Domestic & international air freight
A production line waiting on a part. An order that cannot miss its delivery window. When time matters, we help you choose the right air service and coordinate the details from pickup through delivery.
Independently owned. Family operated. Real people working on your shipment.Choose the right level of urgency
Tell us when the freight will be ready and when your customer needs it in hand. We compare available air freight services around that window, the shipment itself, and the cost of missing it.
For urgent parts and critical shipments, we can evaluate next-flight-out options through our expedite partners.
The next scheduled departure is not automatically the next flight your cargo can make. Acceptance, screening, space, and the airport tender cutoff all have to line up.
A practical option when standard ground transit puts a delivery at risk. Domestic next-day, two-day, or three-day options may be available depending on the lane and freight.
We confirm the service window and delivery scope before booking, including any appointment or special receiving requirements.
When you have some flexibility, a later departure, alternate routing, or consolidation may lower the cost.
This can suit planned international replenishment. Allow for consolidation schedules and connections when comparing it with priority service.
Oversized cargo or a truly exceptional deadline? Ask us to review dedicated air or charter options. Aircraft suitability, route permissions, handling equipment, and availability must be confirmed for the specific shipment.
Know what your quote covers
Two air freight quotes can cover very different parts of the journey. Compare the same pickup point, destination, and included services.
The main movement is between the agreed airports. Pickup, origin handling, destination recovery, customs clearance, and final delivery may be separate responsibilities or charges.
A good fit when your team or an appointed agent already manages the ground portions. Confirm exactly where the carrier's service starts and ends.
Pickup and final delivery are coordinated along with the air movement. For international freight, customs responsibilities and the broker arrangement still need to be established.
Door-to-door does not automatically include duties, taxes, inside delivery, unpacking, installation, or a liftgate. Tell us what the receiver needs.
Domestic or international? Domestic planning centers on cargo acceptance, available schedules, and delivery access. International moves add export requirements, import clearance, and destination charges. Our international shipping services can help connect those pieces.
Think beyond the flight time
A short flight can still be part of a longer shipment. Cargo must reach the airport, be accepted, move through handling, and become available for recovery before the delivery vehicle can leave.
Give us the receiver's actual deadline, including the time zone. We work backward from it and look at the handoffs that could put it at risk.
“At the airport by Friday” and “at your customer's dock by Friday” are different commitments.
Freight must be packed, documents ready, and pickup early enough to meet cargo cutoffs. Security screening or acceptance checks can affect routing.
Space, aircraft type, weather, and connecting schedules influence the plan. A booking is not proof the shipment has departed.
Unloading, terminal processing, and international customs release can separate aircraft arrival from freight availability.
Receiving hours, appointments, dock access, and delivery equipment need to match the arrival plan, especially around weekends and holidays.
Air freight rates explained
Air freight pricing commonly uses chargeable weight: the greater of the shipment's gross weight and its dimensional weight. Lightweight cargo in a large crate can cost more than its scale weight suggests.
Measure each piece after packing, including the pallet, crate, and any protrusions. Report whether freight can be stacked and keep units consistent.
Rates also depend on the lane, available capacity, service level, cargo restrictions, and pickup or delivery requirements. A low air rate alone does not tell you the total shipment cost.
Ask for the complete cost picture. Confirm pickup, air transport, fuel and security surcharges, terminal handling, screening, customs brokerage, and final delivery. Duties, taxes, inspections, storage, and other conditional charges may be additional. Ask what is included, excluded, or dependent on an event.
Choose the mode that fits
Air freight earns its place when the time saved is worth the cost. We look at the complete trip before recommending how to move it.
| Option | When to consider it | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight | Urgent, long-distance shipments or international cargo with a short delivery window. | Airport access, acceptance, dimensional weight, and time after landing. |
| Expedited ground | A direct domestic move where a dedicated vehicle can meet the deadline. | Actual drive time, vehicle availability, and required equipment. It may beat an air routing on shorter lanes. |
| LTL freight | Routine palletized shipments with enough time for a shared ground network. | Terminal handling and scheduled transit. Standard estimates should not be treated as a delivery guarantee. |
| Ocean freight | International replenishment, bulky products, or larger volumes with flexible timing. | Longer transit and port processing. Consider sending the urgent portion by air and the balance by ocean. |
Prepare before pickup
A shipment that is ready for a truck is not always ready for an aircraft. These details belong in the conversation before the freight is booked.
Secure cargo to a suitable pallet or crate, protect exposed surfaces, and prevent movement inside the package. Air freight still encounters forklifts and terminal handling.
Overall height, door clearance, piece weight, and aircraft loading limits can restrict options. Send photos and packed dimensions for oversized or unusually shaped freight.
Review basic freight packaging practicesIdentify lithium batteries, aerosols, chemicals, compressed gases, dry ice, and equipment that may contain fuel or other regulated materials.
Air transport rules can differ from ground rules. Appropriate classification, packaging, labels, documentation, and carrier acceptance must be confirmed. A safety data sheet alone is not an approval to ship.
Prepare a commercial invoice with clear descriptions, values, currency, and country of origin, plus a packing list showing pieces, weights, and dimensions. Provide tariff classification information for review.
Air waybill instructions, broker details, and any required export filings, licenses, or commodity certificates must also be addressed. Requirements vary by origin, destination, and product.
Identify the importer, customs broker, agreed Incoterm with named place, and who pays destination charges. Resolve missing importer information before freight reaches the destination.
For wood pallets or crates, check the destination's treatment and marking requirements. For controlled-temperature cargo, specify the range and handling needs so suitability can be reviewed before acceptance.
Working with Firehouse Freight
We review your freight and deadline, compare available services, and explain the tradeoffs before you choose. That includes asking questions about the destination, not just quoting the airport pair.
Once booked, we coordinate with the providers handling the move and help with tracking, delivery questions, and exceptions. If a connection is missed or freight is held, the next step starts with confirming where it is and what is needed to move it.
You get practical guidance from a family-operated business that understands how much a delayed shipment can affect your customer.
Before you book
The rate depends on origin, destination, chargeable weight, service speed, cargo type, and capacity. Pickup, handling, customs services, and delivery also affect the total. Send final packed dimensions and weights for a meaningful quote.
Domestic services may offer next-day, two-day, or three-day options on eligible lanes. International timing depends on departure availability, connections, customs, and delivery arrangements. We review the full pickup-to-delivery window for your shipment rather than applying one transit estimate to every route.
No. Next-flight-out describes an urgent routing option, subject to cargo acceptance and space. Pickup time, screening, flight schedules, destination recovery, and final delivery determine whether same-day delivery is feasible. A guarantee applies only when explicitly offered and confirmed under the provider's terms.
Yes, if its packed dimensions, weight, packaging, and contents meet the requirements of the aircraft and service. An ordinary warehouse pallet is not automatically suitable for every aircraft. Share photos, dimensions, and handling restrictions before booking.
Air transport is generally rated using chargeable weight and service-specific rules rather than NMFC freight class. A separately arranged LTL pickup or delivery leg may have its own classification and rating requirements.
Some can, under specific conditions; others are restricted or prohibited. Eligibility depends on the exact material, quantity, packaging, aircraft, route, and carrier. Declare these items before quoting so acceptance and documentation requirements can be reviewed.
Not automatically. Door-to-door describes the transport scope. Customs brokerage, duties, taxes, and other destination costs depend on the quote and agreed responsibilities. Confirm those items separately before booking.
The available response depends on the cause and the freight's location. We work with the provider to confirm status and review the next departure, alternate routing, or a ground option when practical. Any change in price or delivery expectations needs to be understood before a new plan is selected.
Record visible damage or shortages on the delivery receipt, take photographs, retain the packaging, and contact us promptly. Notice and claim requirements vary by service and shipment. Ask about cargo insurance before shipping valuable freight; carrier liability and cargo insurance are different forms of protection.
Tell us where. Tell us when.
Send the shipment details and the deadline that matters. We'll help you compare available options, understand the costs, and get the next steps in place.