How can the air cargo industry effectively manage regulatory trade compliance while maintaining operational efficiency, and what are their everyday challenges in achieving this balance?
Regulatory trade regulations are always evolving in the air cargo industry, demanding companies to stay alert and adaptable to ensure compliance. To navigate these changes effectively, it is crucial for companies to leverage advanced technologies.
Let’s face it, people can only retain so much information, so in order to have future growth and development, we must embrace the digital transformation and invest in sustainable practices as well as adapting to regulatory changes. It is not about replacing employees, but investing in talent development, continuous education and skills training; however, supporting the digital world will allow those employees to focus on solutions to drive growth and competitiveness.
What are the challenges and opportunities for women in the air cargo and logistics industry, and what steps can these industries take to promote gender inclusivity and diversity?
This topic is very important to me. I believe that women are underrepresented in the cargo and logistics industry. One key area that I have been focusing on is increasing women’s representation in industry events and panels.
For years, I have been actively involved in the AfA Women’s Networking event at the Air Cargo Conference, where we have had the privilege of hosting some amazing speakers. However, the lack of women speakers on other panels has been a concern. While it can be challenging to find dynamic expert speakers, it is crucial for women to be represented on these platforms to attract more women to the industry.
It’s evident that men tend to volunteer for speaking opportunities more frequently than women. To encourage gender diversity and empower women in air cargo leadership roles, it is essential to have that representation on stage. By showcasing women’s expertise and leadership, we can inspire and motivate other women to pursue careers in the industry.
In what ways are American air cargo companies demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability? How are they minimizing their ecological impact in their operations, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility?
I am always intrigued by efforts in the air cargo industry to help our environment. It’s great to see a larger focus on sustainability by U.S. based companies.
Asset-based carriers, including airlines, truckers, and more, are adopting sustainable practices like alternative fuel sources, route optimization, carbon offset programs, fleet modernization, load optimization, and enhanced ground operations. Collaboration will be crucial for driving these initiatives forward.
What technological advancements are significantly influencing the air cargo industry? How is the industry leveraging these changes to enhance efficiency and customer service?
The air cargo industry is evolving rapidly to meet the demands for faster delivery, enhanced reliability, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. Technological advancements are playing a pivotal role in transforming the sector, particularly through the electronic exchange of data. Donna Mullins aptly noted that “for every pound of freight that moves, five pounds of paperwork has to move with it,” highlighting the industry’s need to reduce paper usage and adopt innovative solutions like the e-AWB.
Digitization has revolutionized customer service by enabling real-time tracking, status updates, customs filing, and seamless communication among stakeholders through single platforms. These advancements not only streamline operations, resulting in a reduction of operational delays, but also empower companies to provide clients with more accurate and efficient services. Embracing technology is key to meeting the evolving needs of the air cargo industry and ensuring sustainable growth.
What proactive measures is the air cargo industry taking to strengthen security and safety? How is it responding to evolving global threats and challenges, ensuring the safety and security of its operations?
There are so many areas of security and safety in the air cargo industry. I’ll focus on cybersecurity because that has really been on top of the list for the past few years due to the increased amount of attacks in the air cargo industry. The transportation and logistics industry is a great target for hackers because of the number of parties interconnected across the globe. In 2021, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued regulatory directives to air cargo stakeholders and continue to update those directives. These directives include development of network policies and controls to ensure systems can continue to operate in the event an IT system has been compromised, access control measures to secure and prevent unauthorized access to critical cyber systems, implementation of continuous monitoring and detection policies and procedures to defend against, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats and anomalies that affect critical cyber system operations and application of security patches and updates for systems using risk based methodology. Utilizing digital systems that moves to the cloud is a good start.
There are various aspects of security and safety within the air cargo industry, with cybersecurity taking the forefront in recent years due to the surge in cyberattacks. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been proactive, issuing regulatory directives to air cargo stakeholders in 2021 and updating them regularly. These directives focus on network policies, access control measures, continuous monitoring, and application of security patches to safeguard critical cyber systems. Updating to digital systems in the cloud can be a crucial step in enhancing security measures. We are proactively moving in the right direction and need to continue with this progress.