Loading and off-loading Boeing 767

Need to get cargo from point A to point B?  A Boeing 767 just might be the right answer.  What is commonly known as a wide-body jet airliner, the Boeing 767 also serves as a practical means in which to transport freight.  Grand Aire first started utilizing these magnificent aircrafts for cargo transportation 2-3 years ago.  This practice has since picked up quite a bit in the past year.  To tackle a daunting task such as this, it takes the right equipment and the right people.  Grand Aire has both.

On average, it takes 1-2 ½ hours to get the payload off a truck, placed in containers or on pallets with cargo netting and loaded onto the 767 or vice versa.  Whichever direction the goods are going, it takes up to 5 employees and some pretty dependable equipment to complete the job. 

Depending on the size and weight of the materials to be shipped, either a Commander 30 main deck loader or 20K forklift is used to move the goods onto or off the main and lower deck of the aircraft.

With a Commander 30, large containers or pallets, referred to as ULDs (unit load device) are loaded or unloaded with the use of its two platforms which raise or lower independently. ULDs enable a large quantity of goods to be bundled into a single unit, thus leading to fewer units to load and a quicker load/off-load time. 

Shipments are moved on or off the plane with the help of built-in rollers found on both platforms of the loader.  The lower deck, or lower lobe loader, is used to transfer freight to and from the lower area of the wide body aircraft.  The main deck loader is more versatile.  It goes higher, so it can access cargo on the main deck as well as the lower deck, plus it has a larger weight capability. 

For lighter loads, loading and unloading can be accomplished with a 20K forklift.  ULDs are moved into position directly on and off the aircraft with the use of this reliable, smaller piece of equipment. 

Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it?  Well, like any undertaking, handling cargo has its challenges.  Securing available ramp space, for example, can be taxing.  Timeliness of freight arrival, properly working rollers on the aircraft and equipment issues can cause some serious headaches.  And let’s not forget Mother Nature.  Let her dump a few inches of snow or rain on NW Ohio and suddenly we have a new hurdle to overcome. 

Regardless, we are up for the task!  Let us put our experience and expertise to work for you.  We handle both air and ground transportation for cargo loads of all sizes.  Perhaps the right means for your next shipment is in the belly of a 767 beauty.  For questions or to request a quote, simply give us a call at 1-800-70-GRAND.  Or email our team directly at logistics@grandaire.com.