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LATAM Cargo is first Americas airline to integrate IATA's DG AutoCheck

LATAM Cargo has become the first airline in the Americas to integrate IATA's DG AutoCheck solution for dangerous goods management directly into its core system to eliminate manual processes, shorten cargo acceptance times and ultimately improve safety. Through this integration, the system validates information in real time and automatically notifies customers of any discrepancy. This advance visibility is a key commercial advantage, as it enables inconsistencies to be corrected early and helps prevent delays to the planned shipping schedule, said LATAM Cargo. The digital tool automatically verifies that the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD) fully complies with IATA regulations. It also guides cargo acceptance agents through an interactive checklist, ensuring a standardized physical inspection of packaging and classification, reducing the risk of omissions and optimizing specialists' review time. Reusing this validated data also streamlines the automated creation of the Notification to Captain (NOTOC). By simplifying these administrative tasks, staff at the acceptance counter can focus on providing more personalized commercial support in critical service situations, while ensuring full digital traceability for every shipment and robust support for regulatory audits, stressed LATAM Cargo. Daniel Leng, vice president of operations at LATAM Cargo, said: "Being the first airline in the Americas to achieve this integration demonstrates our commitment to driving digitalization for our customers' benefit. We are not only prioritizing safety; we are also simplifying a complex process to give them valuable time back through a far more efficient operation for everyone." This solution was developed through close collaboration among the airline, IATA and Wipro. The technical team integrated the tool into Croamis, the company's core system. "LATAM Cargo's integration of DG AutoCheck into its core operational systems marks an important milestone in the digital transformation of dangerous goods handling," said Frederic Leger, IATA's senior vice president of products and services. "By enabling the seamless flow of validated data in compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and automating key processes, it enhances safety, operational efficiency and the customer experience by reducing acceptance rejections. "The integration with Croamis streamlines compliance verification, reduces manual processing and improves critical safety information, including the automated creation of the NOTOC. "This is a strong example of industry collaboration delivering tangible benefits for airlines, customers and the safe transport of dangerous goods." Following a successful launch at the Miami station, adoption of the technology will continue gradually across the network. Given the range of operating environments and cultures, the phased rollout allows the solution to be adapted to each location, ensuring consistent, robust value at every station brought online.

Asia-US East Coast spot rate climb stalls - but is it just a blip?

Indices appear uncertain how to price spot rates this week, but what seems clear is that the Asia-US East Coast trade's substantive growth trajectory of recent weeks has hit a bump - the question is whether this is a blip or something more transformative. According to Drewry's World Container Index (WCI), spot pricing on its Shanghai-New York routing dropped 2% week on week, hitting $9,333 per 40ft, while the traditionally more resilient Shanghai-LA route went from 9% growth last week to flat this week, at $6,818 per 40ft. Indications are that the east coast dip may have been something of a blip, Drewry noting it expects resilience in demand, and the ability of the carriers to manage capacity will mean "freight rates remain less volatile next week". However, sources questioned the logic, particularly with the push to resume Red Sea transits picking up; one source telling The Loadstar: "When that happens, there will be a surge of capacity on the market and rates will crash." Another source concurred, asking: "Why are carriers doing this? It has been their lifeline since the post-pandemic rates collapse, so if they are all going back to the Red Sea, we can surely expect to witness a massive drop off in rates." Not all indices agree and, offering a counterpoint to the negativity of the WCI, Freightos's FBX suggests that the Asia-US East Coast trade's growth rate may be slowing, but its numbers suggest pricing has yet to go into reverse. The FBX pointed out that growth on the trade was up 3% week on week, for an average of $9,576 per 40ft, and well ahead of the $5,073 the index put the pricing at just three months ago, with Asia-US West Coast up 1%, to $7,491 per 40ft. Linerlytica said: "East coast rates continue to outperform, with capacity remaining in short supply that has been worsened by compounding congestion at Chinese ports and tightening draught restrictions on the Panama Canal. "Transpacific demand continues to edge upwards, with the strength continuing into September, in contrast to the sluggish European demand where reduced capacity, with vessels pushed out of position, failed to lift rates." On Asia-Europe trades, the theme was one of continuity, with spot rates again falling. Shanghai-Rotterdam was 3% down week on week, to $4,287 per 40ft and Shanghai-Genoa down 2%, to $4,866 per 40ft. Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen said: "The post-peak slow downward slide continued for the seventh consecutive week. Over these weeks North Europe rates are down 13% and Mediterranean rates are down 25%." Drewry described the east-west container freight market as being "racked by uncertainty" amid the geopolitical and operational pressures that are continuing to reshape shipping routes - the issues in the Strait of Hormuz the most pronounced. Things are not being helped by low water levels along the Rhine. "We did have some rain this week, though," one source told The Loadstar. Consequently, Drewry advised shippers: "With carriers adjusting capacity through blanked sailings, shippers should book early and allow additional lead time to minimise rollover and transit-delay risks." Linerlytica added: "The difference in cargo strength is expected to last for at least one more month, with transpacific rates expected to hold at current elevated levels." One source active in the Asian markets told The Loadstar they were expecting much the same.

Most in logistics still can't make AI pay - the few that can think smaller

Key takeaway: BCG says just 13% of logistics firms see real returns from AI. But this week's crop of deployments suggests the winners aren't chasing grand visions, they're automating the boring stuff. The gap between what logistics executives say about artificial intelligence and what they can actually show for it has become difficult to ignore. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report published earlier this month found that while 97% of logistics leaders call AI a strategic priority, only 13% ...