Bubble Cargo (Volumetric / Light Cargo)
Bulky, lightweight cargo billed on volume-derived weight rather than actual weight.
Bubble cargo (also volumetric, light, or low-density cargo) is bulky but lightweight freight whose volumetric weight exceeds its actual weight, so it is billed on the volume-derived weight (air/courier) or volume tons (sea LCL). Its opposite is dense cargo that stays within the weight basis.
Key points:
- The test is density: in air, cargo below ~167 kg/CBM (the ÷6000 threshold) is typically bubble cargo; in sea LCL, below 1000 kg/CBM bills on volume tons.
- Typical examples: pillows, cushions, plastic goods, lamps, foam-packed items, furniture parts.
- Bubble cargo consumes space, so carriers charge on volume-to-weight to avoid under-filled capacity.
Common pitfall: quoting bubble cargo on actual weight badly underestimates freight. Mitigations include compressing packaging, vacuum/flat-packing to shrink volume, choosing a channel with a friendlier divisor, or co-loading with dense cargo to balance density. Always compute volumetric weight from outer-carton dimensions and compare against actual weight.
FAQ
- How do I tell if my cargo is bubble cargo?
- Compute volumetric weight and compare with actual: if volumetric is larger, it's bubble cargo. For air, check whether density is below ~167 kg/CBM; for sea LCL, below 1000 kg/CBM.
- How can I lower freight on bubble cargo?
- Shrinking volume is key: compress/vacuum/flat-pack, switch to tighter outer cartons, co-load with dense cargo, or compare divisors across channels and pick the best.
Related terms
Sources: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/ · https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/our-divisions/freight/customer-service/freight-glossary.html