ATLANTA: October 09, 2018. Delta Cargo is to extend its Bluetooth-based ULD tracking service to off-airport airfreight facilities from January 2019 for door-to-door updates.

The company says the new service eliminates all paperwork at the dock door when units are loaned out and produces a digital Uniform Control Receipt (UCR) that is emailed directly to the shipper.

“The extension of the tracking technology directly to our customers’ facilities will ensure visibility for the whole freight journey, creating a best-in-class shipping experience,” said Shawn Cole, Delta’s vice president-Cargo. “This is a genuine innovation, and we are on track to launch in January 2019, with full visibility on deltacargo.com later that year, once the customer installations are complete.”

Nearly 40 percent of the airline’s ULD fleet has been tagged with Bluetooth asset trackers with readers deployed at 80 Delta and partner airline warehouse locations throughout the US and worldwide.

Delta says real-time ULD tracking information allows it to more accurately monitor and reroute shipments that are delayed due to “irregular operations” - including the weather.

As Hurricane Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle this week as a Category 4 storm, Delta's Operations & Customer Center closely monitored its trajectory through Georgia and the Carolinas as the airline announced passenger and shipper booking waivers.

Last week the airline said Hurricane Florence cost it US$30 million in pre-tax income for the third quarter. Moody Analytics said the storm is likely to cost the US economy US$38-$50 billion.