When the automotive industry needs help, ACS answers

Cargo Charter

As a key provider of on-demand charters for urgent, outsized, and sensitive cargo, Air Charter Service leads by example in leveraging technology in order to ensure that charter solutions are tailor-made, cost effective, and appropriate for each and every client. Unlike other charter providers who rely on bid boards in order to source aircraft, ACS’s ‘go now’ system notifies our cargo charter consultants of the real-time positioning of all available aircraft, giving the ability to select the most efficient and feasible operator for each charter request.

Not all airlines submit quotes to bid boards, especially during peak seasons, ACS’s proactive approach is mutually beneficial for all parties, and often results in preferential pricing from airlines.

ACS’s automotive answers

There was no time to waste when an automotive manufacturer needed 10 tonnes of car parts flown from Germany to the United States at short notice.

Our mission:
An automotive manufacturer asked us to help transport 10 tonnes of car parts from Germany to the United States. With an extremely tight turnaround to prevent the client’s assembly line from grinding to a halt, we sprung into action to find a solution at short notice for the urgent request.

Route: Frankfurt > Atlanta
Aircraft: Boeing 777F

Our solution:
The cargo was packed into 21 boxes weighing almost half a tonne each. Leveraging our local contacts, we secured space on the only regular freighter service operating to Atlanta. Our time-critical division arranged for a truck to be waiting at the manufacturer’s location, ready to deliver the boxes to the airport. Everything ran smoothly and the consignment arrived in good time at its final destination, averting a potential production crisis for the client.

The finer details
Rapid response: We confirmed a solution within 30 minutes of receiving this urgent request.

On Board Courier (OBC)

An OBC is a specialised courier escorting urgent and time-sensitive shipments, ensuring that sensitive shipments are securely delivered directly to the recipient. If vital parts are needed urgently, high-value or sensitive parts can be delivered quickly and safely, with a dedicated courier accompanying the shipment throughout its journey on scheduled flights.

ACS’s automotive answers

A speedy onboard courier solution was needed to get 188 boxes from China to a manufacturing plant in Mexico.

Our mission:
An automotive manufacturer needed urgent help transporting 188 boxes of parts from China to their plant in Mexico. Due to the last-minute nature of their request, they were unable to find an airline able to accommodate the cargo as general air freight at such short notice, our OBC charter solution was the only way for the freight to arrive in time.

Route: Shanghai > Narita > Houston > San Luis Potosí

Our solution:
Having found the solution and quoted within 15 minutes, we reached out to our global network of OBCs, sourcing four local flyers able to travel at a moment’s notice. Having collected the parts, and noticing that they were stored incorrectly for travel (in open-top boxes), we arranged for the cargo to be re-packed securely for transit and headed straight to the airport. The four OBCs accompanied the shipment all the way to Mexico, delivering the cargo well within the client’s tight timeframe.

The finer details
Rapid response: We provided the client with a quote for a time-critical onboard courier solution within 15 minutes of the request coming in.

Unrivalled Experience: Our team’s expert knowledge saved valuable time when shopping for quotes, as we knew which operators were likely to accept a large amount of luggage.

Next Flight Out (NFO)

For shipments not able to be taken by an OBC (usually in size, or number of parcels), ACS Time Critical offers NFO services for time-sensitive shipments to ensure that your items get to their destination in the fastest way possible, without the need for a full cargo charter. This is also done by transporting the freight on scheduled flights.

ACS’s automotive answers

A speedy solution was needed when we were tasked with the transportation of oil and gas machinery across the Atlantic.

Our mission:
We were contacted by a client who needed help with expediting the delivery of a heavy piece of oil and gas machinery from Germany to its destination in Trinidad. Despite the request landing at the weekend, and the client’s moving timescales, we got to work coordinating a flexible and time-sensitive solution.

Route: Frankfurt > Miami > Port of Spain

Our solution:
We recommended transportation by road from the factory to the airport in order to catch a scheduled service from Frankfurt to Miami,  and then arrange a cargo charter from Miami to Trinidad to get the freight over the line. The client called on a Saturday, hoping to secure air travel for the cargo on the Sunday; however, supplier delays meant that the cargo wasn’t ready to ship until Monday evening. As soon as we received the go-ahead, the part was transferred to the airport by road, ready to be loaded on the first scheduled flight to Miami on Tuesday. We sourced an Airbus A321F for the second leg of the cargo’s journey from Miami to Trinidad, liaising with airport handlers on the ground at Miami to ensure a quick turnaround and smooth transfer onto the charter flight to the final destination.

The finer details
Rapid response: We found a solution within an hour of receiving the client’s call, delivering the machinery to its final destination within 17 hours of it leaving Germany.

Seamless solution: We leveraged our strong relationships with transportation and logistics partners to ensure every stage of the operation ran smoothly.

24/7 communication: Our team was contactable around the clock to handle any queries and quickly accommodate changes to the schedule.

Enhanced Security and Privacy

ACS Time Critical handles each and every shipment with the utmost in care and confidentiality. OBC and NFO services have options for tracking, alongside dedicated account managers who have round-the-clock availability, to give that peace of mind that your precious cargo is being taken care of.

Particularly important for automotive companies dealing with proprietary technology or confidential information, by using ACS Time Critical’s services, the personal touch helps to guarantee enhanced security, in turn minimising the risk of theft or industrial espionage.

Why ACS?

Expert knowledge
With over 30 years’ experience, our highly-trained transportation experts tailor-make each and every charter solution to your exacting specifications.

Rapid response
Our global network means that your query is dealt with as a priority no matter the time zone; our dedicated account managers are on hand to assist 24/7 with any queries you may have.

Global coverage
Our network of over 30 offices worldwide means that we are able to tap into existing corporate relationships and expertise to provide local knowledge on a global scale.

Cost efficiency
Our reputation, buying power, and application of technology allow us to find you the best prices available, unlocking global networks of temporarily idle planes available for charter which our competitors won’t have access to, making sure that your solution is as cost effective as it can be.

Contact ACS

For urgent and critical logistical needs, ACS is available 24/7. For quotes and further information, please email go@acstimecritical.com, or alternatively reach us by phone at +49 6107 6989 400.