www.bifa.org


Robert Keen’s Column


BIFAlink


BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266 Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org (A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 391973. VAT Registration: 216476363)


Director General Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Mike Jones m.jones@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Training Development Manager Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Administration Controller Jane Robinson j.robinson@bifa.org


Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, Mike Jones, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Pawel Jarza


Regional Consultants to BIFA Scotland and the Borders Len Hobbs: bifa.scot@gmail.com Northern Ireland Carson McMullan: carsonconluce@aol.com Midlands and the North Paul Young: youngyes@aol.com London West and the South West Colin Young: young_colin.t21@btinternet.com Anglia, London East and the South East Paul Newman: paul@pnauk.com


Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.


November 2018


A great year for the next generation


Looking back on 2018, I did not realise in January what a great year it was going to be for the next generation of freight forwarders. Whilst we were steadily working on supporting the Trailblazer apprenticeship, its full impact was not immediately apparent but the uptake we are now seeing in new industry recruits is greatly encouraging. Furthermore, we have been able to introduce a new category in the BIFA Awards of Apprentice of the Year. This will offer encouragement for those at the start of their careers and we are grateful for apprentice provider Outsource for its sponsorship.


The ‘jewel in the crown’ in terms of the next generation is of course the TT Club/FIATA Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year award presented to Louis


Perrin of Hemisphere Freight Services at the FIATA World Congress in New Delhi. Louis received his award in front of over 1,000 global delegates and it capped a great week for him when he spoke professionally to audiences at Congress forums. Although Louis achieved the award purely on his own efforts, BIFA received a great many plaudits from our peer associations.


So now we start again with this year’s BIFA Young Freight Forwarder competition. It is always the most


difficult of competitions for the independent judges to decide as any of the finalists could win it and it is often personal demeanour on the day that is the deciding factor. It now becomes the goal of all of our apprentices and younger freight forwarders to emulate Louis.


The problems initially caused by a new IT system at Felixstowe have seen knock-on problems at


Southampton as well. Although a number of sailings have been diverted to Liverpool, the key problem facing BIFA Members is the lack of haulage. One shipping line recently said to a BIFA Member that it was short of 100 vehicles a day and the forwarder should consider merchant haulage. The forwarder pointed out that if the line could not secure vehicles, where was he supposed to conjure them up from? We know that BIFA Members diligently book transport up to 14 days in advance, only to have the booking cancelled the day before it is due. Shocking service with no compensation, and lines and ports seeming to brush aside the problems. We understand that some firms are considering a class action.


As Brexit approaches we have received a number of enquiries concerning possible changes to the BIFA


Standard Trading Conditions (STC). The revision of the 2005A set of STC was conducted after the result of the referendum was known and the BIFA Legal and Insurance Policy Group considered possible legislative changes. However, it could not see a need to allow for anything Brexit related. Some BIFA Members have questioned the reference to an EU Directive in the preamble that deals with Customs Representation, but there is wording to cover the exit from the EU where it states, “or as amended”.


Sad news has reached me of the deaths of two stalwarts of the Institute of Freight Forwarders. Former Humber Chair Mike Smith passed away in September. Mike was with the local committee for many


years and joined the Board of BIFA in the late 1990s. Mike started with Ellerman Wilson Line and worked for a number of companies, including Humbair Agencies, before starting his own firm, Lincs Freight.


Also in September, we lost Michael Ackerley who was a prominent Institute of Freight Forwarders member,


like his father Graham before him. The family business Benjamin Ackerley & Son was a very old established liner agency and freight forwarder. It acquired Gibbons Freight and Brown Geveke (another liner agent) in 1982 before selling to Powell Duffryn in 1984.


Robert Keen Director General


3


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