Air Cargo rules and restrictions to consider

by Betty White

There are plenty of advantage to using air freight forwarding services that professional logistics companies offer. After all, it’s faster, more practical and easier to navigate. However, there are certain downsides to this method of cargo transportation. In addition to costs that it carries, there is the matter of air cargo restrictions and rules that you have to abide by. And sometimes, this can lead to the inability to ship most of your cargo. So, why not explore the limitations of using aerial shipping methods?

What can you do if your cargo violates certain restrictions and rules?

This answer usually depends on the type and level of violation we are talking about here. If you were to consult companies that spent years working in and for the moving industry, such as [url=https://moversdev.com/]https://moversdev.com/[/url], you would find that there is a variety of logistics experts that you can hire. Not all of them follow the same rules and guidelines when it comes to air cargo restrictions. But don’t go of thinking that you will find “no questions asked company” – there are still certain items and materials that no legitimate logistics or moving company will refuse to transport.

So, if you are planning to ship transport larger quantities of cargo, be it business or personal, make sure that they can be transported via airplane. And to do that, you first need to explore the categories and classification of dangerous goods and materials. 

How much would air transportation services cost?

It all differs from company to company. There are those that will look to charge you extra for any belongings that are not in compliance with air cargo restrictions and rules in opposition to those that will refuse right from the start. And then you have software solutions moving companies could use to provide you with exact estimates and real-time solutions to your logistical issues. It’s just a matter of staying informed. But one thing is certain, and that is that you should never attempt transportation of larger quantities of risky cargo without professional assistance.

What are the main air cargo restrictions you should remember?

Whenever you plan a shipment via air, you have to consider whether or not it meets specific standards of the company you hire. But in addition to that, you also have to take into consideration the regulations of the country you are shipping from and the one you are shipping cargo to. It is in that manner that one of the main air cargo restrictions is defined as “Dangerous Goods”.

What are dangerous goods?

The realm of dangerous goods includes any objects or substances that can in any way jeopardize the health, safety and overall conditions of everything else on the plane. The most common items that you can find in each household are usually those that we all have in our households. These would be: 

• All liquids that include acids, aerosols, pesticides, ethanol and other flammable ingredients
  
• Tools and equipment that might contain gasoline or oil
  
• Car batteries, ion batteries or other materials that can lead to explosions etc.
  

Dangerous goods classes

To make things easier when it comes to respecting air cargo restrictions and rules, dangerous goods have a classification based on 9 categories. Here, you will find that some of the basic nine classes also have sub-classes to adequately describe the nature of the properties of individual goods. Each class has a label to identify and warn transportation companies of before loading the cargo. These labels are mandatory and must remain attached to each box or item throughout the shipping process. You can also find these labels everyday items you purchase for your household. 

Simple ways to identify dangerous goods

When it comes to air cargo restrictions, the sooner you realize how to identify dangerous materials and property, the easier it will be to avoid any unplanned expenses or complications. So, here are some tips to help you identify dangerous materials with more ease:

• Always examine the danger label in the form of a diamond on each container.
  
• In cases where there is no visible label, look for the UN number. This is a code that starts with the letters UN, followed by four-digit numbers (e.g. UN1950 or UN 1197)
  
• The dangerous goods classes we mentioned previously are often defined on the label itself (e.g. 4.2 or “liable to spontaneous combustion”)
  
• If you think it could be dangerous but you cannot see any of these indicators, look for a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on the Internet.
  
• You can also search on the Internet by entering the manufacturer of your product, followed by the letters MSDS, and then the product name.
  
• You can always call the manufacturer or distributor using the customer information phone number found on most home products.
  

Always do your research and examine everything directly

Because certain materials and objects can react dangerously and unpredictably at certain atmospheric conditions, they are not allowed onboard of airplanes and other aircrafts. Hence, you should always consider this factor and check out whether or not there are any hazardous ingredients in the cargo you attempt to transport. In cases where this happens, you must:

• Ensure that the services you paid for include the license to transport cargo is on the list of banned or restricted dangerous goods.
  
• Check the airline's website with which you are flying to make sure that you are shipping within their air cargo restrictions policy and rules of transport.
  
• Contact the airline or logistics company that you are using. Their trained staff can help with your inquiry and can tell you all about any potential air shipment restrictions and limitations.
  

If you find out that you cannot take those items with you nor put them in your luggage, there is a solution. Air freight forwarding companies will gladly take your belongings and transport them wherever you need.