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The Success of the Air Freight Forwarding Industry
The Birth…
Even before, flying has been an innovation. Humans before couldn’t imagine of a time without journey. All they wanted was to fly. That’s why airplanes were born. Eventually, technology made it a reality for people to ride on the airplane near the pilot. People became restless that they started thinking of some beneficial ways where they can use the plane.
It was on the year 1910 when the idea that a plane can be used to carry shipments began. History revealed that a bolt of silk was the first to be shipped in a plane. The shipment was carried from Dayton to Columbus in Ohio. This was said to be the first demonstration of the air freight.
In 1919, another shipment took place. A converted bomber was shipped by the American Railway Express. The cargo was 1100 pounds, and was transported from Washington D.C to Chicago. Unluckily, the plane and the radiator froze had to land in Ohio. However, that didn’t hinder the people from using the plane as freight carrier.
During the late 1920s, more airlines operated as freight carrier. The creation of the freight carrier was used for American business only. The air freight had helped them not only in making the transportation of merchandise rapidly but also the fast pace of the process.
Undeniably, the primitive stages of the air freight business made a remarkable growth.
By the year 1927 to 1931 the number and size of the shipments had increased from 45,000 pounds to almost a million pounds. Though there were some effort at planning and organizing the air freight business, the commercial air freight did not operate until World War II ended.
The top 4 known airlines namely: American, United, TWA and Eastern formed the Air Cargo Inc. The primary mission of the company was to pick up and deliver cargo.
The Air Cargo was active until the end of the world. But in 1944, United and TWA began to be independent and had their own air freight business.
There were lots of small plane owners who wanted to part of the air cargo industry but were not accepted. The big airlines didn’t like smaller airlines to operate in the business. One reason for that was the possibility that the small airlines might screw up the constant status of the industry. Another reason was the former didn’t want to be involved in a competition.
Unluckily, those small plane operators who tried fell by the pavement. There’s only one that survived- it’s called the “Flying Tigers”. The Flying Tigers made it because it carried both military and civilian freight. And it was also known before as the largest in air freight liner industry.
In spite of the good start, the air freight business wasn’t developing that much. It didn’t work well in the business. Until someone in the name of Fred Smith opened up his new air freight known today as the Federal Express.
The Air Freight Industry Today
Federal express has been known today as one of the successful air freight carrier. With the aid of modern technology, it now uses air freight software to be able to provide the needs of the customers. The air freight software is the latest innovation for freight forwarders. It will resolve any problems in the system plus give you excellent and cost effective services.
Today the FedEx or the Federal Express is linked with the (UPS) United Parcel. The two freight carrier is now known to be the most reliable and trusted air delivery services in the country.
Imagine How Huge International Air Freight Can Get
From letters to air planes, it is now possible to ship just about anything through air freight services.
All these stuffs can be carried through commercial airplanes to various mammoth-like flying machines.
International air freight can be divided into simpler categories though. While just as we have said, everything can be shipped via air there should always be some form of separation between items so that various risks can be avoided.
The three basic categories of air freight are:
Air freights that are carried through passenger air lines
Air freights that are carried through special cargo planes, and
Air freights that are huge enough to be carried by super cargo planes
Along with the passengers, international air lines can also carry with them stuffs that would be stationed to various air freight service locations. These then will be delivered via rail or road to their proper recipients.
The United States Postal Service has leased some 15 000 to 25 000 passenger planes daily to haul freight. This takes up 5 to 10 percent of all air freight revenue.
This type of international air freight are packed along with other shipments on special containers that are designed to fit the storage area beneath the passenger compartment. However, some air freight can be put on pallets while other relatively smaller items can be made to fit on remaining open spaces.
The Boeing 747-400 is usually used as the freight carrier in the passenger air line category. However, it can also be made to hold 10 000 cubic feet of cargo when on the Combi mode. This is when some of the passenger compartments are partly turned into cargo areas.
But when configured, this plane can be transformed into a huge cargo plane which can then haul as much as 5 semi trucks.
Since Boeing 747-400s are not specifically made as air freighters, there is not as much room as with a cargo plane to fit a forklift truck for loading pallets, special electric rollers are equipped on the load floor. These rollers are used to move the cargoes into the inner chambers of cargo areas.
However, for hauling huge items, a super transporter is needed. It is used for transporting helicopters and planes and is purely designed to perform such tasks.
Such planes are built in a way that when an object fits comfortably through the door then it can fit into the body of the plane. The plane is large enough to carry terribly hugr stuffs. It carries up to 47 ton stuffs but still not large enough to carry military tanks.
For such big-time requirements, Antonov AN-225 can do the job.
For this monster-air transporter, three military trucks is just about as easy as for a Boeing 747-400 to carry international air freights at its own limits.
This was originally a Russian space shuttle. With a wingspan as huge as a football field, this air freight super transporter can send to any destination some 80 cars or 3-4 military trucks. Well, if this isn’t huge enough for your air freight service requirements then you might as well arrange multiple sending of stuffs.
Now you’ve seen your options of air freights. From sending your niece her birthday present to shipping military tanks, you are sure to find your way of sending cargoes from coast to coast.
Eyes on Your Package with Air Freight Tracking
Sending packages is now worry-free with air freight tracking. As long as you have the waybill number with you, you can check the exact location of your shipment when it has not yet been delivered to its destination.
There was a time when people were not too happy with freight services. A lot of issues have been tackled regarding lost, damaged or late packages. This is the reason why freight services are continuously developing their methods of shipment in order to gain and retain the loyalty of their customers.
One of the developments is air freight tracking. This method is made easier now with the use of the internet. Most of these freight services have their own websites already. You do not have to go to their nearest branch just to check where your package is at the moment. The process can be done by just logging into the internet and doing the tracking online.
Tracking packages is only one of the considerations that are important in an air freight service. Another consideration that you should be noted is how your packages are shipped.
Air freight shipment comprised of 3 main categories based on the mode of shipment.
1. Cargo planes.
Major air freight companies like UPS and FedEx own various kinds of cargo planes. These planes are exclusively used for their air freight services.
One of their largest cargo planes is a Boeing 747. It can hold up to 30 pallets of packages in the main level alone. They have special containers available for those who are shipping animals and other live cargoes.
Cargoes and packages are loaded using rollers which are built-in into their load floor area. Once the packages are brought into the rear of the plane, it will be rolled straight up to the rear or the front of the cargo hold.
2. Super cargo planes.
These planes are also called the super transporters. They are specially designed to hold all moving huge and heavy cargos. Helicopters are being transported this way.
These planes can hold up to 47 tons of loads. It is built with a large cargo area that fills up most of the space inside the plane. Large cargos can fit effortlessly through the giant door located at the front of the cargo hold.
3. Passenger cargo planes.
Almost all passenger planes carry freight with them together with passengers and all their baggage. One of the major companies that are using passenger airplanes to ship their packages is the US Postal Service. It can be noted that a percent of the revenue that is generated by airlines are from air freight.
Packages are put together will all other packages and baggage in the compartment area.
These are the methods of shipment that is being used by air freight services. Knowing what method your service is using is important if you want to know how you packages are being handled and shipped.
Moreover, the mode of air freight tracking is dependent on the schedules and the strict compliance that each cargo methods.
If you want to make sure that you package will arrive safety and on time, pick the best method that you think will give you the best service. Choose the one with the best air freight tracking service. This is your assurance that you will have complete track of your package until it arrive at its destination safely.