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RFS Collaboration and Digital Innovations: Building a Sustainable Future for Air Cargo
At the ACHL event in Istanbul 29-31 October, hosted by Eva Media International, the air cargo industry gathered as usual but this time, a significant first was introduced: a Road Feeder Service (RFS) forum and panel discussion. This fresh spotlight on RFS highlighted its essential role in extending air cargo networks and supporting timely delivery through efficient transfers between airports and regional destinations. Yet, despite its importance, RFS faces critical challenges that are under-discussed but deeply impact the efficiency and sustainability of air cargo operations.
RFS The “Flight on Wheels” Air cargo Backbone and their challenges
RFS essentially acts as the “flight on wheels” that connects distant regions to central hubs, ensuring that goods flow seamlessly across extended networks. By doing so, RFS extends the reach of air freight, crucial for time-sensitive shipments. However, RFS operations encounter several ongoing obstacles that limit their service efficiency and add to operational costs. Issues such as visibility gaps, congestion at handling sites, strict slot booking requirements, and inconsistent security and facility standards undermine the reliability and competitiveness of the air cargo sector.
Visibility Constrains
Visibility remains a major challenge in coordinating RFS movements for transit shipments. Traditional scheduling is based on service level agreements (SLAs) between airlines and handling agents, but these timelines often fall short. Delays in cargo availability can range from 8 to even 24 hours due to handling backlogs. This lack of predictability drives a need for constant communication between trucking companies, handlers, and airlines to track cargo, consuming time and resources.
Congestion at Handling Locations
With the rise of e-commerce and air cargo demand, congestion at cargo handling facilities has become a growing issue. Without clear visibility of incoming truck movements, handling agents struggle to manage capacity, often resulting in traffic jams or even operational “meltdowns” that require external traffic control intervention. These delays disrupt time-sensitive shipments and complicate logistical planning.
Slot Booking and the Challenge of Scheduling Rigidity in Trucking
Slot booking systems are designed to streamline the flow of truck arrivals, reducing congestion and optimizing loading and unloading operations. However, the rigid structure of these systems—often with narrow 15- to 30-minute windows—can create significant challenges for international truck drivers who face unpredictable travel conditions. Delays due to weather, traffic, or customs can make these precise windows difficult to meet, and missing a scheduled slot often means rebooking, leading to costly delays and logistical headaches.
For the trucking and freight industry, these issues are especially pronounced when cargo is scheduled for connecting flights, as delays in arrival slots can disrupt well-coordinated schedules, ultimately affecting overall delivery timelines. Road Feeder Service (RFS) providers, in particular, grapple with varied slot booking systems across different regions, each with unique standards and requirements. This lack of consistency not only complicates scheduling but also adds to operational costs, as stakeholders must navigate a complex web of booking rules and processes to ensure timely deliveries. Efforts to make slot booking systems more flexible and aligned with the realities of cross-border trucking could greatly enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve reliability for all parties involved in the logistics chain.
Lanyard and ID Accessibility
While security is paramount, RFS operations are hindered by inconsistent lanyard and ID requirements across airports. In some cases, multiple ID cards are required, creating a burden for drivers who must manage them all. Similarly, while mobile apps are available for pre-announcing arrivals, the lack of standardization across these tools often leaves drivers uncertain about which app to use.
Limited Driver Facilities at Airports
Driver well-being is fundamental to a sustainable RFS operation, yet airport facilities for drivers are often lacking. Limited parking areas, inadequate rest facilities, and long wait times create a challenging environment for drivers, making it harder to recruit and retain talent in this field. By providing appropriate facilities, airports can help alleviate these issues, supporting the sustainability of RFS.
Moving Forward: Collaboration and Leadership in RFS
Addressing these issues requires collective effort across the air cargo ecosystem. While each stakeholder, truckers, handlers, airlines and airports, plays a role in improving operational efficiency, the key question is: who should drive the alignment of digital innovation with air cargo sustainability?
For RFS to meet its potential as a sustainable link in air cargo, industry-wide collaboration is essential. Although individual stakeholders, trucking companies, handlers, and airports, are working to address specific issues within their control, a unified strategy is crucial to truly optimize efficiency and reliability across the air cargo chain.
Given that airlines bear the responsibility for delivering shipments from origin to final destination, they are well-positioned to lead this charge. Airlines should champion collaboration, pushing for adherence to industry protocols that ensure seamless connectivity, robust data sharing, and secure digital ID verification, all of which can reduce inefficiencies across global air transport. Moreover, as airlines pay for airport slots, handling services, and road feeder operations to deliver their shippers obligations under the contract of carriage, they have the authority to select partners aligned with these standards. This makes them natural leaders in shaping a cohesive and sustainable air cargo network.
Therefore a minimum set of “operating “requirements, which also include the connectivity with new industry standards, will perfectly fit into the scorecard validation for vendors before routes and required business partners are contracted. Airlines, as the parties ultimately responsible for end-to-end shipment delivery, have a unique role in driving this collaboration. By promoting adherence to industry standards and supporting data-sharing initiatives, airlines can help bridge gaps across the network, creating smoother, more efficient operations globally.
By driving collaboration, airlines can promote seamless connectivity, data sharing, and secure digital ID verification. This alignment reduces inefficiencies, boosting sustainability and helping to create a cohesive air cargo network.
Setting Minimum Operational Standards
For optimal results, a set of baseline operating standards should be established. These standards, which would include compliance with new industry digital protocols, can guide airlines in selecting vendors that align with RFS requirements. This standardized approach would not only simplify logistics but also enhance service consistency and predictability.
Embracing Digital Solutions and Industry Standards
Several digital initiatives are already making strides to transform the air travel and air cargo space, such as:
By adopting these standards, the industry can foster a more interconnected and efficient logistics network, ultimately making air cargo a more reliable and sustainable transportation option.
Food for thought
The path to a sustainable future for RFS and air cargo lies in unified collaboration and digital transformation. With airlines at the helm, the industry can implement protocols and adopt digital standards that drive efficiency, cut costs, and reduce environmental impact. Through these changes, RFS can continue to be the “flight on wheels” that keeps global cargo moving smoothly, building a sustainable future for Air Cargo and increasing the competetiveness of the air cargo product.
CARGOHUB BV
Raoul Paul | CEO
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