Last year the US Airforwarders Association (AfA) scored a victory in its long-running battle to secure cargo infrastructure upgrades at airports.
The association still has a long way to go in order to secure the funding but when Air Cargo News met with the AfA’s executive director Brandon Fried he was positive about the development.
He says that last year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) re-authorisation legislation included a requirement for the General Accountability Office (GAO) to carry out a study on the need to invest in cargo facilities at airports to tackle truck waiting times.
Fried explains that the GAO had got to work right away.
“We view this as a win for air cargo and airfreight forwarding stakeholders, we view as a win for not only the AfA, but for the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), our partners in this.
“It is also a win for our government advocates who have been up on Capitol Hill diligently working to make sure this happened.
Fried says that the lack of cargo infrastructure investment means trucks wait for two to three hours at some airport terminals to drop off and pick up cargo.
This causes delays and ultimately pushes up the cost the shipping goods.
“I think they’ll see what’s at stake and the reality that is this delaying, not only commerce, but essential shipments, like medical supplies and organ transplants.”
The study will serve as a “springboard” for legislation that will request $4bn-$6bn in funding for airports that want to work on projects specifically related to cargo.
To gain the funding, airports will need to submit proposals to regional boards comprised of local and state governments and politicians.
“We’re hoping that we can catch up on 40 years of inattentiveness to what these airports needed in the cargo areas.
“And most of all, we’re hoping that people will start giving credibility and credit to the cargo side of the business that often goes unsung. So we’re very enthusiastic.”
One type of project that Fried envisages being developed through the funding is the implementation of truck slot booking systems to better manage the flow of trucks arriving at airports.
“Our thought is that when you have an appointment setting platform, you create some order in the trucks,” he says.
“You won’t have the 53 ft tractor trailer that just rolls up and goes to see if the cargo is ready, backing up cargo onto the interstate highway in the process.
“We’re also hoping for improvements in infrastructure, buildings, roads, labour and training.”
