Containers & Cargo Equipment
Unit Load Device
Also known as: ULD
A unit load device is a standardized container or pallet used in air cargo to consolidate individual pieces into a single unit shaped to fit the contours of an aircraft's hold, allowing rapid loading, efficient use of space, and secure restraint during flight. ULDs come in various certified sizes and types for different aircraft, and building them correctly — respecting weight distribution and contour limits — is a specialized handling task. By turning loose shipments into aircraft-ready units, ULDs speed ground handling and protect cargo, playing the same enabling role in air freight that the container plays at sea.
Air freight's container. Its relevance to most shippers is that ULD dimensions, not your pallet dimensions, decide what fits — which is why a load plan built for a truck often does not survive contact with an aircraft.
Related terms
Reviewed by a licensed customs broker. Definitions are general information, not legal or customs advice for a particular shipment. Duty rates, tariff programs and agency requirements change frequently.