Airforwarders are best understood as "travel agents for cargo" as they schedule the movement of cargo using other company's planes. Airforwarders can be very large businesses responsible for moving big shipments for companies like IBM or the Department of Defense, or small, family-owned companies that move cargo through their region. Airforwarders, who can also be referred to as freight forwarders or indirect air carriers (IACs), were traditionally responsible for organizing the travel of cargo from Point A to Point B. Today, however, airforwarders are tasked with the planning, oversight and responsibility for transporting companies' goods and products - anything from flowers and seafood to pallets of humanitarian supplies - from one end of the supply chain to the other. The parameters of this job include steps such as pick up of goods, customs clearance, transportation, warehousing, regulatory compliance and delivery.

What is the cargo shipping process like?

Companies who have a product that needs to be transported to a customer will generally contact a professional freight forwarder. Occasionally, the shipper will deliver the cargo directly to an air carrier for air transport. However, in most instances, the cargo is sent from shipper to the freight forwarder or IAC who works to manage the transportation logistics on behalf of the shipper. These forwarders play a vital oversight role in ensuring cargo is screened and secure. After delivery to the air carrier facility, the cargo is loaded and flown to the desired location. Air cargo is then transported either by freight planes or in cargo holds of passenger planes. Upon arrival, the cargo is delivered either to the consignee, or the IAC's agent at destination. The forwarders provide additional transportation, if necessary, and ensure a safe, efficient delivery of the cargo to the customer.

What kinds of cargo are shipped in passenger planes?

A wide variety of goods are shipped via air cargo - from organs for medical transplant to mail to live animals to manufactured goods. Passenger planes often specialize in "just-in-time" cargo, which consists of perishable items, such as live seafood, fresh flowers and human organs. "Just-in-time" cargo also refers to high-value items like computers and auto parts, where manufacturers rely on air cargo shipment to trim inventory costs to stay competitive in the global market.

What steps are in place to ensure cargo security?

Cargo is tracked from packaging to planes through a layered security system that is employed throughout the logistics management process. Since 2002, Indirect and Direct Air Carriers will only tender for carriage on passenger aircraft cargo from "Known Shippers" who have met federal regulations for safety. The layered approach of safety and security measures is constantly evolving to improve and meet emerging threats. The complex security process includes random inspections, canine explosive detection teams and validation of the IAC's through site inspections carried out by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to name a few.

What new security measures have been enacted since 9/11?

The Airforwarders Association was part of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, which offered more than 40 recommendations to TSA to bolster cargo security, including enacting regulations that included requiring advanced background checks for employees with unescorted access to cargo, profiling and checks of indirect air carriers, and the securing of cargo operations areas and transport vehicles. Forwarders have also worked to improve the Known Shipper process in partnership with TSA, through the development of more rigorous training programs and implemented background checks on employees.

Can the airforwarding industry ensure secure cargo?

Security is the first priority of our industry and we have worked diligently to ensure the safety of air cargo for decades. Forwarders take our security responsibilities very seriously. Those employed by airforwarding companies have security and hazardous material training courses that must be updated on a frequent basis. Forwarders are experienced professionals who maintain full control over cargo in secured facilities until it is delivered directly to the plane for transport.

So, how is all cargo screened currently?

Although 100 percent screening of all cargo is not technologically possible, we do support screening 100 percent of elevated-risk cargo. The Association is working with the TSA to develop a comprehensive system of security checks for cargo including random inspections of cargo, canine explosive teams, and cargo profiling tools to enable the inspection of 100 percent of elevated risk cargo.

What would be the economic impact of legislation that would require 100 percent screening?

With significant improvements in current screening technology, U.S. government experts have testified it would take roughly 9,000 new federal employees at a cost of over $700 million in the first year alone to inspect every piece of cargo at the top 135 airports that handle approximately 95 percent of all cargo on passenger aircraft. Since the technology is not readily available to screen every piece of cargo, this inspection will have to be by hand, further slowing the transportation of cargo. Experts from TSA and Congress have argued that this slow and tedious process would destroy the air cargo industry, increase costs for shippers moving freight to the point of near bankruptcy and cause immense financial pressure on an already struggling domestic airline industry.