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Chairperson’s
Corner
6
Forward Magazine
Q
Summer 2016
Airforwarders Association
Christopher A. Connell
AfA Chairman
T
he AfA Advances the Forwarder
and Logistics Community
through Advocacy and Educa-
tion!! Many facets of our industries will
come together this June in Arizona for Air
Cargo 2016 –
Navigating THE Criti-
cal Changes.
It’s a great opportunity to
network with similar minded people in a
fun pro-business environment while trying
to learn something along the way.
Is E-Commerce going to change the face of
forwarding? Driverless trucks and Drones
are the wave of the future? What are the ef-
fects if oil gets back near $20.00 or $80.00
a barrel? Will the new living wage forever
change business? The US Economy is on
solid ground, isn’t it? Can the enforcement
of the IMO’s SOLAS (Safety of Life at
Sea) Maritime Container Verification of
gross weight prior to loading create delays
for ocean exports? Is the US infrastructure
around our ocean ports ready for mega
ships? Pending impact from the FDA –
Food Safety Modernization Act? Progres-
sive Export filing, while it sounds pro-
gressive. Do forwarders understand what
impact there might be to process and liabil-
ity? Will the TSA allow the use of 3rd party
K-9’s as an additional tool in the CCSF
box, helping industry better control rising
operational costs? Are their complications
to the FMCSA removing the existing safety
truck driver rating system in favor of a
single determination of fit or unfit? I can
go on and on be it Global, Local, State or
Federal issues that face our industry. It’s
not just about getting access to informa-
tion, it’s about swimming through the
miss-information, getting the most accu-
rate details and asking the questions so you
can best understand the options as business
people in the short, middle or long term.
Events such as Air Cargo 2016 is a pathway
the AfA and its fellow associations follow
to create dialog in one form or another.
Our persistence can lead to extraordinary
achievement!!
The AfA invites you to let us
know about your concerns no matter what
level of government as the odds are it is not
just your concern, it’s an industry issue.
I also urge that your organization takes
advantage of the educational opportuni-
ties through our webinars and forward the
AIRMAIL blast within your organizations.
In addition to Air Cargo 2016, your AfA
will be conducting a number of regional-
ized events so be sure to keep an eye out. I
urge you and your staff’s attendance. Just
remember, strength is in our numbers.
Collaboration is a good thing. Forward
Thinking! Global Focus!
“Persistence Leads to
Extraordinary Achievement”…..