News
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations known as FIATA has announced that it is time for the world's container shipping lines to provide greater clarity on the ever increasing variety of surcharges that they apply.
Robert Keen, chairman of FIATA's Multimodal Transport Institute, says that forwarders are accustomed to currency and fuel surcharges, but need more transparency for other surcharges, often with questionable names and purposes, that are charged to freight forwarders.
Keen said, ''In the past, we have seen Administration Fees, Peak Season Surcharges, or ISPS-add on surcharges. Of late, we have had examples of container cleaning fees and container sealing fees, without any evidence of the expense actually being incurred.''
''It is time for freight forwarders to stop accepting at face value opaque and unjustified surcharges,'' he added.
