

Yet, if you have to deliver cargo by air, you should be ready to solve intricate tasks and deal with difficulties. To make the process of air freight forwarding as convenient and trouble-free as possible, you are to avoid the following mistakes:

• Ignoring the rules of the air carrier.

Alongside common rules for air transportation, every air carrier has the right to impose some additional requirements or limitations. If you think you may ignore them without any consequences, you are wrong. Your cargo just won’t be accepted on board.

Thus, it’s of prime importance to clarify all the details of freight forwarding. It’s necessary to pay attention to the list of needed documents, permissible dimensions, as well as to the list of forbidden products.

• Overpacking your cargo.

It goes without saying that packaging is a must. Yet, you should not overdo it. Otherwise, you are to pay more for extra weight and non-standard measures.

• Choosing a freight forwarder without accreditation.

You can hardly find a business owner who doesn’t want to save money. No wonder, when looking for a forwarder, the greater part of enterprises pay attention only to the price. They “forget” to check the accreditation.

• Providing shipping documents too late.

It’s clear that gathering and preparing all the needed papers may take lots of time. Yet, you should realize the air carrier has to process the papers, too. If you provide the needed info too late, you risk experiencing delays.

• Using no stretch wrapping.

Any transportation is a risk. No matter, whether you deal with a truck or a plane, it’s up to you to do everything possible to avoid damages. Thus, it’s a cool idea to wrap your cargo. This simple but effective method allows avoiding extra movements of the items.

• Refusing extra services.

Many carriers offer additional options. They aim at making the process of transportation safer and more secure. The extra fees you are to pay are not so high. At the same time, you can’t but appreciate the perks you get.

Of course, if you manage to find a reliable and competent logistics partner, you won’t face any of the above-mentioned difficulties. The experts will handle the whole process on their own. Moreover, nowadays there are so many agencies and brokers who are ready to help you to deliver both standard and non-standard cargos anywhere in the world.

So, you have to be attentive and careful when planning air freight forwarding. It’s better to entrust this task to professionals and hire a reliable 3PL partner. The experts will do everything for you – from filling in the needed forms and papers to choosing the right packaging materials.

Tags: Choosing a freight forwarder, freight forwarding, freight transportation