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Cargo 2000-Get Use to it

By Don Dovgin

Shippers tiring from the relentless rigor of tracking airfreight shipments will get piece of mind by choosing organizations that are Cargo 2000 (C2K) certified. Many people are unfamiliar with C2K, but for those shippers that adopt the process will find their shipments will move faster, better and will receive shipment status in real time. What is C2K anyway?

Cargo 2000 is an IATA interest group that is self funded and was formed by a core group of airlines and freight forwarders that want to provide better service to their customers. Their mission is quite simple; "to implement processes, backed by quality standards that are measurable and supported by data thereby improving the efficiency of air cargo, enhancing customer service levels and reducing operational costs".

Currently the average airfreight shipment goes through 40 steps to get from the point of origin to destination. C2K cuts that in half by simplifying procedures and migrating to new technologies. Think of C2K as the ISO 9000 of the airfreight industry. Eventually, shippers will be asking carriers "Are you Cargo 2000 compliant"? C2K focuses on measurement, performance and customer satisfaction. C2K's unique route map system is the key.

Every shipment is given specific routing instructions based on the customer's requirements. As it moves through the handling process, any exception to the specified routing instructions automatically alerts the customer, thereby giving them an accurate status 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This minimizes the burden of shippers requiring full-time track and trace people just to make sure shipments are moving as booked.

Carriers that become C2K certified benefit because Cargo 2000 provides the framework for a fully integrated supply chain information flow. It allows for standardized interfaces, messages and above all, connectivity will create a truly seamless information flow based on real time information. That's great for the carriers because everyone employs the same methodology for servicing the customer.

Shippers benefit because it gives them the internal information that they have always been trying to get to find out what's really going on with their shipments. In addition, they are also given key performance indicators that show what the carrier's on-time dependability rating is as it compares to how they request their products to be moved. The benefits brought to the industry did not come without hard work.

Relentless efforts by people such as Project Director, Ron Cessana, Danzas AEI Co-Chair Guenter Rohrman and newly elected Chairman of C2K and VP Cargo for United Airlines, Roger Gibson. They expect to have Cargo 2000 certification in place in over 38 gateways worldwide by 2003. This quality process system is swiftly becoming the new standard for airfreight movement, and we should embrace it with open arms. Face it everybody, Cargo 2000 is here; get use to it.

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