The Forwarder - CIFFA.com

CIFFA SubmitsRecommendations on Canada’sRail Freight ServiceLast month, on behalf of itsMembers, CIFFA preparedand offered a submission forconsideration by theTransport Canada Rail FreightServices Review Panel. Thefull document with a detaileddiscussion of issues isavailable on TransportCanada’s website and atwww.ciffa.com. Theassociation thanks all ofthose Members whocontributed to theinformation gatheringprocess – whether by e-mailor through the extensivetelephone interviews weconducted.… The efficient and effective operation of anintermodal rail system is critical to sustainingand growing the position of Canada’s internationaltraders in a highly competitive globalmarketplace.Freight forwarders play a vital role in expeditingthe movement of an estimated 70% ofCanada’s containerized cargo throughoutCanada and around the world. Some 2.94million TEUs, the equivalent of approximately1.5 million forty-foot ocean containers aremanaged by international freight forwardingfirms. This role provides the freight forwardingsector with unique oversight and perspectiveof the entire intermodal system and of its performance.A recent survey of member companies coastto coast identified a wide ranging number ofsimilar issues, observations and recommendations.Go forward recommendations/solutionsto improve the rail system andreconnect it with the larger whole, however,focused on three areas – performance standards,an integrated tracking system, andrail infrastructure.Performance StandardsThe first observation is that Canada’s intermodalfreight system is intermodal in nameonly. The whole system – drayage, terminal,rail, port, steamship line – lacks oversight andconnectivity and fails to operate as a system.The railways in this context operate as a silos,cont’d on page 65The Forwarder April 2010