CIFFA Means Business
Freight forwarders ensure that internationally traded goods are transported from their
point of origin
to their destination economically, on time and in good condition. The
process of designing and executing
these logistics requires negotiating rates with road,
rail, sea and air providers, creation of compliant
documentation and strict adherence
to ever-changing regulations. Executing on these processes
efficiently is critical
to business today.
For close to 60 years, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA),
which is
headquartered in Toronto, has established a high level of professionalism
within the freight forwarding
industry in Canada. Through the years, the Association
has grown from an intimate group of eight
Montreal freight forwarders to a national
organization of approximately 200 members with a well-defined
identity and is
today the ‘Voice of Freight Forwarding in Canada.’
Greater recognition of CIFFA and its members has been achieved through awards
such as the annual
Forwarders’ Choice Awards gala event held in each of the three
regional cities, Vancouver, Toronto and
Montreal. Several key initiatives developed
by the Association’s 18 committees and 17-member Board of
Directors deal with
critical issues in the industry sector. CIFFA members participate in government/
industry working groups such as those dealing with Advance Commercial Information
Marine and Air and the
Known Shipper regulations.
In addition to a code of ethics, members must adhere to the CIFFA Standard
Trading Conditions (STCs).
Updated in 2005, the STCs, first introduced in 1986,
spell out the responsibilities between freight
forwarders and their customers.
As freight forwarding is foremost a service industry, CIFFA has always recognized
that one of its prime
requirements is to provide Professional Development programs
to maintain standards of excellence. Doug
Burek, Director, Education says,
“We are a people business and we can only give excellence in customer
satisfaction
if we are knowledgeable and educated.”
CIFFA offers a Professional Education Program in Freight Forwarding, consisting
of two Modules taken
over two years. CIFFA modules and class materials, which
are sold worldwide, are considered the
prime-learning tool for many colleges in
Canada and freight forwarder associations in other countries.
The Professional Freight Forwarder designation program (PFF) has been designed
to recognize those
professional freight forwarders who demonstrate ongoing professional development, completion of the
Education Program and/or relevant industry experience.
Intensive, practical, half-day Professional Development Workshops provide member
employees with the
knowledge and tools they need to serve customers in our
global village.
Dangerous goods training from both the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
and the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) airfreight and ocean freight are
offered as well. Recently
CIFFA introduced to members an internet-based bilingual
IMO e-training program.
Another mandatory requirement for CIFFA members, since 1987, has been Errors and Omissions coverage in
their liability insurance in the amount of $250,000 per occurrence.
CIFFA monitors members’ compliance
with this standard, which is well above the
international norm.
The past 60 years have witnessed tremendous change for the freight forwarding
industry with the advent
of containerization, multimoldalism, strategic alliances and
integrated carriers and forwarders. To
safeguard the interests of the trading and transport community, CIFFA’s challenge is not only to monitor
the ever-changing world
marketplace but also to influence positively government regulatory and statutory
changes.
Its advocacy for these legislative modifications results in a proactive engagement
with organizations
such as Transport Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency
and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In
support of the Coalition for Secure and
Trade-Efficient Borders, CIFFA has been working with other
associations and member companies to ensure the Smart Border Accord between Canada and the U.S. will
deliver effective results.
To address issues that directly affect members on a daily, tactical and strategic level,
daily
e-bulletins have been an integral part to keeping members “in the know”. Some
2,000 professionals rely
on these electronic updates to stay current with news in the
global village.
Freight forwarders are global logistics providers with a thorough knowledge of every
mode of transport.
Playing an integral role in the supply chain, their skill set engulfs
a plethora of disciplines. For
CIFFA members and their customers, “CIFFA Means
Business.”
“We have achieved a lot this year and yet I can see that there is still a lot to be
done to move
forward,” Executive Director (at the time), George Kuhn said. “I also
know that this business continues to evolve and
it as dynamic as its people.”
May 2006
|