ORD cargo
recovery.

The forwarder sends the air waybill and shipment details, dispatch confirms which handler or CFS holds the freight and that it has released, and a vehicle is committed: within two hours of acceptance for urgent recoveries, at the coordinated time for scheduled ones, 24/7. The freight then moves dedicated and direct to delivery with proof of delivery at close.

The major on-airport handlers at ORD include Alliance Ground International (which absorbed Maestro International Cargo and operates buildings on Patton Drive and Express Center Drive), Worldwide Flight Services, Swissport, and United Cargo at Building 630 (operated with FARO Cargo Handling Solutions), alongside off-airport container freight stations such as Global CFS. The handler for a given shipment depends on the airline; dispatch confirms the exact building from the air waybill and recovery instructions.

There is no single ORD rule; free time is set by the airline and handler. General cargo commonly gets 24–48 hours of free time. Once it expires, storage often starts at a $150–$300+ minimum per shipment, with published rates around $0.55–$0.78 per kilogram per day at some major ORD operations. Temperature-controlled, dangerous goods, and perishable cargo generally get less free time and higher charges, which is why the cheapest recovery is the prompt one.

Yes, where the facility supports release, and it varies by handler: Swissport lists 24/7 operations and Global CFS runs 24/7/365, WFS has weekend and shift coverage with cargo-specific release to verify, and AGI after-hours release depends on the building and airline. BEExpedite dispatch runs 24/7 and confirms current hours, release status, and access before the driver rolls.

A master air waybill showing “arrived” does not mean the freight is ready: it may still be waiting on breakdown, transfer to the import warehouse, customs release, or the handler actually making it available. The questions that matter are whether it is customs released AND physically ready for pickup, what the last free day (LFD) is, and the exact recovery location. Domestic freight is simpler: flight arrives, the handler unloads, and the freight is typically ready shortly after handling is complete.

The last free day is the final day a shipment can be recovered before the handler starts charging storage. At ORD, general cargo commonly gets 24–48 hours of free time from availability. When a forwarder calls saying the LFD is tonight, dispatch treats it as a hard deadline: details and release are confirmed, and a vehicle is committed within the two-hour window when the freight needs it.

The usual culprits are freight that hasn’t actually released, missing paperwork at the dock, and drivers sent to the wrong building. Confirming the exact facility, release, and documents before committing the vehicle removes all three, which is how response times stay reliable.

Yes. Recoveries are also supported at Chicago Rockford (RFD) and Midway (MDW) within BEExpedite’s Midwest service area of up to 500 miles.