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AOG Shipping is a freight service that is almost exclusively used by airline companies. An aircraft that is grounded will require new parts to function again. Therefore, airline companies need a specialized shipping solution that will transport new parts.
Key Takeaways
Down below, we’ll give you all the information you need to know about AOG shipping and how you can benefit from it.
Aircraft on ground (AOG) shipping is a service that specializes in the transportation of aircraft parts to repair non-operational aerospace equipment and vehicles. Airline companies use this service to order new parts to the airport where their grounded plane is located.
Planes can break down and suffer technical issues at any given time. Because of the unexpected nature of plane malfunctions, AOG shipments can occur just as often. That is why many freight companies that provide AOG logistic services are available 24/7.
While planes can break down unexpectedly, malfunctions usually happen more during the summer when travel increases. This results in a higher volume of AOG shipments during this time as well.
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The last thing an airline company wants is for one of its planes to be grounded. That’s because a Grounded aircraft have a variety of obvious negative effects on an airline's business.
Some of these negative effects include:
Since air freight is considered the best choice for expedited freight in most long-distance shipping scenarios, being down a plane presents extra challenges for shippers. Therefore, speed is of the essence when it comes to aircraft repair.
Let’s take a look at how quickly you can expect AOG shipments to move.
The time it takes for an aircraft on ground shipment to arrive is relative to the distance it must travel after the parts are picked up. For example, an AOG shipment that needs to travel only 500 miles could arrive at its destination in one day whereas a 1500-mile journey would likely take three days to arrive.
AOG logistics requires an extensive amount of planning, including finding a suitable route and a truck with the right trailer to transport the parts. Additionally, many aircraft on ground shipments will be considered an oversized load. Therefore, shippers will need to abide by the correct heavy haul shipping regulations.
Before we get into planning a shipment, let’s take a look at some commonly transported, oversize AOG shipments.
Typically, aircraft equipment is transported using 53-foot step deck flatbed trailers.
In addition to step decks, other flatbed trailers used to transport step deck trailers include standard flatbeds and lowboy trailers.
The wings, cockpit and engines of airplanes can only be successfully transported with a detailed hauling and routing plan. This is because these parts of the airplane are awkwardly shaped.
Let’s take a closer look at these and other common aerospace parts shipped via AOG.
Related: Oversized Cargo Transportation: A Massive Undertaking
Many commercial airplanes have wings that exceed 100 feet in length. Oftentimes, a self-steering car trailer will have to be used for a semi-truck to be able to haul freight this large.
Additionally, an oversize escort vehicle accompanies the shipment.
Airplane wings require special considerations when they’re shipped due to their various precision-engineered components. These include:
If damage occurs to any of these components, the entirety of the wing could be compromised which would make it impossible to work.
AOG Shipping requires careful planning and coordination. Get a fast, personalized quote from our industry experts.
The cockpit contains many different devices and features that allow the pilots to operate the plane successfully. Six different subsections make up the entirety of the cockpit.
These sections are:
Usually, cockpits aren’t replaced wholecloth: rather, individual components are replaced as they wear out or break down. As such, freight shipping may not always be necessary for these parts. The same cannot be said for aircraft engines.
Most airplanes use what are called turbofan engines, which require special protection when they’re transported because of how they’re calibrated. Even the slightest movement can offset the calibrations in these engines. Therefore, most trailers that are used to transport airplane engines have air ride suspensions. This type of suspension is much better at absorbing shockwaves when the trailer goes over bumps and potholes in the road.
Flatbeds transporting airplane engines will also have cradles mounted onto their deck. The engine is secured into using these cradles, which assist in absorbing shock. Lastly, the airplane engine is covered by a tarp to protect it from the weather and the elements.
Look into our article on wide load vs oversized load to determine under which category your shipment falls.
The route of an AOG shipment must be planned before the freight can be transported. AOG freight is so laThe route of an AOG shipment must be planned before the freight can be transported. AOG freight is so large that it’ll often be considered an oversized load. Shipments of oversized loads such as AOG cargo will need to travel down a special route to get to their destination.
Routes for certain AOG shipments cannot have:
Routes that have these characteristics need to be avoided because of the dangers they can pose. These factors are why carriers have to take the time to find a route that's safe enough for AOG cargo to travel.
Holidays are another factor that affects the planning of a route. Some states restrict the transportation of oversize freight during certain holidays. Our article on holiday restrictions for oversize loads will provide you with more information.
Some factors that airliners should be prepared for when using AOG shipping include:
While these factors can put a damper on AOG shipping, this service is still reliable when a grounded aircraft desperately needs parts.
Reach out to us at (855) 490-2433 or fill out our quick form and a live agent will be in touch shortly.
Receiving an AOG shipment requires the right equipment and enough space. Unsurprisingly, aircraft parts are extremely large and heavy which calls for equipment strong enough to lift it. Cranes are the best option to go with when you need to unload aircraft from the trailer they arrive on. Once on the ground, aircraft parts can be moved with the use of forklifts.
Unloading a critical shipment of aircraft parts requires space for the parts to be unloaded from the trailer and placed somewhere safe. The equipment being used to unload the shipment also needs plenty of room to operate without them being in the way of other workers or other equipment.
Getting parts delivered straight to the airport where the grounded plane is can be the best option. Airports have plenty of space where equipment used for unloading can pull in without being in the way of flights coming and going.
Most importantly, it’s important to have the manpower to perform all of the various functions necessary to unload AOG freight.
Unfortunately, freight shipping delays are always a possibility when transporting aircraft on ground shipments. If one occurs, the receiver of the shipment will need to adjust accordingly.
That means if the receiver is hiring a third party to unload their shipment for them on the original delivery date, they will have to hire the third party to return when a new arrival date is determined.
The price of an AOG shipment is unique to each case. Most loads transported via flatbed had a shipping rate of $2.21 to $2.67 per mile over the month of August, 2025. The table below shows the range of rates for how much-oversized loads will cost across the five main US shipping zones and how much a 500-mile trip under those rates would cost.
Although these are the estimates for oversize loads across shipping lanes, numerous other factors contribute to the overall price of an AOG shipment.
Factors such as these can impact how much a shipment will ultimately be:
In addition to the factors above, receivers will also have to spend additional money if they choose to hire a third party to unload their freight for them. Because of all of these factors, giving even an estimate of how much your AOG shipment is impossible.
Carriers will require a good amount of information to transport your AOG shipment. This information will Below is the basic information that carriers will need when a customer hires them to transport their oversized freight.
Once this information has been provided, carriers will be able to start preparing the shipment.
Heavy Haul & Oversize can find a carrier to perform AOG shipping for you. We have a network of small carriers throughout the U.S. that can transport AOG and a variety of other oversized freight. With their years of experience, we guarantee that our carriers will handle your shipment of replacement aerospace equipment with the protection it deserves..
Our carriers can perform these services using the following types of trailers:
Fill out your quote to get started or call our team at (855) 490-2433 if you have any questions or concerns.
Heavy Haul and Oversized
315 NE 14th Street #4122
Ocala, FL 34470
