What is e-Freight?

What is e-Freight?
In 2004, IATA introduced ‘e-Freight’: paperless, standardised air cargo transport, aimed at freeing the air cargo process of paper documents. 

How does e-Freight work? By replacing paper with digital documents throughout the supply chain, at all levels from shippers, forwarders and export customs to carriers, import customs, forwarders and receivers. Documents are sent in a ‘digital pouch’ (which includes all documents normally sent in a pre-alert message!). Each party receives only those documents it needs. In 2010, 20 of the 30 required documents can already be sent digitally.

What does it mean?

For a shipper:

• Use standards for letter of instruction, commercial invoice, certificates
• Send electronic data to forwarder
• Often supported by ERP (SAP !)

For a forwarder:

• Use standard for house and master AWB
• Send message for master (FWB) to carrier
• Create e-pouches with shipper documents and standards for the house AWB and send this to forwarder at destination

For a carrier:

• Use the FWB in warehouse management process
• Create correct manifest (FFM; summary of cargo on board)

For customs:

• Worldwide customs is moving towards e; using electronic documents
• Messages are sent to customs by forwarders and by carriers

• IATA e-Freight