IT\\\


FullScreen View


By Marcia Macleod


Air group calls for security standardisation


Effective electronic communication and automation are key to the success of the airfreight industry. Organisations such as the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG), Cargo 2000 and the Airline Services Association are all working towards harmonisation of standards and better integration between cargo service providers, airlines, airports and other bodies. GACAG has called for a


standard Consignment Security Declaration (CSD) which would be adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, World Customs Organisation and national regulators. Acceptance of a standard CSD in electronic format would improve efficiency, reduce paper, enhance communication and speed transmission, it said. The CSD has already been adopted as IATA Recommended Practice 1630. GACAG has also recommended


that standardised information included in the CSD be limited to five critical elements: identification of who secured the cargo and ensured maintenance of its integrity during


loading; information on the content of the consignment;


information


on the cargo’s security status (for example, whether it can be loaded on passenger aircraſt); name of the authorised person who issued the security status; and country-specific requirements, such as known- shipper regulations. In


addition to lobbying


international organisations, GACAG members are calling for collaboration in designing


an


electronic airwaybill and electronic customs procedures. “The future for our industry and


for the individual businesses that take part in the global air cargo supply chain depends on our ability to provide the best possible service,” says Bill Gottlieb, chairman of the GACAG E-Commerce Task Force. “The transportation of air cargo still involves the significant production, exchange and handling of paperwork, which is not the most efficient process for our industry.” The Airline Services Association has set up an ASA Cargo Council to


represent handlers on GACAG and bring the experience and advice of its handler members to the greater air cargo community. The ASA, headed by Martin Meyer,


is


also setting up an e-procurement platform to allow handlers to buy equipment from their colleagues. Although ASA members deal with all aspects of ground services, the platform will include cargo-related equipment, such as forkliſt trucks. Meanwhile, Cargo 2000 is to


launch a new version of its Master Operating Plan


later this year.


Although details have not been announced, Mattijs ten Brink, chairman, has indicated that it will allow non-members to download the MOP in order to improve service standards in the industry. “We are confident that this will


lead to greater recognition of the value that Cargo 2000 brings to quality programmes and ultimately increase membership of the group as companies choose to access the full range of benefits enjoyed by our members,” he says.


Shedding light on supply chain blind spot


Freight service providers in the US are increasingly relying on technology to increase visibility of


last mile container delivery.


Although on the surface, moving a container from factory or warehouse to port or rail terminal, or vice-versa, seems quite straightforward, a survey by the Aberdeen Group has revealed that many consider the last mile as a blind spot in the supply chain. The survey - Intermodal


Optimization - Enhancing Last Mile Visibility and Execution - found nearly half of the respondents were not always able to coordinate equipment and container movements, track containers or return them to the port designated by the container owner.


“Although intermodal users can


be characterised as early adopters of


automated data exchange,


compared with single mode users, only 57% have the visibility and tools in place to manage last mile execution,” says Bob Heaney, senior research analyst, supply chain management, at Aberdeen.


The


problem is due to the numerous parties involved in controlling first and last mile deliveries to and from distribution centres. Shippers tend to use more carriers and 3PLs than they do in Europe. IAS, which commissioned the


survey, believes it has the answer in its IAS Dispatch, launched late last year. The soſtware, available as a pay-as-you-go solution accessed over the internet, is designed to


enable shippers, rail, ocean and road carriers and forwarders or other 3PLs to talk to each other more easily.


A free service aimed at


facilitating better and easier communication in the haulage industry has been launched in the UK. EcoHaulage joins the long list of haulage exchanges - but this one’s unique selling point is the concentration on CO2 emissions. EcoHaulage uses Google Maps


and DVLA CO2 ratings to calculate the CO2 emissions of every journey. “By increasing back loads and vehicle productivity, a haulier can save huge amounts of CO2,” says managing director Justin Roberts.


Logical!


When we started looking for a new system, the one thing we valued most highly was a good integrated job costing system. But we also wanted to produce documentation, do customs entries, produce quotes and handle sales enquiries. Forward Computers offered all that - plus the best training and support to get us up and running in the shortest possible time.


Geoff Hogg, Managing Director, Unsworth Global Logistics


Speak to the freight software experts today call +44 (0)115 938 0280 or email sales@forwardcomputers.co.uk


www.forwardcomputers.co.uk K9890_fbj 70x133-aw.indd 1 06/09/2011 09:47


As one might expect from an industry that is always on the move, freight companies are increasingly turning to mobile applications to keep track on their cargo. Luſthansa Cargo’s smartphone tracking application is now being used by more than 3,000 customers, encouraging the airline to plan new mobile solutions later this year. IAG Cargo - the joint British


Airways/Iberia cargo company - also allows customers to track and


Issue 2 2012 Apps for all


trace air freight from their iPhones and Androids, while ocean freight customers can track consignments shipped with Safmarine and Evergreen via their mobile devices. Yusen Logistics has upgraded


its mobile application to allow customers to access their personal supply chain data via an individual secure log- in. They can view details or purchase orders and customs clearance details and track


39


specific shipments for air, sea, road and rail shipments.


Cargo security for new World Trade Center


Electronics firm OSI Systems’ security division, Rapiscan Systems, has signed a contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to provide cargo and


parcel screening operations for the new World Trade Center. Under the $15 million contract, Rapiscan’s Eagle series of high-energy cargo inspection equipment


will use Rapiscan’s proprietary transmission X-ray technology to detect potential threats and will also include integrated radiation and nuclear detection capabilities.


GT Nexus hires sales chief


Supply chain platform provider GT Nexus has hired Jason Zintak as executive vice president of global sales. He brings 20 years of experience in enterprise soſtware sales and sales management and most recently led the global sales


and marketing organization for JDA Soſtware. Chairman and CEO of GT


Nexus Aaron Sasson said: “The demand for cloud-based supply chain management technology is growing tremendously as


companies realise that cloud is the only efficient means by which to manage complex global supply chains. Adding Jason to our team will ensure we are well-positioned to continue as the dominant leader in this market.”


Impatex changes its spots


Impatex Computer Systems is changing its name to Impatex Freight Software to reflect the fact that


it has not supplied


computer hardware for over ten years. It says the new name better reflects its mainstream activities of developing, supplying and supporting Customs and freight forwarding software.


Impatex currently provides


two products: ICE (Integrated Customs


for Europe) is


a heavyweight Customs processing solution aimed at major ‘corporate’ forwarders handling large


volumes Customs clearances. ICE


of is


progressively replacing the market-leading


Customs Manager system which handles


over 50% of all frontier entries in the UK, and large volumes of inland clearances. NetFreight meanwhile is


Impatex’s browser-based combined forwarding, Customs, warehousing and CRM system, which caters for small- and mid- size users. NetFreight is now in use with almost 100 forwarders in the UK and US.


FORWARD FOR 25 YEARS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44