Freight Tutorial - your knowledge base
Air Freight
Here we collected an useful information regarding all types of freight transport, as well as the legal framework for customs clearance.
Our experts are always ready to support you with every step and any issues!

What does "chargeable" weight mean?
Let's start with the fact that all airline's freight rates are based on a "chargeable weight". According to the rules of the International Association of Carriers IATA, "chargeable" weight is the highest value between volumetric and actual weight.
Physical weight - gross weight, ie the actual weight in kg.
Volumetric weight - a value that indicates the amount of space occupied by cargo on an aircraft (based on 6 000 cubic cm per one kilogram).
How to calculate "chargeable" weight of cargo:
Assume you have the goods: two boxes with tools
Gross weight of each box - 60 kg
Dimensions of each box (LxWxH): 0,40x0,50x0,30cm
Step 1: find total gross (actual) weight of the cargo
The total gross (actual) weigth of the cargo: 60kg * 2 boxes=120kg
Step 2: use formula to calculate volumetric weight of the cargo
LxWxH x Quantity of pieces (in our case there are two places - 2 boxes) / 0.006
Let's calculate:
0.40 * 0.50 * 0.30 * 2=0.12 / 6000=20kg
Step3: compare total gross (actual) and volumetric weights of the cargo. The highest value would be considered as chargeable weight:
120 kg (total gross weight) greater than 20 kg (volumetric weight).
120 kg will be considered as "chargeable weight" on which airfreight rate would be based.
Good to know! If the packaging has cylindrical form (tube, roll, barrel, etc.), the volumetric weight is calculated by the formula:
(Radius * Radius * 3.14 * Height) / 0.006
Aircraft types
Depending on measurements of cargo, nature and weight, your cargo can be transported at passenger or freighter aircraft.
Fleet of cargo aircraft have been operated by such companies as AirBridgeCargo, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Air France and others.
Characteristics of the main types of passenger aircraft:
Characteristics of the main types of freighter aircraft:
Airbus A320
Payload: 9 435 kg
Volume: 37,4 m³
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Forward: 181x123cm
Aft: 181x123cm
Bulk: 95x77cm
Airbus A330-300
Payload: 18 000 kg
Volume: 90 m³
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Forward: 270x168cm
Aft: 270x168cm
Bulk: 95x62cm
Boeing 747
Payload: 53 091 kg
Volume: 204 m³
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Forward: 264x168cm
Aft: 264x168cm
Bulk: 119x112cm
Boeing 767-300
Payload: 28 824 kg
Volume: 147 m³
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Forward: 178x175cm
Aft: 178x175cm
Bulk: 96x114cm
Airbus A300 B4F
Payload: 44 000 kg
Volume: 335 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Main: 358x256cm
Forward: 243x170cm
Aft: 181x170cm
Bulk: 95X108cm
Airbus A330-200F
Payload: 70 000 kg
Volume: 475 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Main: 358x257cm
Forward: 270x170cm
Aft: 273x168cm
Bulk: 95x95cm
Boeing 747-200/400F
Payload: 103 000kg/120 000kg
Volume: 736 m3/779 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Nose: 356x249cm
Forward: 264X168cm
Aft: 264x168cm
Main: 340x305cm
Bulk: 112x119cm
Boeing 757-200F
Payload: 32 000kg
Volume: 187 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Main: 340x218cm
Forward: 140x112cm
Aft: 140x112cm
Boeing 777F
Payload: 105 000kg
Volume: 653 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Main: 372x315cm
Forward: 269x170cm
Aft: 269x170cm
Bulk: 90x121cm
Ilyushin IL96
Payload: 92 000 kg
Volume: 580 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Main: 485x287cm
Lower deck A: 269x184cm
Lower deck A: 269x173cm
Antonov AN124-100
Payload: 120 000 kg
Volume: 1040 m3
Cargo door dimensions (WxH):
Main: 640x440cm
Aft: 640x440cm
Air cargo pallets and containers specification
Sea Freight

Glossary
B/L BILL OF LADING
Legal document representing ownership of cargo, evidencing a contract of carriage by sea and also negotiable document to receive cargo.
Shipper is responsible for shipping details stated in B/L
CY
Container Yard.
Place located at port terminal area for storing, receiving, delivering containers before / after their further shipment.
СОС
Carrier Owned Container
SOC
Shipper Owned Container
STUFFING
The loading of cargo into a container.
BREAK BULK
Non-containerized cargo. Loose cement, grains,
ores, etc., are termed bulk cargo, whereas cargo shipped as a
unit (bags, bales, barrels, boxes, cartons, drums, pallets, sacks,
vehicles, etc.) is termed break bulk.
FEEDER VESSEL
Vessel used for local or short sea routes for transportation of cargo between ports which are not serviced by the main ocean vessels.
POD
Port of delivery
POL
Port of loading
BAF ("Bunker adjustment factor")
A fuel surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount, reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.
ОТНС
Origin terminal handling charges
DTHC
Destination terminal handling charges
DROP-OFF CHARGE
Charge made by container owner and/or terminal operators for delivery of a leased, or pool container into depot stock. The dropoff charge may be a combination of actual handling and storage charges with surcharges.
DEMURRAGE
Extra charge paid for failure to load or remove goods from container yard within allowed/free time period.
FREIGHT COLLECT
Freight and charges be paid by the consignee
FREIGHT PREPAID
Freight and charges to be paid by the shipper.
CAF
Currency Adjustment Factor - depended to fluctuations in exchange rates of tariff currencies, affect on shipping lines freight rates
ISPS OR SEC
Security charges
FCL
Full container load
LCL
Less container load
GENERAL CARGO
Cargo, cosisting of goods, packed in crates,
bags, packed as looses boxes or palletized.
FIFO (free in free out)/FIOS
Sea freight tariff includes sea/ocean shipment only.
Loading and discharging costs excluded from the tariff.
FILO (free in liner out)
Sea freight tariff includes sea/ocean shipment to the port of destination and discharging costs.
Loading costs excluded from the tariff.
LIFO (liner in free out)
Sea freight tariff includes loading costs and sea/ocean shipment to the port of destination.
Discharging costs excluded from the tariff.
LILO (liner in liner out)
Sea freight tariff includes loading costs, sea/ocean shipment to the port of destination, discharging costs.
Containers specification
Road Freight

Trucks specification
