Special Cargo

Special Cargo is the umbrella term for any shipment that requires conditions, handling, or documentation beyond standard freight procedures. The transport of these goods are addressed through specific regulations that must be followed when preparing, offering, accepting and handling this cargo. Special Cargo items include live animals, perishables, wet cargo, time and temperature sensitive products and human remains, among others, which due to their nature, weight, dimensions and/or value, may have specific requirements including packaging, labeling, documentation and handling through the transport chain. IATA's Special Cargo manuals provide expert guidance on shipping live animals, perishables, temperature-sensitive goods, and human remains.

A Lufthansa Cargo shipment of pharmaceuticals with AWB number 020-12345678 moves as special cargo requiring temperature control per IATA's Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), with continuous monitoring between 2°C and 8°C from Frankfurt (FRA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD). An Emirates SkyCargo live animal transport with AWB number 176-23456789 carries breeding horses from Dubai (DXB) to Louisville (SDF) following IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR), requiring specialized handling personnel and veterinary documentation at both origin and destination airports.

• special handling
• special shipment

What IATA manuals govern Special Cargo transportation requirements?

IATA's Special Cargo manuals include Live Animals and Perishable Cargo Regulations, plus the Temperature Control Regulations (TCR) contain all the information you need to ship temperature-sensitive products: carrier and government regulations, packaging, documentation requirements and the Compassionate Transportation Manual (CTM) contains shipping guidelines for funeral operators, airlines and freight forwarders involved in the repatriation of human remains by air.

What documentation is required before Special Cargo can be loaded on aircraft?

Special cargo must be accepted with complete and accurate documentation before it is loaded onto any aircraft. For dangerous goods this means a completed Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods verified against the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations packing instructions. For perishable cargo this means a perishable cargo notification and, where applicable, temperature monitoring records from the cold chain.