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Air Freight Forwarding:
A delayed shipment can cost more than the freight itself. Universal Shipping & Logistics Inc. (USL) arranges express and charter air freight for businesses that need cargo moving fast, handling the carrier booking, documentation and coordination so your shipment gets in the air on schedule.
how Air freight works
What is Air
Freight Forwarding?
This is when a company like Universal Shipping & Logistics Inc. (USL) books your cargo space on a commercial or chartered aircraft, prepares the export and import paperwork, and coordinates the airline and airport on your behalf. You deal with USL, USL deals with the airline. Airlines price by chargeable weight, whichever is greater between actual weight and dimensional weight, so USL calculates both before quoting, so the number you see going in is the number you pay, with no surprise adjustment once your cargo reaches the scale.
Ocean freight costs less for large volumes, but air freight moves in days instead of weeks, which matters when the cargo itself is time-sensitive or high in value. USL’s operations team coordinates the full journey: pickup, airport handling, flight booking, customs clearance and final delivery.
benefits of Air freight
Why Choose Air
Freight Forwarding?
Air freight is the practical choice when speed matters more than cost, for cargo that’s time-sensitive, high in value or needs a predictable delivery window. It typically costs more than ocean freight, but fewer handling points along the way also means less risk of damage in transit. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, perishables and urgent replacement parts are common candidates, anything where the cost of a delay outweighs the cost of the flight.
- Transit measured in days, not weeks
- Fewer handling points, lower risk of damage
- Predictable scheduling for date-sensitive deliveries
- One operations team manages your shipment from quote to delivery
What We Offer
Air Freight Forwarding Solutions for
Every Shipment Type
Airport-To-Airport
Shipping
Just the flight leg, between the two airports you specify. Pickup and final delivery are arranged separately.
Air Cargo
Consolidation
Your shipment grouped with other cargo on the same route, splitting the cost between you.
Door-To-Door
Air Freight
One booking covers pickup through final delivery, no separate handoffs for you to arrange.
Express
Air Freight
Your cargo moves on the next available flight, booked for shipments that can’t wait for a standard schedule.
Export
Air Freight
Outbound shipments leaving the United States, documentation prepared to the destination country’s requirements.
Import
Air Freight
Inbound shipments arriving into the United States, customs paperwork handled before the cargo lands.
Time-Critical
Air Cargo
When commercial flight schedules aren’t fast enough, USL can charter an aircraft dedicated to your shipment.
WHY US?
Why Choose USL For
Air Freight Forwarding?
Universal Shipping & Logistics Inc. (USL) has arranged air freight for more than 5 years, with access to a wide network of air carriers instead of being tied to one airline’s schedule. That access lets USL find available cargo space fast when a shipment needs to move on short notice, backed by USL’s record of 1,140-plus freight forwarding projects completed at a 96.6 percent on-time rate. Being based in Chicago also puts USL close to O’Hare International Airport, one of the busiest air cargo gateways in the country, which helps when a shipment needs to move through a major hub on short notice.
- More than 5 years arranging air freight, across express, charter and standard schedules
- Access to a wide network of air carriers, not tied to one airline’s schedule
- One operations team on your shipment, from quote through delivery
- Member of JCtrans and the WCA World Freight Forwarder Alliance
- Non-asset-based freight forwarder. USL doesn’t own ships, aircraft, trucks or containers, so your carrier options come from the open market, not from a fleet we need to keep full.
Ready to Ship Your Air
Freight With USL
Tell USL what you are shipping, from where and by when, and you will get back a rate comparison for express or charter service built around that timeline, not a generic quote. USL arranges air freight for businesses shipping to more than 60 countries.
FAQS
Air Freight Forwarding Questions We Get Asked Often
Express or charter, how do I know which one I need?
Express books space on the next available commercial flight. Charter books the entire aircraft, which makes sense for oversized, highly time-sensitive or irregular shipments that a scheduled flight can’t accommodate.
How long does air freight actually take?
Typically a matter of days rather than the weeks ocean freight requires. The exact timeline depends on the route and whether the shipment connects through a hub airport. USL gives you a realistic transit estimate alongside your rate comparison, based on your actual route. Charter shipments can sometimes move faster still, since the aircraft doesn’t wait on a commercial schedule.
What documents will I need to ship by air freight?
At minimum, a commercial invoice, a packing list and an air waybill. Some cargo and destinations require additional permits, and USL confirms exactly what applies before your shipment ships.
Does USL handle customs clearance for air shipments too?
Yes, for both imports and exports. USL’s customs clearance team handles the paperwork on either end so your cargo isn’t held up.
Can USL charter a dedicated aircraft for time-critical cargo?
Yes. USL arranges charter bookings case by case, for shipments that can’t wait on a standard schedule or need to move as a single, uninterrupted flight.
What happens if my air shipment gets delayed?
USL flags delays as soon as they’re known and provides a revised delivery estimate, rather than leaving you to track a shipment with no explanation.
What's the easiest way to get an air freight quote?
Share your cargo details, origin and destination through the quote form, or speak with an air freight expert directly. USL’s operations team sends back your shipment pricing so you can compare before committing to anything. There’s no obligation to book just because you requested a quote.
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