Member Resources: guidance and compliance
(Shared from The Forwarder Magazine, Fall 2024. View digital version.)
As part of its advocacy role, CIFFA aims to provide the most up to date guidance and information for members with regard to need-to-know operational information as well as compliance.
These documents are available to members in the online Resources section of the CIFFA website.
As a member of FIATA, CIFFA provided the FIATA Cybersecurity Essentials Guide – Navigating the Digital Landscape Safely, which was released in March, to equip members with the knowledge and resources necessary to fortify their businesses.
In today’s hyper-connected world, cyberattacks pose a significant risk to businesses, and in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This year, several of CIFFA’s internal committees combined efforts to develop resource documents for members.
In May 2024, CIFFA’s Technology committee combined efforts to research and publish an introductory guide to AI: Unlocking The Potential, An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
The guide highlighted the advancements of computer systems to perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. This document covers the different types of AI, subfields, when to use AI, guidelines to achieve the desired outcome and potential challenges to be aware of.
In partnership with Pledge, an organization that developed an MOU with CIFFA on Sustainability initiatives, CIFFA now offers a Carbon Calculator that members can use to start calculating freight emissions.
Users can simply enter the cargo details, origin and destination to get started. Once through to the full calculator, they can refine results by entering additional shipment data, transport legs, port calls, stopovers, transhipments, warehousing and more.
In August 2024, CIFFA’s Freight Broker committee assisted in drafting, along with legal counsel Gordon Hearn of Gardiner Roberts LLP, a Load Broker Service Agreement. This is a formal contract that outlines the terms and conditions under which the broker agrees to arrange for the transportation of goods on behalf of their customer. Additionally, the agreement incorporates CIFFA’s Standard Trading Conditions into the agreement.
In September, just prior to press time, CIFFA completed a Transportation Agency Agreement, at the disposal of members, which is a legal contract between a CIFFA member and a transportation service provider, who is appointed to act on behalf of the CIFFA member to manage or provide specific transportation-related services. This type of agreement outlines the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of both parties, and governs how transportation services will be carried.
Finally, members of CIFFA’s Sustainability Committee produced a comprehensive document on Social Sustainability, which outlines a collective commitment to fostering a socially sustainable environment. In an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of social sustainability cannot be overstated. It is the foundation upon which we build a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient society. Our goal is to ensure that we communicate specific actions and initiatives that are aligned with the principles of social sustainability—principles that emphasize fairness, equity, and respect for all individuals.
The social dimension of environmental, social and (corporate) governance (ESG) focuses on enhancing workplace culture and fostering stronger community connections. It encompasses promoting diversity, safeguarding human rights, advocating for gender equality, and supporting work-life balance. Social sustainability refers to the ability of a society to maintain or enhance the well-being of its members while simultaneously preserving the social, cultural, and economic systems that support them, now and in the future to meet the needs of current and future generations without compromising the ability of others to meet their own needs.
