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Fast, secure on-board courier for time-critical shipments

For time-sensitive shipments, an on-board courier provides the fastest, most reliable solution. Your valuable cargo is personally accompanied with TSA-certified handling, including customs clearance, for safe and efficient delivery.

Your trusted on-board-courier service

Ensure your hand-carried express cargo - prototypes, critical spare parts, contracts or urgent documents - reaches its destination quickly and safely with an on-board courier. Your shipment is personally accompanied by a dedicated courier with TSA-certified handling, giving you the most reliable solution for time-critical, high-value goods.

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Hand-carrier service – fast and secure delivery.

For time-critical shipments, an on-board courier ensures it moves faster than traditional air freight. Your cargo gets priority handling and expedited customs clearance every step of the way.

If you need urgent, high-value goods delivered safely, our hand-carrier service ensures personal attention and secure transport from pickup to delivery.

Need your urgent shipments delivered quickly and reliably? With our on-board courier service, your cargo stays on schedule even during last-minute changes or air freight emergencies, giving you full visibility and peace of mind.

Need real-time visibility and direct support for your urgent shipments? With our hand-carrier service, a dedicated courier personally escorts your goods, keeping you informed and in control every step of the way.

Fast, secure on-board courier solutions for your urgent air shipments

  • Full transparency and real-time updates – Stay informed with live tracking via AirTag and direct contact with your on-board courier throughout the air freight journey.
  • Reliable global support – Your on-board-courier service benefits from in-house logistics resources and trusted partners in key markets, ensuring dependable delivery even during delays.
  • Customs expertise – Smooth, compliant, and safe international air cargo clearance keeps your urgent shipments moving without interruptions.

Increased efficiency for hand-carrier services

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Air cargo handling

Ensure your valuable, time-critical shipments are handled safely with flexible storage at global airport locations, customized repackaging and efficient sorting tailored to your needs. With our hand-carry logistics, your cargo benefits from comprehensive monitoring, quality control, secure palletization and accuratelabeling throughout the journey.

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E-solutions

Stay fully informed and in control of your shipments with direct access to our systems. Seamlessly transmit shipping orders and track status updates, while a personalized dashboard provides key metrics, transit times, shipment reports, and live tracking maps - giving you complete visibility for every on-board courier shipment.

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Document solutions

Ensure the safe delivery of your confidential shipments with our document solutions for air freight. Accurate preparation and management of all required documents, proof of delivery and customized KPI reports keep your on-board courier shipments secure and fully tracked. Paper invoices and delivery confirmations are also available upon request.

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Express solutions

Ensure your urgent air shipments arrive on time with our on-board-courier service. Flexible options outperform standard services, backed by decades of experience and trusted global partners, with 24-hour delivery for fast, secure transport worldwide.

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Customs clearance

With our on-board courier service, you can skip the hassle of import and export formalities. Your shipments benefit from expert customs clearance and documentation, ensuring full compliance and efficient air freight delivery to the destination.

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Insurance

Protect your cargo throughout its journey with tailor-made insurance solutions. Comprehensive coverage safeguards your shipments from damage, loss, or unforeseen events, giving you full peace of mind with every on-board courier delivery.

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Need to ship valuable or urgent freight and want total peace of mind? Choose Rhenus air freight.

Rhenus delivers your goods via on-board courier as quickly, safely and reliably as possible – worldwide, anytime.

Frequently asked questions

An on-board courier (OBC) is a courier who personally accompanies important or time-sensitive deliveries to ensure that they reach their destination as quickly and directly as possible. They usually carry the consignment directly with them or in their carry-on luggage. Goods that are frequently transported in this way include documents, samples, prototypes or even valuable jewelry or designer pieces.

If you have a shipment that is particularly urgent or valuable, hand-carrier services offer a reliable, secure solution. Please note that weight and dimensional limits can vary depending on the route, airline, aircraft type and whether the shipment is transported as checked or carry-on luggage. Typically, packages are limited to around 30 kg per piece, with maximum dimensions ranging from approximately 120 to 160 centimeters in length, 80 to 120 centimeters in width and 80 to 100 centimeters in height. These dimensions are approximate values and may vary based on specific airline or courier restrictions. Additionally, it must be possible to process shipments using standard luggage handling equipment throughout the entire journey, including loading and unloading. Depending on the timeframe and type of freight, you can choose from various express options and book additional value-added services.

Goods weighing more than 32 kilograms per parcel and measuring more than 290 centimeters in length + height + width cannot be delivered by hand carrier. In addition, hazardous goods, temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products and perishable goods are mainly excluded.

In order to process your request as quickly as possible, we first need information about the number of parcels, their respective dimensions and weights as well as the type of goods. We also ask for the delivery time, zip code, city or airport of both the pickup and final destination.

Depending on the agreements made for your hand-carrier services, you will receive regular notifications by email or chat, or you can access a dashboard that has been set up specifically for this purpose. In addition, a customer service team is available 24 hours a day to respond to your inquiries and you can contact the couriers directly.

The Rhenus on-board courier provides immediate support for urgent and important freight. With our worldwide round-the-clock service, we can also meet deadlines that fall on weekends, public holidays or outside normal working hours.