Air Cargo in the US: How It Works and Where Trucks Fit
Almost every air shipment starts and ends on a truck. This guide maps who does what in US air cargo, which rules apply at each hand-off, and where a small carrier or cargo van operator can earn money in that chain.
The basic chain
An air shipment in the US usually passes through five or six hands. A shipper books it, often through a freight forwarder. A truck picks it up and takes it to the forwarder's warehouse or straight to an airline cargo terminal. The cargo is screened, accepted under an air waybill, built onto pallets or containers, flown, broken down at the destination terminal, and handed to another truck for final delivery.
Airlines generally do not pick up or deliver. That is the gap that cargo vans, box trucks and some hotshot operators fill: pickup and delivery for forwarders, airport recovery runs, and time-critical expedite loads that go to or from an airline counter.
Who does what
| Party | Role | What it means for a trucker |
|---|---|---|
| Shipper | Owns or sends the goods; responsible for describing, packing and marking them, including any hazardous materials | You may pick up directly from the shipper's dock |
| Freight forwarder / Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) | Books space with airlines, consolidates freight and issues house air waybills; must hold a TSA-approved security program to tender cargo to airlines | Usually your customer for pickup, delivery and airport runs |
| Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF) | A TSA-certified location (manufacturer, warehouse or IAC) that screens cargo before it goes to a passenger airline | Screened cargo must be protected from tampering until it reaches the next party |
| Airline (aircraft operator) | Accepts the cargo, issues or validates the master air waybill, checks hazmat, and flies it | You deliver to, or recover from, its cargo terminal |
| Ground handler | Runs the warehouse and ramp for many airlines at an airport | Often the dock you actually back into |
| Consignee | Receives the goods | Your final delivery stop |
Federal security rules define an IAC as a person or entity in the United States, without an FAA air carrier operating certificate, that indirectly engages in air transportation of property using the services of an air carrier (49 CFR 1540.5). In practice, most US forwarders that book airline space are IACs.
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The four things that decide cost and compliance
| Topic | Why it matters | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Chargeable weight | Airlines bill the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight, and the divisor differs by carrier | Chargeable weight explained |
| Air waybill | The contract of carriage and receipt; under federal security rules, cargo is property accounted for on an air waybill | Air waybill guide |
| TSA cargo security | All cargo on passenger aircraft must be screened, and only approved parties may tender it | TSA cargo security for truckers |
| Hazmat and lithium batteries | Air rules are stricter than highway rules, and undeclared batteries draw FAA penalties | Hazmat and lithium batteries by air |
Where trucks fit
Pickup and delivery for forwarders
Forwarders need local carriers to collect freight from shippers and deliver recovered airport freight. Work tends to be steady but price-sensitive. A cargo van or small box truck with a liftgate covers most of it. See starting with a cargo van and box truck business basics.
Airport recovery and tender runs
These are runs between a forwarder's warehouse and airline terminals. Expect waiting time at busy terminals, appointment systems at some airports, and paperwork checks at the counter. Price the wait into your rate; see setting your rate.
Expedite to the airline counter
Some shippers pay for a van to drive a part to an airport and tender it on the next flight. The driver is often the person physically handing the cargo to the airline, so the security and hazmat rules on this site apply directly to what you carry and sign for.
Truck legs moved as air freight
Airlines and forwarders also move cargo between airports by road under air cargo documentation, a practice the industry calls road feeder service. These loads are typically contracted through forwarders or ground handlers and usually require tight time windows and secure, sealed equipment.
Before you haul for a forwarder, ask three things: whether your drivers will need a TSA security threat assessment, what seal or custody procedure they expect for screened freight, and whether any of the freight is hazmat. The answers affect who can drive and what you can charge.
Common mistakes new air-freight haulers make
- Quoting by distance only. Airport runs are short in miles and long in waiting time.
- Treating screened freight like ordinary LTL. Once cargo is screened for a passenger flight it must be protected from unauthorized access until it is tendered onward. Leaving it in an open, unattended vehicle can break the chain.
- Assuming a sealed box is not hazmat. Lithium batteries, perfumes, aerosols and dry ice show up in ordinary-looking cartons. If it looks undeclared, stop and ask the shipper before the airline finds it.
- Not reading the rate confirmation. Detention, attempt and after-hours terms matter more on airport work. See reading a rate confirmation.
Questions
Do I need special authority to haul air freight by truck?
Truck legs are regulated like other trucking, so you need the operating authority and insurance that the move requires. Separately, the forwarder or airline's TSA security program may require your drivers to pass a security threat assessment before they handle screened cargo.
What is the difference between a freight forwarder and an IAC?
An IAC is the TSA term for a company that arranges air transport of property using an airline's services without holding an FAA air carrier certificate. Most forwarders that book airline space hold an IAC security program.
Can a cargo van deliver directly to an airline cargo counter?
Yes, many airlines accept freight tendered at their cargo counters, but the cargo must meet the airline's screening, documentation and hazmat requirements, and the shipper must consent to search or inspection.
Why is my air freight bill higher than the weight suggests?
Airlines charge on chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight. Light, bulky freight is billed on its size.
Sources
- Cargo Programs (CCSP, IAC, Known Shipper) — Transportation Security Administration.
- 49 CFR 1540.5 – Terms used in this subchapter — eCFR.
- e-AWB and the Multilateral e-AWB Agreement — IATA.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Regulations change; confirm current requirements with the agency before acting.