Difference Between Air Freight and Air Cargo?

If you have spent any time in the shipping industry, you have likely come across both the terms Air Freight and Air Cargo. While there are some technical differences between the terms “cargo” and “freight” they are essentially the same. However, there are some instances where either “cargo” or “freight” is more commonly used. Additionally, Air Courier services refer to yet another method of transporting goods by air which does have a distinct difference compared to Air Cargo and Air Freight.

Here we will look at the differences and similarities between Air Cargo, Freight, and Courier services.

When to Use the Term Freight Vs Cargo

While the words “freight” and “cargo” can usually be used interchangeably without much confusion, there are instances when one is more appropriate than the other. Traditionally, cargo is used most frequently to refer to the items that a plane or ship transports. Therefore, you would usually only refer to a plane as a “cargo plane” not a “freight plane”. Similarly, an ocean vessel carrying goods would be a “cargo ship” not a “freight ship.”

Instead, freight is usually reserved for use with transportation over land meaning you would say freight trains and freight trucks, NOT cargo trains or cargo trucks. That being said, if you do manage to mix these terms up, your meaning is unlikely to get lost.

Other Similarities: While they may denote different modes of transportation, both cargo and freight do refer to transporting goods. Additionally, both terms typically refer to commercially produced goods, not personal items. For example, if you load up a moving truck with your household items, these are unlikely to be referred to as cargo or freight.

Freight as a Verb: Sometimes Freight can actually refer to the transport of Cargo. For example, you could say “the cargo was freighted internationally,” meaning the cargo was transported internationally. In this context, freighted could refer to transport by air, land, or sea.

An Exception to the Rule for Cargo

While items being carried by truck or train are usually referred to as “cargo,” there is one exception: Mail. Mail, no matter how it is transported, is always referred to as cargo. So, a freight train might be carrying mail, but the mail itself would be referred to as cargo.

An Exception to the Rule for Freight

While freight is the preferred term for goods being moved over land, it is also the most commonly used term to describe monetary charges associated with moving those items. For example, the term “Freight-Payable,” which refers to all fees owed to the carrier responsible for transporting the goods, would never be referred to as “Cargo-Payable.”

There is no defined reason why this is, only that it is the most common and traditional way for the terms to be used. However, while you can usually get away with using terms like “freight ship” and “cargo train” interchangeably, something will get lost in translation if you try to use the phrase “cargo-payable.”

This is because terms that refer to specific monetary fees are often found on invoices, the bill of lading, and other official documents. Attempting to interchange these with the word “cargo” may cause confusion and for someone to assume you are referring to something else entirely.

Air Freight Vs Air Cargo in Toronto

Quick Guide to Freight Vs Cargo

  • Freight Train
  • Freight Truck
  • Freight-Payable
  • Freighted as a verb to describe transport of goods
  • Cargo Plane
  • Cargo Ship
  • Cargo for mail no matter how it is transported

What About Air Couriers?

While cargo and freight are largely interchangeable, Air Courier services are distinctly different. When using an Air Courier you are referring to transporting commercial goods by air the same way Air Cargo does, however; the main difference is the type of plane used.

When you choose an Air Courier service, your items will be shipped on a dedicated cargo plane meaning a plane that only carries cargo and no passengers. Air Cargo, instead, utilizes excess cargo space on a passenger plane to transport commercial goods.

In fact, the majority of cargo space on a plane is likely to be used by commercial cargo, not passengers’ bags. As you can imagine, a plane where individual passengers are picking up a good deal of the transportation costs will be able to fly cargo for cheaper rates than a cargo plane that is paid exclusively by those who are sending cargo.

Is Shipping by Air Cargo Really Cheaper than Shipping by Air Courier?

In short, Air Cargo can be cheaper but only if you are sending a certain amount of goods. Let’s look at how Air Cargo fees stack up against Air Courier fees.

When you ship by Air Cargo, you will likely book your shipment through a freight forwarder – an individual or company that deals with the logistics of transporting commercial goods. Once you have contacted the freight forwarder they will send you a list of flights that can accommodate your cargo. Each flight will have a slightly different price based on a per kilogram weight of your shipment.

If you have already looked at Air Courier prices, Air Cargo will instantly look cheaper. However, before you go booking your Air Cargo, consider this: initial air cargo charges only cover the cost of your shipment’s flight. It does not include a variety of handling fees, fees at the airport, or final delivery to the customer, warehouse, or store where your items need to go.

Instead, Air Cargo only covers airport to airport delivery. This means you will still need to figure out costs for getting your shipment to the airport and from the airport to the final destination. This is in contrast to an Air Courier charge which will include all of this.

When to Choose Air Cargo Instead of Air Courier

Air Cargo makes financial sense when your shipment is over a certain weight – the exact weight will depend on the carrier you use and some other factor but, generally speaking, you will need to have at least 200kg to 300kg for Air Cargo to be cheaper.

However, it is worth noting that Air Courier services are door to door and do not have nearly as many additional fees. This extra convenience and knowing upfront what you will pay can often make Air Courier a better option even if it might be a bit more expensive.

That being said, there may be times when Air Courier is exponentially more expensive and sending by cargo ship is too slow to consider. In this case, Air Cargo is the way to go.

Get a Quote for Air Freight Today

Whether you refer to it as freight or cargo, transporting goods by air is the fastest and most convenient way to get your items where they need to be. Though it is also expensive it is often worth the expense especially when you are on a tight schedule.

For all your Air Cargo needs, Ontario Container Transport is here to help. We offer a range of shipping options including intermodal shipping and intermodal containers for use on multiple modes of transportation. To get a quote for your next Air Cargo shipment, contact us today.

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