Business now moves at the speed of light. Email, text, and instant messaging means that communication is instantaneous, and likely will only continue to speed up. Customers no longer consider it adequate to drop an order in the mailbox and then wait three or four weeks to receive it. Attempts at inventory control and the adjustment to faster paced transactions mean that customers are no longer willing to accept long lead times. They want their orders shipped as soon as they are placed. This has paved the way for the expansion of the air freight industry. But what should a company use as a guide for choosing the correct air freight services?

The first thing a company needs to do is evaluate its needs. Will air freight be used only for outbound shipments to customers? Or is it often necessary to bring in raw materials or merchandise by air as well? What kinds of shipments are involved? Will most outbound shipments consist of small packages, or will cargo containers be sent? On the inbound orders, will they be bulk cartons or pallets? And to what destinations will shipments be made, international or within the US? Are inbound shipments originating overseas or nationally?

Once the types of shipments in and out have been analyzed, then a company needs to determine which factors are most important in selecting a courier delivery service. How critical is on time delivery? If it is crucial, then carriers with the best on time record should move to the front of the list. What about ground services, such as getting the shipments to and from the airport? Are those available at no cost or will there be an additional charge? If the company must deliver shipments to the airport, is the required equipment in place?

A company also needs to examine the ability of the carrier to handle the amount of business it will be generating. Does the carrier have sufficient planes and ground personnel to make timely deliveries, or are their resources limited? Do they offer tracking services, particularly the ability to monitor the status of shipments online in real time? In the event that a delivery is delayed, does the carrier have secure warehousing services available? Are there any restrictions to contents that might impact shipments?

By answering these questions, a company has compiled its own guide for choosing the correct air freight services. A handful of carriers possess all the qualities, many will have most, and a few will fail to have enough to justify the business.

The large, well established carriers generally, but not always, offer the most services and the best reliability. There are also smaller carriers who can compete in terms of on time rates and availability of services. Some of these small carriers, however, are novices at the air freight industry, while others are operating with very limited equipment.

Since price is one key factor in choosing a carrier, many companies opt to use the large, established carriers. A company that can provide these carriers with a significant number of shipments can often negotiate reduced rates. In return, the carrier expects to receive all or at least the vast majority of the company’s business. While another carrier can be used whenever desired, contract renewals may result in increased rates if the carrier feels it is not receiving its fair share of the shipments.

Companies who ship mainly smaller parcels might want to utilize supplies furnished by the carrier. Most of the larger carriers will offer shipping boxes and return address labels for no cost, and some require it. The company saves money on shipping supplies, and since the boxes are often faster to pack, may also reduce labor costs.

The best guide for choosing the correct air freight services is the careful analysis of what the needs of the company are. Then it is simply a matter of compiling a short list of all carriers who meet the minimum requirements. Once this is done, negotiations can begin, and the winners can start their engines.

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