Does chargeable weight (dimensional weight) affect which rate type applies?

Chargeable weight determines which weight-break tier within a GCR or SCR table applies, but it's a separate calculation from which rate type (GCR vs SCR vs class rate) governs the shipment in the first place — see our chargeable weight guide for that calculation specifically.

Can a shipment be subject to both an SCR and a class rate adjustment?

It depends on the carrier's specific rate structure — confirm with the carrier whether a class rate adjustment layers on top of an applicable SCR or whether the two are mutually exclusive for that specific commodity and route.

Are these rate types still how TACT-referenced pricing works today?

The GCR/SCR/class rate framework is a long-standing industry structure with roots in TACT's historical rate classification — see our TACT rates explained guide for how much of that framework persists today versus how actual rates are set by carriers currently.

Air Freight Fundamentals

General Cargo Rate Types Explained

Not every shipment prices the same way — general cargo rates, specific commodity rates, and class rates are three distinct pricing mechanisms, and only one applies to a given shipment.

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GCR

General Cargo Rate — the default baseline

SCR

Specific Commodity Rate — commodity-specific discount

Class Rate

Percentage adjustment for specific cargo types

Weight-break

Common structure within GCR/SCR tables

Three pricing tracks, not three discount tiers

The General Cargo Rate (GCR) is the standard baseline rate applying to general cargo with no specific commodity discount or class adjustment — typically structured with weight breaks, where the per-kilogram rate decreases as chargeable weight increases (a heavier shipment often has a lower per-kg rate, not a higher total price per kilogram).

A Specific Commodity Rate (SCR) is a discounted rate carriers may offer for a defined commodity moving in bulk between specific origin-destination pairs, usually requiring a minimum weight to qualify — it isn't available for every commodity or every route, and where it doesn't exist for a given lane, GCR applies by default.

Class rates are percentage adjustments (either surcharges or discounts) applied to certain cargo types by their nature rather than by specific commodity code — live animals, valuable cargo, and certain other special-handling categories have historically carried class rate adjustments on top of the underlying GCR or SCR, reflecting the additional handling cost or risk involved.

GCR vs SCR

General Cargo Rate (GCR)

The default baseline rate for general cargo with no specific commodity discount. Applies whenever no SCR exists for the specific commodity/route pair.

Specific Commodity Rate (SCR)

A commodity-specific discounted rate offered by some carriers for defined bulk shipments between specific origin-destination pairs, subject to a minimum weight.

3 tracks

GCR, SCR, and class rate adjustments — only one governs a given shipment

Pricing Note

SCR availability is carrier- and route-specific — don't assume a discounted commodity rate exists just because the commodity qualifies elsewhere

Confirm whether an SCR actually exists for your specific commodity and route with the carrier before assuming it applies — where none exists, the shipment prices under standard GCR.

General industry practice regarding air cargo rate structure (GCR/SCR/class rates), consistent with IATA TACT's historical rate classification framework.

Worked example

A worked example: checking for an applicable SCR

Take a bulk garments shipment large enough to plausibly qualify for a specific commodity rate on a given route.

UAL checks with the operating carrier whether an SCR exists for garments on that specific origin-destination pair and whether the shipment's weight meets the SCR's minimum threshold — if both conditions are met, the SCR applies instead of the standard GCR, generally at a lower effective rate for that bulk volume.

If no SCR exists for that specific route or the shipment falls short of the minimum weight, the shipment prices under GCR's standard weight-break structure instead — UAL confirms this before quoting, rather than assuming a favourable SCR automatically applies to any sufficiently large shipment.

What UAL confirms at quote stage

We check for an applicable SCR on the specific commodity and route before quoting, and are transparent about which rate structure — GCR, SCR, or a class rate adjustment — the final price is actually built on.

Direct carrier rate-structure verification per shipment

Transparent quoting against the actual applicable rate type

Frequently asked questions

No — class rate adjustments can be either a surcharge or a discount depending on the specific cargo type and carrier's own rate structure. Confirm the specific adjustment rather than assuming it always increases price.

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TACT Rates Explained

Chargeable Weight & Dimensional Weight, Explained

Peak Season and Fuel Surcharges Explained

General industry practice regarding air cargo rate structure, consistent with IATA TACT's historical framework. Last verified July 2026.