By Jennifer Chhang      Photo：Mike Marchetti

All cargo loaded on the aircraft needs to be secured, otherwise it may cause damage to the freight itself or the inner wall of the airport due to movement during the flight. The ULD is used to fix the freight. You can load the freight on the ULD first, and then fix the ULD in the aircraft. ULD is the abbreviation of Unit Load Device, which is a container equipment used to load goods in air transportation. It can be a container or a combination of a container board and a container net.

A Unit Load Device (ULD) is a pallet or container used to load luggage, cargo and mail on wide-body aircraft and certain narrow-body aircraft. It allows a large amount of cargo to be bundled into one unit. Since this reduces the number of units loaded, it saves ground crew time and effort and helps prevent flight delays. Each ULD has its own packing list (or checklist) so that its contents can be tracked. Currently, there are 900,000 ULDs in use worldwide. Lightweight and durable ULD air freight containers are typically constructed of clear polycarbonate or flame retardant polycarbonate sheets for enhanced visibility and package protection in transit. In these durable air cargo containers, aircraft can quickly load and unload freight. ULDs come in two forms: pallets and containers. ULD pallets are sturdy aluminum sheets with edges that attach to cargo mesh lugs. ULD containers, also known as cans and pods, are closed containers made of aluminum or aluminum (frame) and polycarbonate walls.

According to a July 2022 report by MarketWatch, unit loading devices (ULDs) used in the aviation industry to load luggage, cargo and mail is a $357 million market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4.7% in 2022- USD 495 million in the forecast period of 2026. However, especially since the Covid-19 epidemic, the industry has attracted a lot of attention due to shortages and how they affect the movement of goods across geographies. ULD inventory shortages have been an issue due to the East-West trade imbalance, exponential growth in e-commerce (mostly just one-way), trade wars and seasonal passenger traffic, then exacerbated by Covid-19 and the war. Demand for air cargo ULDs is also high due to increased demand during the Covid-19 epidemic. With flight schedule disruptions and ULD distribution in airline networks more inefficient than they were before the pandemic, the shortage of ULDs underscores the importance of efficient and proactive management and global networking. Zhi Yong Liao, senior manager of cargo security and unit containers at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), also pointed out that this imbalance is currently the main pain point in global container asset management. Airlines often do not know where the ULD is, especially when outsourced to a ground handling provider or lent to a freight forwarder or hauler outside the airport, Some airports feel that airlines are using more space for ULDs than they need and report that these airports are considering charging airlines for ULD storage. He noted, “We have been told that airports are already considering fines due to inventory imbalances, how air cargo can eliminate missing, misplaced and mishandled ULDs. has worsened. Misuse, abuse, abuse of ULDs and a large percentage of damage caused by mishandling, especially the use of forklifts, For a long time , ULD has not been properly operated and cared,  worsened lately.

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