Export Cargo Handling
Support for outbound perishable cargo from readiness review through airline tender.
Getting a perishable shipment out of LAX on schedule depends on more than a confirmed booking — packaging, labeling, and documentation all need to be correct before an airline or handling agent will accept the cargo. We coordinate that readiness review ahead of tender so shipments aren't turned back or delayed at the warehouse door.
What's Included
- Booking and routing coordination based on destination, transit time, and required temperature handling
- Pre-tender review of packaging, labeling, and marking against airline and destination-country requirements
- Review of export documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill instructions, and applicable certificates
- Coordination of airline cutoff times and physical cargo drop-off or pickup for tender
- Communication with the shipper on acceptance status and any exceptions raised by the airline or handling agent
Export perishable cargo is commonly rejected or delayed at tender because of packaging that doesn't hold up under handling, missing labeling, or documentation that doesn't match the physical shipment. We review these details against the destination country's and airline's requirements before cargo is presented, so issues are caught with time to correct them.
Airline cutoff times for perishable cargo are often tighter than for general cargo, since carriers need lead time to plan cool-chain handling, ULD assignment, or ramp priority. We track these cutoffs by carrier and routing and coordinate directly with shippers so cargo is ready and tendered within the window.
For shipments requiring export certificates — phytosanitary certificates for plant products, health certificates for animal products, or other permits — we coordinate timing with the shipper so certificates are issued and available before the cutoff, since these documents typically cannot be generated after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do airlines reject perishable cargo at tender even when the booking is confirmed?
A booking reserves space — it doesn’t guarantee acceptance. Common rejection causes include leaking or wet packaging, missing absorbents, labels that don’t match the AWB, documentation that doesn’t match the physical cargo, and packaging that can’t survive handling. We pre-check readiness against carrier requirements before tender; final accept or reject stays with the airline or handler.
When do phytosanitary or health certificates need to be ready relative to airline tender?
Certificates must be issued and available before cutoff — they can’t be created after cargo is presented. Plant products typically need a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country’s plant-protection authority; animal-origin goods often need a health certificate. We sequence timing with the shipper so certs clear before tender; we do not issue government certificates ourselves.
Related Commodities
This service is commonly coordinated for the following commodity types.
Have a Shipment That Needs Coordinating?
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