The downsides of air freight forwarding

Inventory transportation is a well-coordinated business across the world. With so many different ways to ship a delivery across the world, sometimes it’s not easy to choose the right method. Air freight shipping can be a good solution for shipping fragile inventory that has to be delivered right on time. On the other hand, this method of freight forwarding also has some flaws. Shipping via air is usually more expensive than other methods of transportation, but it’s sometimes the most efficient way to transport inventory. Before you make a decision regarding your inventory transportation, take a look at some of the downsides of air freight forwarding and why it might not be the best solution for moving your inventory.

How to choose the best shipping method?

When searching for the best shipping method, there are many factors to consider. Freight forwarding is the best way to ship goods for many companies, especially when cooperating with partners overseas. If you are in the need of the best freight forwarding method, you should learn both pros and cons of every shipping method. Here are some facts you should know:

• Air freight forwarding is a common way of transportation for sensitive inventory. Unlike ground and sea freight, shipping via air allows you to keep delicate inventory safe during long travel.
• Sea freight is perfect for bigger and heavier overseas deliveries. However, this method is conditioned by changes in weather and it can’t promise the exact delivery date.
• Ground transportation of larger inventories is usually used for shorter distances. It is also one of the ways to deliver the goods on the exact delivery date.

If you are looking for the best way to ship your business inventory, paying for overseas moving services can save you a lot of trouble. Moving companies often suggest one or the other way of shipping since they specialize in the transportation of various items.

Before you choose the best shipping method, let’s learn more about air shipping. Here are some of the common downsides of air freight forwarding you should know.

What are the downsides of air freight forwarding?

Air freight forwarding is one of the safest methods of shipping goods overseas, for many reasons. When moving inventory long distance, it’s important to know how this shipping method works and what are its downsides. Here are the most important ones:

• Limitations in size, weight and type od the inventory. Air freight companies often have strict rules about the size of packages and shipping containers they can carry. Considering the weight limit that every aircraft has to follow, this is not so surprising.
• High prices of the freight forwarding service. If you are looking for ways to save money while shipping goods, this is not the method you should choose.
• Transportation delays related to weather conditions. From the statistics’ side, only a small percent of flights get delayed because of the weather. However, this could be problematic when having an exact delivery date.

Despite all the mentioned downsides, air freight can be a convenient way to ship your inventory. Depending on your needs and the nature of your shipment, you should consult your freight forwarding company before choosing this service.

Size and weight limits

Comparing to other shipping methods, size and weight could be a problem when shipping via air. These limitations are some of the biggest downsides of air freight forwarding, especially for companies dealing with large inventories. Besides the size, not every type of inventory can be transported via air, especially when it comes to safety. For example, after packing hazardous cargo, you might have to choose a different freight forwarding method. The strict rules of air transportation companies often forbid various types of hazardous materials.

Higher prices

Although it’s one of the fastest ways to deliver a shipment, air freight forwarding does not come cheap. High prices in this process have a simple reason – air transportation is, by itself, the most expensive way to travel. Furthermore, high transportation cost is just one the downsides of air freight forwarding. While the overall price in sea and ground freight is measured by the volume of the inventory, air freight forwarders will charge by the weight.

Weather conditions

It’s not hard to understand why weather conditions can delay the delivery date when shipping via air. Weather dependence is one of the main concerns with air freight forwarding. When moving companies overseas, air freight forwarders are not always able to promise the exact delivery date. For this reason, you shouldn’t choose this method of shipping if your delivery is time-sensitive.

Reasons to choose air freight forwarding

Although there are some downsides to air freight forwarding, there are still many reasons to choose this way of transportation. For once, this is the fastest way to transport your inventory internationally. Also, air freight is highly reliable, since it’s not dependable on traffic jams. When moving with international movers to Australia, you will most likely get offered this type of freight, since many moving companies prefer this method of inventory transportation.

After knowing all the downsides of air freight forwarding, you should consider whether it’s the best choice for you. It is one of the more expensive ways to send your inventory abroad, but it also has its benefits. Overall, air freight forwarding can be very efficient, especially when moving inventory with a specific delivery date. If you are hiring a moving company for this task, you should ask about all the terms and conditions for planning this type of move.