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i would like to set up my own freight forwarding business(home base) more like an freight agent. how do go about :
1.Airway bills %26 BL's (do i need to put up some kind of deposit)
2.is there a standard contract for FOB.
Dear,
Many thanks for your question. Full fledged freight forwarding, in its traditional sense, is quite a complex business where you need to be able to provide logistical needs, i.e. all activities involving inventory management/movements etc. If you are looking at just setting up basic shop-front type of operation, to get the airwaybill stock from an airline you need to be an accredited agent. Best accreditation is IATA membership which certifies your meeting certain minimum standards required in preparing the cargo "ready for carriage". To answer your question, yes, generally there have to be financial guarantees to obtain airwaybill stock unless you participate thru CASS (Cargo Airline Settlement System) in the UK (different countries have different requirements as far as financial guarantees are concerned).
The carriage of cargo is governed by the "conditions of carriage" for air transportation of air cargo. You can find a copy of the standard conditions at the following site (Emirates SkyCargo): http://www.skycargo.com/Misc/conditions/conditions1.asp I am not aware of any standard contract for FOB activities. This will all depend on the services that the customer requires.
Trust I have been able to answer your query to your satisfaction.
Best regards,
Ram Menen
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Ram C.Menen
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RAM C. MENEN Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, Emirates Airline Ram Menen is Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, Emirates Airline. He began his career in aviation in 1976 at Kuwait Airways. He later moved to British Airways to head its cargo operations in Kuwait. In 1984, he joined the Kuwaiti aviation group Alghanim Al Qutub Shipping Agencies, to set up and manage its airfreight-forwarding unit in Dubai. Mr. Menen has headed the cargo division of Emirates since the inception of the airline in October 1985. Trained as an engineer, he spearheaded the conceptualisation and development of the LD-36 (AMF) type of ULD (Unit Load Device) which increased usable space on each lower deck pallet base by 33 per cent. He is one of the founder members of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the premier organisation for the entire air logistics business, serving as Vice President in 1993 and 1994, and as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board in 1995 and 1996. He continues to be involved with TIACA as Trustee and member of the Presidents' Council. Mr. Menen is the current chairman of the IATA’s Cargo Committee and is also involved in advisory capacity with several organizations. He has been a resolute champion of air logistics industry and is actively involved in the development of various IT initiatives to address the needs of the industry. He has helped focus attention on cargo as an integral part of the world trade process. In November 2007, Mr Menen was adjudged “Personality of the Year (Air Cargo Industry)” at the Second Annual Middle East Logistics Award (MELA 2007). He was inducted into the “Lloyd’s FTB Asia Hall of Fame” at the Asia Logistics Awards in October 2006 and into the TIACA’s “Hall of Fame” in April 2005, in recognition of his efforts and contributions to the air cargo industry and for his achievements as head of Emirates’ cargo division. In October 2003 he received the 2003 “International Ai Cargo Achievement Award” from The World Trade Centre Miami for “Excellence in Promoting East-West Trade”. In In December 2002, Air Cargo News, USA named him “Cargo Executive of The Year”. In March 2000, Mr Menen was recognized for his efforts with a “Special Achievement Award” by the International Freighting Weekly (IFW) November 2007
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