Chicago, United States
Air freight in Chicago
Ziem Logistics books air freight to and from Chicago via O'Hare (ORD). We arrange pick-up and delivery in the Chicago area and prepare the customs entries before the cargo flies. For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Airports, seaports and connections in Chicago
- AirportO'Hare
ORD - SeaportInland rail ramps, sea freight via East and West Coast ports
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of the largest cargo airports in the United States and the main air freight gateway for the Midwest, with dense freighter and widebody passenger service to Europe and Asia. Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), north-west of the city, has developed into an additional cargo airport with freighter and express operations. Chicago has no ocean container port of its own for deep-sea trade; containers reach the region by rail from East Coast and West Coast ports and are handled at large inland intermodal ramps in the metro area.
Chicago is the largest rail hub in North America, where most of the Class I railroads meet. Major intermodal terminals are located around Joliet and Elwood south-west of the city. The interstate network includes I-90, I-94, I-55, I-80 and I-88, and the I-294 Tri-State Tollway runs past O'Hare, giving direct truck access from the cargo areas to distribution centres across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Operational logistics facts for Chicago
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) | Freighter and widebody air freight to Europe and Asia | Main air cargo gateway for the Midwest |
| Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) | Freighter and express operations | Alternative cargo airport north-west of Chicago |
| Joliet / Elwood intermodal terminals | Rail containers from East and West Coast ports | Sea freight delivered to the Midwest by rail |
| I-294 / I-90 / I-55 corridors | Truck distribution to Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin | Direct road access from O'Hare to regional plants |
Industries in Chicago and how we support them
The Chicago region is a manufacturing centre for machinery, industrial equipment and metal products, a major food processing location and home to large pharmaceutical and medical companies in the northern suburbs. Agricultural and construction equipment makers across the Midwest also source parts through Chicago. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via ORD, sea freight to and from US coastal ports with rail delivery to Chicago ramps, Next Flight Out for production-critical parts and On-Board Courier for prototypes and samples. Customs data is prepared before the cargo lands.
Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier in Chicago
Next Flight Out means your shipment travels on the first available flight to or from O'Hare (ORD), booked and documented by our operations desk.
An On-Board Courier is the option when even that is too slow or the goods need to stay in sight: a courier travels with the shipment and delivers it to the consignee in the Chicago area.
Our own air waybills in the United States
We issue our own air waybills for shipments to and from the United States. We book directly with the airline, control the shipment data and can make changes without waiting for a third party.
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you route Midwest air freight through Chicago O'Hare?
O'Hare (ORD) offers a wide range of direct freighter and passenger flights to Europe and Asia, so Midwest cargo can often fly direct instead of being trucked to the coasts. We book capacity under our own air waybills and arrange onward trucking to your site.
Can you arrange urgent machine parts into Chicago for a production stop?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to ORD, file the customs data in advance and arrange direct delivery to the plant. For critical parts that must not leave a person's hands, an On-Board Courier can carry the shipment door to door.
Is Rockford an alternative to O'Hare for cargo?
For some routings, yes. Chicago Rockford International (RFD) has freighter and express operations and lies north-west of the city. Whether it is a good alternative depends on the carrier and destination, so we compare options for each shipment.
How do I get a quote for air freight to or from Chicago?
Send us the origin, destination, goods description, weight and dimensions. Our operations desk replies with a routing via O'Hare (ORD) and an itemised quote.