Every day 140,000 tonnes of cargo are shipped by air worldwide with a value of $18.6 Billion. The massive amounts of cargo shipments require shippers and freight forwarders to have a deep understanding of the standard practices and regulations regarding the process for air cargo handling.
Preparing cargo for shipment is a multi-step process that, when followed correctly, reduces problems that may arise with freight handling. It includes 5 main steps:
1.   Receive Transit Shipments from Shipper Receiving the shipment from the shipper is the first step in the cargo forwarding process, and there is a particular protocol that must be followed. Each following action must be taken, but there are also procedures on how to properly perform the duty as well. Upon pickup of cargo, a freight forwarder must:
Ensure cargo is properly labeled
Ensure cargo is properly marked
Ensure special requirements are met
Ensure that shipper-built units have followed the requirements as found in chapter 9.4 of the ICHM Perform a temperature check when required Verify that the cargo pieces correspond with shipment detail and parcel ID Load cargo in the vehicle Shipments in Transit are Security Cleared Maintaining a high level of security during the freight handling process is of the utmost
importance to building strong relationships with other stakeholders. A strong level of trust is required when hiring cargo freight forwarding companies. This is why the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM) includes a section specifically covering security regarding freight handling.
To begin, all personnel involved in the acceptance and handling of cargo require a background check. Cargo handlers must be appropriately trained regarding security measures and show appropriate identification upon pickup and delivery of goods. All other security measures must be followed according to the IATA manuals.

3.   Plan Flight and Send Build-Up Plan to Warehouse As part of the plan flight, the carrier must receive the pre-plan details and an initial build- up plan must be prepared. Planning what build-up must be done for the flight in the smallest container possible is part of the flight build-up plan. When creating a build-up plan, specific tasks must be accomplished as outlined in Section 9.3 of the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM).

4. Collect Freight and Unitise as Planned (Cargo Build-up) Before starting the actual ULD build-up, a serviceability check must be performed to ensure the ULD and all accessories are fit for use. The transportation of freight should always be done without damage to the ULD, whether being moved by forklift or on a dolly. When collecting the freight cargo, cargo handlers should pay close attention to the cargo marking, which details instructions on how to handle ULDs.

5. Consolidate Information
It's important to consolidate the data gathered during the build-up stage for ease of understanding the information. The completed build-up will need to match the booking list, pre-manifest, and checks performed on the status priority of special cargo. In addition, the following steps should always be taken:
Update special instruction records in the system
Transfer final load to carrier or ramp handling agent load control
Generate electronic cargo manifest