ULD containers in air freight: how cargo is built for the aircraft

What a ULD is and why a buyer should care

A ULD (Unit Load Device) is a standardised aircraft loading unit: an air pallet or an air container. Cargo is almost never poured into the hold loose. It is built onto a ULD at the airline or handling-agent warehouse, netted or closed with a container door, and only then loaded into the cargo compartment.

For imports into Kazakhstan from China, Europe, Turkey or the USA this affects three things: whether the lot fits the chosen flight, how volumetric weight is billed, and how many times the freight is restacked. KAZLOGIST.KZ books space with partner airlines against the ULD type on the route, not “just kilograms”.

Pallets versus containers in practice

An air pallet is a flat platform with a net. Shipper cartons and pallets are stacked, wrapped and restrained. A ULD container is a closed box with a door; it suits many small pieces, high-value and temperature-controlled cargo and reduces damage in handling.

• Pallets are more flexible on cargo shape and are often used on freighters and for out-of-gauge freight.
• Containers give better protection from moisture, dust and other shippers’ pieces on the same ULD.
• ULD type is set by the airline and aircraft: a narrow-body passenger flight and a wide-body freighter accept different positions.

KAZLOGIST.KZ moves out-of-gauge cargo by selecting a wide-body freighter, special pallets, restraint calculations and high-lift unloading. Cartons packed “as for a truck” often will not sit on that pallet without rebuild.

How a ULD is built and where time is lost

Typical sequence: pickup at the shipper, export clearance, drop at the airline warehouse, ULD build-up, loading, flight, breakdown at destination, release. Transit is counted, as a guide, from leaving the shipper’s warehouse to release at the destination airport: Europe usually 3–5 days, China and Asia 3–6, Middle East 2–4, USA 5–8; urgent moves usually 2–3 days if space is available. Door delivery is typically plus one day.

Delays are more often in build-up than in the air:

• Piece dimensions do not match the ULD contour — cargo is split or waits for another flight.
• No weights and sizes by piece — the space booking fails.
• Mixing general cargo with DGR or temperature-controlled freight on one ULD without agreement.
• Weak packing: the net tears carton, pieces fall when the unit is tilted.

KAZLOGIST.KZ handles pickup, export, AWB, booking, delivery to the destination airport and the consignee; warehouse options include consolidation, re-packing, palletising and a photo report — that is preparation to the ULD contour.

Weight, volume and cost

The airline charges the greater of actual and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight = length × width × height (cm) / 6000. Air in cartons and a poorly built shipper pallet inflate volume before ULD build-up. The rate includes fuel and security surcharges, terminal handling, AWB and export declaration, pickup and delivery. KAZLOGIST.KZ quotes only after a manager’s calculation: route, weight, volume, cargo type, urgency. There are no ballpark prices — leave contacts; a calculation is usually within an hour in business hours.

There is no minimum weight: from 1 kg to large commercial lots. Consolidating several suppliers onto one ULD cuts wasted volume if pieces are described the same way in advance.

Special cargo on ULDs

Dangerous goods follow IATA DGR: lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, reagents. MSDS/SDS, UN packaging and marks, and a shipper’s declaration are required; some items are cargo-aircraft only (CAO). They must not be mixed at will with cosmetics or spare parts in a common container.

Temperature-controlled cargo uses thermal containers, loggers, priority handling and a temperature report to the consignee. High-value cargo more often goes in a closed ULD. Documents before departure: commercial invoice with HS codes, packing list with weight and dimensions by piece, AWB, contract or supporting invoice; origin certificate and permits if needed. KAZLOGIST.KZ checks the set before flight.

To match a ULD and flight to your shipment from China, Europe, Turkey or the USA, leave your contacts — a KAZLOGIST.KZ manager will calculate route, weight and build type without indicative rates.