You'll get the most out of your air cargo connections if you stay on top of the latest industry news and trends. Knowing when and how air freight regulations have changed, or having a heads up on which companies have expanded their service to include more locations, can save you money and protect you from logistical or supply chain breakdowns.

Fortunately, air cargo regulatory agencies, cargo freight organizations and many industry leaders and professionals keep up with the latest in air freight cargo news and trends, helping you stay ahead of the game. So, instead of getting lost in the Internet looking for air cargo news, rely on the following information and resources to find specific sites that offer the most current air transport industry news and update you on the latest air freight. Relying on the right sources lets you:

1. Catch breaking cargo transport industry news as it happens;

2. Ferret out little-reported stories through air cargo related press releases;

3. Pick ideas and updates from the brains of air logistics industry insiders and professionals.

Action Steps for Picking an Air Cargo Company
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Keep up with the latest air cargo freight regulations

The air transport industry changes and innovates just as quickly as any other; keeping on top of the latest news stories and regulatory updates is vital for staying in sync with leaders in the business.

I recommend: The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) offers weekly regulatory updates, while Air Cargo World Online specializes in air cargo news, with a special section for hot, fast-breaking news stories relating to the air cargo transport industry.

Read up on air cargo transportation related press releases

Another way of keeping current on the latest air freight news and trends is to keep track of industry-related press releases. This guarantees that you'll be tipped off to the latest news, even if no media outlets have seen fit to pursue and build a story on the press releases you view.

I recommend: Airports Council International (ACI) maintains archives of the latest airport- and air cargo service-related press releases on their website. Zibb lets you sort through air cargo-related press releases from a variety of press outlets, allowing you to catch up on everything from air cargo-related movies to new air freight rates.

Eavesdrop on the air logistics industry through professional blogs

Diversify your news sources by tapping into the minds of creative industry professionals. Not only can you pick up novel views of air freight and cargo news and trends through someone else's eyes, you might also establish new networking connections.

I recommend: Freight Dawg, "The Logistics Blawg," has a special section for air freight news. FreightBlog, targeted specifically toward logistics professionals, offers tips and new tricks in a special "air freight" category, such as how to calculate air cargo rates.

Tips & Tactics for Air Cargo Transport

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider subscribing to your favorite blogs, websites and newsletters about air freight and cargo news and trends through an RSS feed. This lets you visit one site (for online feed readers) or launch one program (for computer-based software feed readers) and immediately see where new posts have been made.

For any small business, the killer is usually time and distance (either of which — you guessed it — equals money). Parts, supplies and materials need air cargo transport to get to your small business, and finished products need to leave and get to customers.

Air freight transportation can do lot to solve the supply chain problem, and there are more air freight options than ever for small business. Air freight and air cargo are generally the same thing — an airline that does logistics either exclusively or in conjunction with a passenger business, an air courier, or an air cargo company that operates only cargo planes.

In this guide, you will learn:

1. How to find an airline air freight company, aka common carrier shipping
2. When to consider an air courier
3. Hiring help with air cargo industry logistics and air freight transportation
4. Getting across borders with air cargo and air freight
5. How to price air cargo transport and air freight rates

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

By definition, air cargo transport is a wide business category

Nearly every passenger airline has a air cargo company division these days (all that extra baggage room means more money) and there are hundreds of air cargo companies as well. Booking common carrier shipping space is first a matter of finding a company going your route, then getting bids.

I recommend: See exhaustive lists of air cargo carriers at International Air Transport Association, International Air Cargo Association, Air Cargo World or by country at AZFreight.com. See, too, the air cargo listings at Business.com.

Air cargo is, increasingly, a job for global parcel shippers

Once up on time, express air courier services focused mostly on letters and contracts, expecting to one-up the post office on speed. As competitors have poured in (and the Postal Service got more serious), they have branched out into domestic and international air cargo. Air courier companies now handle bigger packages, do customs work and provide all manner of tracking, insurance and logistics services.

I recommend: Some of the major names in express package delivery that also have full-fledged air freight and air cargo transport service include DHL, UPS, TNT, Federal Express. Even (to a degree) the United States Postal Service has gotten into the act. See additional air freight and air cargo company choices at the Business.com directory on air courier companies.

Hiring help with air freight and air cargo jobs

If your supply chain is global or complex, or even if it's domestic and hard to manage, you can offload a lot of the air cargo transport management to professionals who do third-party logistics and to freight forwarders who work to get your goods coming or going on time, in time.

I recommend: Some of the better known providers of logistics support include Kuehne + Nagel, APL Logistics, Bax Global, Cardinal Logistics and Panalpina, as well as logistics divisions of major couriers like DHL, UPS, TNT, and Federal Express. See more on intermediaries in the air freight and air cargo business on the Business.com pages on air cargo industry third-party logistics and freight forwarders.

Sending cargo, air, land or ocean, often means crossing borders

The part of the air freight and air cargo equation that usually kills a supply chain -- and drains out profit -- is getting through stuff through Customs. Air freight transportation has definitely not gotten easier since heightened U.S. security restrictions after Sept. 11, either.

I recommend: There are thousands of individual Customs brokers (or companies, called Customs brokerages) doing the work of making sure your imports and exports meet U.S. federal laws regulating the air cargo industry and promulgated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. See a member directory at the National Customs Broker and Forwarders Association of America. Your courier or third-party logistics expert probably already has a regular Customs broker or provides the service. There's more information on customs brokers for air cargo transport at Business.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Absolutely include a serious analysis of air cargo transport in any business plan that involves import-export. A weak analysis of air freight rates can sink a small business fast. Here's where common carrier shipping can make a difference on cost.
• •  Air cargo and air freight operations have the market divided up pretty well. First, sort out how much business you are likely to really offer a given provider, then match your needs to their products.
• •  Big couriers are really interested in small business, but an air cargo line specializing in your destination or product line can be a good choice too. Compare air freight rates first.

As with any other industry, the smart air cargo transport buyer will take the time to make sure they're making the most of air freight and cargo purchases. This means, among other things, getting to know the companies you're dealing with and making sure that your goods are getting where they need to go, when they need to get there, and in good condition.

You won't always get the most out of the companies with the lowest air freight rates; quality of service matters, so it pays to be attentive to the details and tailored offerings that paying a higher price might get you. Some of the best ways to get the most value (if not the lowest prices) out of your air freight and cargo budget include:

1. Using specialized air cargo transportation, when appropriate, for specialized equipment.

2. Connecting with air freight services and associations that form a world-wide network of connections.

3. Using an air cargo service that caters specifically to business customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find shippers that can handle specialized air cargo

If you have specialized equipment or cargo to ship, it will pay to search out shipping services and air cargo forwarders that specialize in dealing with that particular variety of equipment. Finding a shipper that's current on what sort of packaging, handling and treatment is appropriate for your valuable business products and supplies will give you peace of mind.

I recommend: Fortunately, businesses like Computer Transportation Services specialize in moving high-tech (and thus high-value), goods. Large scale air cargo and sea cargo forwarders, like Central Transportation Systems, have the experience and reputation to handle everything from delicate electronic goods to aerospace components.

Become part of a world-wide air logistics network

Sometimes the logistics business boils down to a game of connections. Knowing who can move your products and freight efficiently, and who can help you accomplish your shipping and logistics goals as quickly and easily as possible, are both key to making the most of air freight and cargo services.

I recommend: The International Air & Shipping Association (IASA) and the International Freight Association (IFA) are both comprised of independent freight forwarders from dozens of countries in five continents. Joining these organizations gives you an independent contact that's committed to excellence--and that is part of a large global network--in almost any country to which you may choose to ship.

Link up with business-oriented air cargo freight services.

You're more likely to have your needs attentively met if you deal with freight companies that cater to business customers. This is also a good way to find industry advisers if you're looking for logistics consultants or a mentor.

I recommend: Deal with business-savvy vendors like ShipSmart that offer services tailored to business owners and managers--for a description of what Ship Smart can do for you, simply click on the site's Business Services tab. Use Freighters Online to search through the air freight industry by freighter and utility aircraft, airline profiles and other criteria to avoid wasting your time contacting companies that can't meet your needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't let low air freight rates lure you into a dubious transaction; deal with air cargo transport companies that have strong industry connections, are FMC/ICC (Federal Maritime Commission/International Chamber of Commerce, respectively) licensed and provide cargo insurance and full documentation, such as certificates of origin and customs clearance.

Air freight and cargo key terms can help you whether you own a shipping company, are a pilot or employee, represent the company doing the shipping or are the sending party. Knowing pertinent terms, acronyms and phrases will help keep you up to speed in conversations out in the field, with colleagues and when you place your next service order. Air freight and cargo key terms can include acronyms, locations, paperwork and more, but whatever the word or phrase, brushing up on the information associated with each word will help keep you well-informed in the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Air waybill (AWB)

The Air waybill (AWB), also called a bill of lading or airbill, is a document that covers the domestic and international flights during the transportation of goods to a specified location. It also serves as the receipt for the shipper, showing that the carrier has accepted the goods.

I recommend: Illinois State University gives a simple example of how one should fill out a common airbill. Check out the air waybill guide from DHL.

Bonded warehouse

Bonded warehouse facilities are those which customs officials have authorized to store or manufacture goods on which the payment of duties are deferred.

I recommend: Look at the information on bonded warehouse applications from Fuerst Humphrey Ittleman.

Carnets

Carnets are customs documents that allow merchandise to temporarily come into a foreign country for use or display without having to pay import duties.

I recommend: Find out more about carnets from the United States Council for International Business.

Consolidation

Consolidation means bringing together smaller lots of consignment shipments by a freight forwarder into one larger lot for ease of shipment.

I recommend: Discover more about freight consolidation from Karr, Ellis & Co.

Duties and tariffs

Duties and tariffs are taxes on imported goods by the customs authority in a country. They are generally based on the value of the goods or other factors such as weight or quantity, or a combination of these.

I recommend: Visit the United States International Trade Commission for more information. Informed Trade International also gives you helpful tax information. Find out about air freight shipping and duty rates from Sunquest Services.

Unit load device (ULD)

A unit load device (ULD) is a container with integral pallet, aircraft container or aircraft pallet.

I recommend: Find out more about blast mitigated unit load devices from Free Patents Online.