Unit Load Devices (ULDs) are among the unsung heroes of air cargo. Quietly underpinning the flow of global trade, they are often overlooked—until one goes missing, arrives damaged, or causes a delay. Now, as the industry embraces smarter, greener logistics, ULDs are getting a long-overdue upgrade. From AI-driven positioning to real-time IoT tracking and circular design principles, companies are looking to reshape how containers and pallets are managed across the supply chain.
The digital twin has landed
“We want to become the digital market leader in ULD management,” Dr Jan-Wilhelm Breithaupt, CEO of Jettainer, said. “That means integrating our ULDs into IATA’s ONE Record as digital twins—so they’re not just tracked but fully visible, analysable, and intelligent.”
The company’s latest cloud-based system, JettWare NG, does just that. With a redesigned interface, real-time dashboards, and mobile browser access, it gives customers control over ULD fleets with unprecedented detail. Combined with APIs and a companion app, JettApp, users can view, plan, and manage loading equipment anywhere, anytime.
For ACL Airshop, smart ULDs are powered through a partnership with SkyCell, incorporating its SkyMind technology. Taner Chakar, Head of Product at SkyCell, explained that integrating real-time data from IoT loggers and gateways into ACL’s ULD management platform helps bridge fragmented tracking solutions. “It’s about full visibility—and full accountability,” Chakar said.
AI takes the controls
Artificial intelligence is transforming how fleets are managed and repositioned. Jettainer, for example, has developed a decision-support system using machine learning, historical movement data, and predictive algorithms to guide its controllers.
“It’s not just about tracking ULDs—it’s about optimising them,” Breithaupt said. “With AI, we’re able to reduce repositioning costs, avoid shortages, and increase utilisation.”
ACL is also developing predictive repositioning algorithms, integrating internal data with market signals to anticipate demand surges—particularly relevant for fast-moving e-commerce traffic.
“e-commerce doesn’t move on a fixed schedule,” Jos Jacobsen, CCO, ACL Airshop, noted. “So our platform has to make dynamic restocking decisions and redirect units before they’re needed.”
From damage to data
Both companies are also tackling one of the industry’s most persistent frustrations: ULD damage. Jettainer is exploring AI-powered assessment tools, including a concept developed at IATA’s ONE Record Hackathon in Dublin. “The prototype, Luna, uses voice, image, and AI to detect damage and support serviceability checks. It’s fast, accurate, and scalable,” Breithaupt said.
ACL is taking a forensic approach—analysing real-time tracking data to identify damage points, holding handlers accountable, and improving long-term durability.
“We now have chain-of-custody visibility. If a unit is mishandled, we know where, when, and by whom,” Harold Elfring, Technology and IT Systems Director, ACL Airshop, stated.
Blockchain and collaboration
While blockchain has yet to see broad adoption, ACL sees promise in smart leasing contracts, compliance automation, and shared ULD data across partners. But both firms agree the future lies in platform connectivity, where ULD systems talk to airport, airline, and freight systems in real time.
Looking forward, the market is moving towards digital twins, automated damage detection, and fully autonomous ULD flows powered by robotics and AI. “We’re already seeing airlines increase capacity or reduce their ULD fleets through smart management,” Jacobsen said. “That’s the power of digital logistics.”
