As a cargo professional, you’ve no doubt developed your own way of doing things. The trouble is, no item is shipped by just one person or even one company. When everyone in the transport chain – ground handlers, freight forwarders and airlines – works from the same guidelines, damage, delays, refusals and fines are significantly reduced.

The ICHM covers the entire shipping process door-to-door and describes the operating procedures standard in every stage of the transport chain in plain language. Why re-invent the wheel?

What's inside the ICHM?

You’ll find everything you wanted to know about shipping cargo inside the ICHM. And lots of information you didn’t know you needed. Each chapter outlines what happens at each stage of the shipping process.

  • Book and plan shipments, pick them up from the shipper
  • Receive freight at the forwarder branch and transfer it to the forwarder hub
  • Prepare export shipments
  • Transfer shipments to and receive shipments from the carrier domain,
  • Accept shipments as ready for carriage and prepare for transport
  • Send shipments to the flight and distribute information
  • Unload and dispatch shipment to warehouse
  • Check-in and arrive shipments, transfer shipments to forwarder
  • Load truck and produce run sheet, deliver and obtain proof of delivery

Want to see more? Download the full table of contents.

Stay up-to-date

Significant Changes and Amendments to the 11th edition (2027) of the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM) include:

  • Introduction: 

•    Interpretation of MUST/SHOULD/MAY and align with all IATA standards.
•    New note to remind users to be aware of state regulations compliance.
•    Update Gap Analysis tools for ICHM adoption (IATA Operations Portal in ICHM e-version toolbox/resources).

  • Digitalization of Air Cargo: 

•   New and updated content for data sharing (IATA ONE Record) and alignment between ONE Record and Legacy Data Exchange Standards. 

  • Training Requirements

•    Updated content of instructor competencies and corresponding recommendations of ‘Task-Function Matrices’ in Appendix K.

  • Main Contents:

•   New and updated content of Air Mail Operations in section 1.8, 2.4, 5.7, 7.7, 10.6, 12.5, 15.4, 16.6, and 18.5.
•   Updated content for cargo security in section 3 in shipper / freight forwarder domain. 
•   Updated content of section 8.2.4 and 15.3 regarding acceptance of Bulk Unitization Program (BUP). 
•   Enhanced content for cargo (ULD) breakdown from safety perspective in section 13.1.1. 

  • Appendix A: New and updated terminologies.
  • Appendix B: Updated abbreviation list and new supplementary note for better clarification. 
  • Appendix E: Updated segregation chart content.
  • Appendix H: Updated content of annexes to air mail handling.
  • Appendix K: New ‘Cargo Handling Facility Operations Task-Function Matrix ‘ and updated  ‘Cargo (ULD) Build Up Task-Function Matrix’.
  • Appendix N: Updated content of IATA Standard Compliance – Bulk Unitization Program (BUP) Version 0.2.