Book a Shipment

Our Capacity Management System (CMS) is designed especially to make booking a shipment easy.

If you already have an account with us, login and starting booking. Should you require it, a user guide can also be found on the CMS log-in page.

If not, contact your local DHL Aviation representative or the relevant GSA listed on the Contact and Support page.

The Air Automated Manifesting System (Air AMS) is a requirement of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

It is the advance electronic manifest filing of air cargo entering or transiting, the US (and also covers breakbulk and bulk ocean cargo).

Essentially, house airway bill (HAWB) information for all shipments arriving in the US must be sent to CBP four hours prior to the shipments entering the country.

The requirement covers all airlines to all US destinations. All shipments entering, or transiting, the US must have full FHL2 (Freight House List) information. This consists of:

• House air waybill
• A full description of goods
• Pieces and weight
• SLAC number (piece count of original shipper)
• Shipper / consignee information

Compliant goods descriptions are vital for ensuring safety, regulatory adherence, and operational efficiency in the air cargo industry.

Goods descriptions must be complete and non-generic. For instance, vague terms like "accessories" or "chemicals" are insufficient; instead, specifics such as "men's cotton socks" or "aluminium potassium sulphate" are required to meet regulatory standards.

Customers must provide complete and precise shipment goods descriptions - nonadherence may result in rejections, customs inspections, and regulatory penalties.

Best practices for compliance

• Follow the "3-W" rule:
  Ensure each description covers What it is + What it’s made of + Why/for what purpose.

• Avoid generic words and abbreviations:
  Do not use terms like “equipment,” “electronics,” or “parts”. Instead of “NCR Fabric”, use “Nylon-coated Polyester Fabric

• Use plain, functional language:
  "Children’s wooden puzzle" instead of “toy.”

Specifically for EU destined shipments: Full line item is required as well as goods descriptions of sufficient precision to derive a 6-digit HS code.

Useful links and downloads.