Road Feeder Service (RFS)
A Road Feeder Service (RFS) is trucking used to move air cargo between airports — or between an airport and an off-airport cargo terminal — that operates as a substitute for a flight sector and travels under the air waybill. The truck is treated as a "flight" in the air-cargo system, with its own carrier code and schedule, so cargo can be trucked on part of its journey while remaining an air shipment.
RFS is widely used to connect airports to a hub without flying — for example trucking cargo from regional European airports to a major gateway for the long-haul flight — because it is cheaper and often as fast over short distances, and it extends an airline's network without adding flights. It requires bonded/secure trucking and proper documentation so the cargo keeps its air-cargo security status. RFS is an integral, often invisible, part of how air freight actually moves.
A surprising amount of "air freight" travels by road — RFS trucks feed cargo to hub airports under the air waybill, cheaper than short flights and extending airline networks without extra aircraft. Understanding RFS explains why a shipment shows a flight number that never flew, and matters for transit-time and security planning in air logistics.
Is road feeder service considered air cargo?
Yes — it moves under the air waybill as a substitute for a flight sector, keeping the cargo within the air-cargo system.
Why use RFS instead of flying?
Over shorter distances trucking to a hub is cheaper and often as fast, and it extends an airline's reach without operating extra flights.