FIATA - International Federation of Forwarding Associations

Role and Objectives

FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, represents an industry of thousands of forwarding and logistics firms, employing millions of dedicated people in 150 countries. FIATA has consultative status with world forums such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

This logo is recognised as representing the freight forwarding industry by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Union of Railways (UIC), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other influential bodies.

Visit FIATA's website

FIATA's major objectives are to:

• unite the freight forwarding industry worldwide
• represent, promote and protect the interests of the industry by participating as advisors or experts in meetings of international bodies dealing with transportation
• familiarise trade and industry and the public at large with the services rendered by forwarders through the dissemination of information
• improve the quality of services rendered by forwarders by developing and promoting uniform forwarding documents, and trading conditions
• assist with vocational training, liability insurance problems, and tools for electronic commerce, e.g. EDI and barcodes.

FIATA Membership

With FIATA being an Association of Freight Forwarding Associations, it is not surprising that, in the South African context, SAAFF is the FIATA member. We are known as an ordinary (association) member, that represents the entire forwarding sector of a country. An ordinary member holds the right to present motions, make nominations and vote.

Another category of member is the individual member, who is simply a forwarding and logistics enterprise. To be entitled to be an individual member of FIATA, a company must be a member of the country's ordinary/association member.

Individual FIATA Membership

There are many good reasons to become an individual member of FIATA -

• FIATA Members Directory

Your business will be listed with full contact details in the worldwide unique Members Directory on the FIATA website.  The list of qualified freight forwarders and logistics providers is continually updated and may be freely vied – by carriers, agents, etc.!

• Advertisements in the FIATA Members Directory

Only members of FIATA have the option to advertise their services in the Members Directory on the FIATA website

• FIATA Review

As an individual member kof FIATA you will receive the ‘FIATA Review’ 5 times a year and will be informed directly of the upcoming activities, congress programmes and events.

• FIATA Publications and Article

World renown FIATA publications – Code of Abbreviations, Glossary on Transport and Forwarding Terms, FIATA Documents and Forms, Legal Handbook on Forwarding, The Law of Freight Forwarding, as well as various articles will be available to you at discounted prices.

• The FIATA Arbitration Court

FIATA offers individual members the arbitration court rules which allow disputes between freight forwarders a quick, simple and inexpensive way of dispute settlement

• Obtaining Legal Advice

Through the local member associations, FIATA is able to recommend, if necessary, attorneys specialized in transport and logistics law.

• FIATA Logo

Individual members are permitted to use the FIATA Logo as a sign of quality assurance on all printed material, business cards and transport vehicles.  There is a restriction of the use of the Logo on transport documents.

Application forms may be downloaded from the FIATA website and must be countersigned by SAAFF.

Apply for FIATA's membership

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