Prof. Yogesh Bhandari presents the challenges in ODC handling at airports

Prof. Yogesh Bhandari presents the challenges in ODC handling at airports and suggests necessary precautions and measures.

What is Cargo?
Cargo, also known as freight, refers to goods or produce being transported from one place to another by water, air or land. Originally the term ‘Cargo’ is referred to goods being loaded onboard a vessel. These days, however, cargo is used for all types of goods, including those carried by rail, truck or intermodal container.

Though Cargo means all goods onboard a transport vehicle, it does not include items such as personnel bags, goods in the storage, equipment or products to support the transport carried onboard. Cargo transport is mainly for commercial purpose for which an Airway Bill or Bill of Lading or other receipt is issued by the carrier.

Goods Transported by Air: General & Special
Goods transported by aircraft may contain anything from mail to freight. There are different types of transportation such as passenger, cargo (freighter) and combi. Spare volume not used for luggage of commuters is used in the passenger aircraft. Cargo can also be transported in the passenger cabin as hand-carry by an 'on-board courier'. Air transport plays a huge role in logistics and trade, managing and controlling the flow of goods, information, and energy.

The various types of cargo transported by air fall into two main groups: General Cargo and Special Cargo. Special Cargo is divided into smaller specialised sub-groups.

General Cargo: These are items that do not fall into the Special Cargo categories and do not require any extra precautions or special handling during transport. These types of items are retail and mostly consumer goods (with the exception of mobiles, lap tops and tablets), dry goods, hardware, textiles, handicrafts, auto parts and more. Think of your average objects: most of those would fall in the General Cargo category.

Special Cargo: These are goods that, due to their nature, weight, dimensions and/or value, may have specific requirements, including packaging, labelling, documentation and handling through the transport chain. The transport of these goods is addressed through specific regulations that must be followed when preparing, offering, accepting and handling. Items include dangerous goods, live animals, perishable goods, cargo that is time and temperature sensitive, and odd dimensional cargo. It is necessary to ensure that there are globally harmonised standards for safe transport of these products.

Odd Dimension Cargo
Movement has been a challenging task for most logistics companies. Planning and strategizing a completely flawless project is an extremely tedious process. Very few logistics companies are capable of handling an Odd Dimension Cargo in an efficient manner. The technicalities involved in its movement are far too many. Only a person with adequate knowledge on this subject will be able to provide guidance with regards to the equipment required for safe and systematic transit and transport.

ODD Dimension Cargo (ODC) And Its Handling

The odd dimensions of the cargo can hinder movement of traffic. In order to prevent such a circumstance, there are certain conditions that need to be fulfilled. A thorough route survey needs to be conducted. Keeping the dimensions and the load of the cargo in mind, one needs to narrow down on the most ideal alternative. Route selection is followed by seeking special permissions from the concerned authorities for movement of the cargo to its desired destination (warehouse, port, airport).

However, there are certain restrictions imposed on the Odd Dimension Cargo freight. The duration of movement per day is restricted and strictly monitored. Hence, the days required for transit need to be calculated beforehand for timely delivery. A buffer period should also be taken into account to overcome any unexpected delays.

Certain airport formalities, too, need to be satisfied in advance. A meeting with the authorities and airlines helps to procure the desired disposition. Decisions with respect to number and types of cranes and forklifts ensure priority movement. Besides, Inland Container Depots require ODC movements as well. Cautious steps would assist in delivery of top-notch services.

There are a numerous safety precautions that need to be taken owing to the weight and shape of the cargo. Special equipment for loading and unloading the cargo, as well for the ground staff handling the hefty and Odd Size Cargo, are of utmost importance.

ULDs (Unite Load Devices)
The following guide to the airfreight containers, also called Unit Load Devices (ULDs), has been developed from materials designated by International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Air Transport Association of America (ATA). This guide lists and illustrates the average external dimensions and weight limitations of the primary containers in use today. Exact dimensions and weight limitations will vary by manufacture and availability will vary by air carrier and trade lane.

About the author:
Yogesh Bhandari is a science Graduate from Delhi University and has a keen interest in Aviation. He has worked with Japan Airlines, New Delhi, for 15 years. He owned a Clearing & Forwarding IATA company which closed down during Covid-19. He is a Visiting Faculty at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University, at Amethi, Uttar Pradesh (under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, GOI) and a Guest Faculty at GMR Aviation Academy.
India's Warehousing Market - Promising Growth & Transformation
A report titled “Warehousing & Logistics Sector in India: A Brief Analysis” released by Vestian, an occupier-focused workplace solutions firm, in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, evaluates the various market

Read more ...

Logistics and Transportation in 2023
Various factors will contribute to the success of India’s logistics and transportation, including last-mile delivery, the sector's contribution to the Indian economy, and accelerated technology adoption. The Indian logistics sector, which accounts for 14.4% of the

Read more ...

Route Optimisation for Indian Trucking Community
Advanced technology-driven logistics platforms are increasingly employing sophisticated algorithms and artificial intelligence for route optimisation for the benefit of truckers. Logistics is a cost and resource intensive industry. With rising fuel prices, shortage

Read more ...

How India's Logistics Industry is Adapting to the Digital Revolution
The logistics and warehousing industry in India is rapidly adopting automation solutions to enhance operational speed, efficiency and reduce costs. This growing trend is largely driven by the increasing number of logistics and warehousing companies in India

Read more ...

Pramod Kumar Srivastava - The PDP Group
The biggest factor driving demand for automated solutions is the customer’s expectation of receiving complete integrated logistics solutions from a single vendor. In the highly competitive and fragmented Indian logistics sector, operational efficiency

Read more ...

Imthiaz - Raaho
Automation helps improve efficiency in the logistics sector by reducing errors, improving tracking and monitoring, and speeding up processes. This is particularly important in a market where there is intense competition and a need to keep costs low

Read more ...

Dhaval Thanki - LogiNext
The implementation of automation in logistics enhances operational efficiency by focusing on capacity utilization and reducing unnecessary trips and kilometers required to move goods to their intended destinations. These efforts not only reduce fuel

Read more ...

Zaiba Sarang - iThink Logistics
The primary goal of automation is to make human tasks easier rather than completely replace them, as there is no comparison between AI intelligence and the human brain.There are several factors driving automation in the logistics sector in India, but the

Read more ...

Goldhofer PST/SL-E 8 heavy duty module in action for Kiel Canal Waterways and Shipping Authority
Ferries themselves have to be transported at regular intervals. This was recently the case for the Kiel Canal Waterways and Shipping Authority at the Yard in Rendsburg, where a new procedure was implemented for the first time as a faster and more practicable

Read more ...

Sinotrans moves 7,500-ton hotel: sets record for world's heaviest building transport using SCHEUERLE SPMT
Chinese heavy goods logistics company Sinotrans Heavy-Lift Logistics Co., a subsidiary of the largest Chinese logistics company Sinotrans, has moved a 7,500-ton hotel in the city of Sanya in the Hainan province using SCHEUERLE SPMTs. According to Sinotrans

Read more ...

JSA Commences Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project Shipments for JGC Corporation
The Jumbo-SAL-Alliance (JSA) has commenced its scope of work in the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project for JGC Corporation. It is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the Alliance. The Jumbo Javelin loaded the first of 19 transports at Dahej

Read more ...

CJ Darcl Logistics ties up with Netradyne Technology to ensure zero accidents of its trucks
In a bid to ensure full utilization of its trucking fleet, logistics service provider CJ Darcl Logistics Limited has tied up with Netradyne Technology, which will provide onboard camera fitments on Darcl trucks. The cameras will capture the driver’s driving

Read more ...

Is India’s Logistics Future Ready?
The National Logistics Policy (NLP) aims to build a tech-led logistics ecosystem in India and create data-driven tools that help create a better logistics environment. The logistics sector in the country is largely unorganized and fragmented, resulting

Read more ...

Outlook for Road Logistics Sector Remains Stable: ICRA
Favourable demand sentiments continue to drive growth momentum for the road logistics sector. Following a healthy growth in FY2022, the accelerated pace of business activities is expected to continue to support the Indian road logistics sector’s growth

Read more ...

2023 to be the Year of Democratisation of Warehousing in India
As we look forward to 2023, the warehousing sector is poised to follow a steep growth curve, attracting significant investments from across the globe, and democratising the sector by increasing the involvement of small developers, landowners, and expansion

Read more ...

Sheroes of the Logistics Industry
Navigating the Road to Gender Diversity and Inclusion. The logistics industry is experiencing a change towards increased representation of women, as technology and societal changes open up new opportunities for them. Advances in technology have made

Read more ...

Shantha Martin, CEO - Global Freight Forwarding NTC Logistics India (P) Limited
The logistics and supply chain industry, which is embracing gender diversity, offers diverse professional and technological opportunities for women, with government initiatives aimed at providing equal opportunities and empowering women in

Read more ...

Chaitaly Mehta, Director - EKF GLOBAL Logistics  Pvt Ltd
The logistics industry is evolving with new technologies, market trends, and customer demands, and is becoming more inclusive and welcoming to diverse perspectives and skill sets, particularly in the participation and representation of women. According to

Read more ...

Kruti Jobanputra, Director - JW Ventures
The Indian government has taken significant steps to improve the working conditions for women in the logistics industry, with a focus on sanitation and safety. We hope that this effort will also change the discriminatory mindset at the grassroot level

Read more ...

Mahima Agarwal, President HR - CJ Darcl Logistics
At CJ Darcl, we have implemented various initiatives to promote a safe and inclusive environment for women in the logistics industry, including Code of Conduct training and POSH awareness program. We are also committed to expanding job opportunities for

Read more ...