Airforwarders Association Press Releases

• August 14, 2025

AIRFORWARDERS ASSOCIATION WARNS FREIGHT SLOWDOWN HIGHLIGHTS
RISING COSTS AND LIMITED SHIPPING OPTIONS

June 2025 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) down 0.4% from previous month, 0.5% below June 2024

Washington D.C, Thursday 14th August: Airforwarders Association today cautioned that a slowdown in freight volumes, reported in newly-released U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data, is another sign of mounting challenges for shippers facing fewer viable transportation options and rising supply chain costs.

The U.S. DOT’s Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 0.4% in June compared to May and was down 0.5% year-over-year.

“While the pandemic taught us the importance of supply chain agility, the current environment of shifting trade policies, tariffs, and regulatory changes has left shippers with fewer choices for moving goods,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association.

“Limited shipping options almost always lead to higher costs, costs that ultimately flow to American consumers.”

Fried emphasized that sudden changes to policy, such as tariff adjustments or de minimis threshold modifications, create ripple effects across all modes.

“When carriers or routes are no longer viable, shippers must pivot quickly, often to more expensive alternatives,” he said.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the June decline was driven by reductions in rail intermodal, rail carload, and trucking volumes.

Air freight and waterborne freight saw modest increases, while pipeline volumes were flat.

“Air freight continues to offer flexibility in times of disruption, but the broader freight network is showing signs of strain,” Fried said.

“Our members remain committed to finding solutions that keep goods moving efficiently, even in a marketplace with fewer and more expensive transportation options.”

The Airforwarders Association represents companies specializing in time-definite transportation and supply chain solutions, advocating for policies that maintain efficient, secure, and competitive freight networks.

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• August 4, 2025

• July 25, 2025

AIRFORWARDERS ASSOCIATION WELCOMES GOVERNMENT REPORT ON AIR CARGO INFRASTRUCTURE

PAVING THE WAY FOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT

The U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights the challenges of aging infrastructure, operational bottlenecks, data deficiencies, and lack of Federal engagement

Washington D.C., Thursday 24th of July 2025: The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has welcomed the release of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the nation’s airport air cargo infrastructure, which validates concerns raised repeatedly by AfA with legislators about the knock-on effects of inadequate investment and maintenance in this area.

The pivotal document, directly mandated by the FAA Reauthorization Law, validates long-standing industry concerns and follows AfA’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.

“The release of this GAO report marks a truly significant moment for the entire air cargo and logistics industry,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association.

“For years, we have highlighted the critical need for investment in our ground-based air cargo infrastructure. This report provides the irrefutable, government-backed evidence we need to drive real change and secure essential federal funding.”

The 82-page report’s initial findings strongly confirm the challenges faced by freight forwarders and stakeholders across the U.S. supply chain, highlighting;

Aging Infrastructure: A substantial portion of airport cargo facilities, including warehouses, truck areas, and aprons, are outdated and struggling to keep pace with modern operational demands and larger aircraft.

Operational Bottlenecks: The report clearly identifies how issues such as insufficient truck parking, poorly configured roadways, and crowded cargo aprons lead to costly congestion, delays, and inefficiencies across the supply chain.

Data Deficiencies: It highlights limitations in the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) air cargo data, hindering effective infrastructure planning and decision-making.

Lack of Federal Engagement: The report critically points out DOT’s insufficient engagement with air cargo stakeholders, underscoring a gap in understanding and addressing industry challenges.

The implications for industry stakeholders and U.S. commerce are profound. These infrastructure deficiencies directly contribute to increased freight forwarder costs, impede the timely flow of goods, and can diminish the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in the global marketplace.

The report’s findings underscore that, while air cargo is vital for high-value, perishable, and time-sensitive goods, its efficiency is severely hampered by inadequate ground support.

“This GAO report is more than just an analysis; it’s a critical tool that empowers the Airforwarders Association to intensify our efforts to seek dedicated Federal funding,” said Fried.

“Our goal is clear: to reduce airport truck lines, modernize facilities, and ultimately lower operational costs for our members, ensuring a more efficient and resilient supply chain for all U.S. commerce.”

On behalf of AfA, Fried extended his sincere gratitude to Government Relations Director Michael Taylor for his outstanding efforts in advocating for this report.

“We also thank our coalition partner, the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), and acknowledge all contributors to our 65-page briefing paper, especially the late Dan Muscatello, whose foundational insights were instrumental in making this report a reality,” said Fried.

AfA remains committed to working with policymakers and industry partners to leverage these findings into tangible improvements for the nation’s air cargo infrastructure.

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• May 14, 2025

FREEZE TARIFFS NOT TRADE CALLS AIRFORWARDERS ASSOCIATION’S BRANDON FRIED

The Airforwarders Association is calling for stability amid waves of import tariffs announced by the U.S. Government

Miami, U.S., Wednesday 14th May 2025: Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association (AfA) called upon the U.S. Government to freeze tariffs, not trade as the Trump administration’s trade negotiations continue, while speaking at this year’s CNS Partnership Conference in Miami.

“We understand that these tariffs were initially set to balance the trade deficit of foreign goods entering the U.S. and that tariffs are a commonplace mechanism of international trade,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director, the Airforwarders Association.

“The instability caused, however, by mass tariff implementation, negotiation, and bilateral agreements, as well as inevitable disputes over high rates has hit our industry, and we need to freeze tariffs, not our ability to trade.

“The expertise of our forwarders is being put to the test, as we are having to find solutions that can be obsolete in a matter of days or weeks.”

Since the beginning of 2025, the U.S. Government has announced wide ranging tariffs on almost all nations, starting with a 25 percent tariff on almost all Mexican and Canadian goods in February this year.

“We need to invest in our infrastructure and security,” continued Fried.

“Our ability to trade is crucial in today’s geopolitical landscape, and the U.S. transportation and logistics sector has always been a proud partner of U.S. industry, delivering our import and export capabilities globally.

“We are ready to work with the Trump administration to support this and most importantly to make sure the U.S. is open for business, both domestically and internationally.”

Fried addressed attendees at this year’s CNS Partnership Conference in Miami, Florida, as leading industry representatives met to discuss the latest industry issues and trends.

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• March 4, 2025

AIRFORWARDERS ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR CAUTION WITH TARIFFS IMPACTING U.S. BUSINESSES

The Airforwarders Association has met at AirCargo 2025 to discuss the issues that tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China may pose for U.S. economic growth

Dallas, Texas, USA, Tuesday March 4th 2025: Airforwarders Association (AfA) has called for caution with tariffs at a meeting of its members at its annual conference, AirCargo 2025, amidst the wave of unprecedented U.S. tariff announcements towards Canada, Mexico and China.

A flurry of proposed tariffs has hit the air logistics community, with fears mounting that this may cause problems for U.S. businesses while the logistics sector adapts to the new international trade landscape.

“We understand the political and economic reasoning behind the tariffs, but there must be stability to allow the logistics sector to plan and support U.S. businesses,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association.

“Overnight changes, as in the case of the proposed 25 percent Colombian tariff, are damaging to the supply chain.

“If reciprocal tariffs are put in place just as quickly, then a bilateral agreement may be harder to negotiate, and we risk placing ourselves in a position of import/export uncertainty.”

A survey conducted during the meeting revealed that 62 percent of AfA members are highly concerned about how the new wave of tariffs will affect their business operations.

“This could be trouble for the U.S. economy, for the American consumer, and for air freight forwarders’ businesses,” said Fried.

The conference also featured a panel discussion on changes to air cargo policy under the new Trump administration, where tariffs dominated the conversation, with multiple panelists arguing that the tariffs are punitive in nature and will likely trigger retaliatory measures from trading partners.

The Airforwarders Association have represented the North American logistics and supply chain industry in the U.S. since 1991.

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For all media inquiries, please contact Ann Crampton at acrampton@airforwarders.org.