SGM Save the Date, ITF Summit 2026 and Broker Liability in the U.S.

FIATA e-flash

18 May 2026

Save The Date: 2026 FIATA Statutory General Meeting - 26 June

The 2026 FIATA Statutory General Meeting (SGM) will be held online on Friday, 26 June 2026 from 14:00 - 16:00 CEST.
The SGM brings together Association Members and serves primarily an administrative and governance function, focused on the adoption of statutory matters required for the financial year-end closure. This includes, inter alia, the approval of reports and accounts, the auditor’s report, the budget, the discharge of the Presidency, and other statutory matters.
1. Voting & Registration
Each Association Member must appoint one voting delegate and register them ahead of the meeting. Members unable to attend may appoint a proxy. Please consult the Call of Meeting for detailed instructions, including the registration links and key deadlines.
2. Fee Payment Reminder
Association Members who wish to vote are kindly reminded to pay any outstanding membership fees by 31 May 2026. Membership shall be suspended if a Member does not meet its financial obligations in due time, and the suspension shall be deemed annulled upon receipt of all amounts outstanding.
3. Test Session
As in previous years, the FIATA HQ will organise a test session ahead of the SGM to help voting delegates familiarise themselves with the online platform and ensure a smooth experience on the day. The test session will take place on Tuesday 23 June. Time and link for the test session will be sent to registered participants, directly.

Register here for the 2026 FIATA Statutory General Meeting

FIATA at the ITF Summit 2026

Dr Stéphane Graber, Director General FIATA.

FIATA was represented at the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit 2026 in Leipzig, where Director General Stéphane Graber participated in the panel "From Pledges to Projects: Scaling Finance for Transport Resilience and Long-term Efficiency". The discussion brought together senior representatives from international organisations, governments and industry to examine how to translate financing commitments into effective implementation.

During the session, FIATA highlighted the operational role of freight forwarders in ensuring the continuity of global trade. Positioned at the intersection of transport modes and stakeholders, freight forwarders enable supply chains to function even in times of disruption. The discussion underlined that resilience extends beyond infrastructure and depends on agile operations, interoperable digital processes, legal certainty and strong cross-border coordination.

Particular attention was given to the importance of aligning financial frameworks with operational realities. In this context, FIATA emphasised the relevance of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, which supports multimodal transport and the digitalisation of trade documentation, thereby improving access to finance and enhancing the adaptability of supply chains.

The panel also highlighted the need to approach freight corridors as integrated systems, combining infrastructure, procedures and governance. FIATA stressed that bridging the gap between pledges and projects requires closer cooperation between public authorities and logistics operators, as well as a stronger focus on operational performance and end-to-end corridor efficiency.

FIATA's participation in the ITF Summit 2026 reaffirmed its commitment to bringing the operational perspective of the freight forwarding sector into global policy discussions and to supporting the development of transport systems that remain efficient, adaptable and resilient in an increasingly uncertain environment.

From left to right: Dr Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA; Dr Dmitry Mariyasin, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNECE; Mr Olufunso Olusesan Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigeria; Mr Tetsuya Tanaka, Chief, Climate Change, ICAO; Ms Monika Starecka, Chief Financial Officer, PKP; and Mr Achraf Bouali, Head of the OECD Istanbul Centre, OECD;

Customs & Digital Trade: FIATA at the WCO PSCG and PTC Meetings in Brussels

Ms Andrea Tang, Legal Services Director, FIATA (right) next to Yanying Li, Legal Officer, International Trade and Law Division, UNCITRAL, United Nations Office of Legal Affairs

FIATA actively participated in the recent World Customs Organisation (WCO) Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG) and Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) meetings in Brussels on 4-8 May.

The PTC provided the opportunity for the PSCG to present its work on e-commerce data mapping, developed within a PSCG e-commerce sub-group led by FIATA and DHL, which aimed to demonstrate which stakeholders in the supply chain hold/originate different data elements. This work was developed pursuant to the last WCO PTC meeting, which highlighted the importance of understanding data flows for the purposes of developing more harmonised data sets. Across discussions, a key message from industry was the urgent need for a more harmonised and reliable data set to support risk management in an increasingly complex e-commerce environment.

FIATA also contributed as a speaker in a dedicated panel on the UNCITRAL Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD) Convention, highlighting the operational perspective of freight forwarders. FIATA emphasised that the Convention fills a critical gap by extending legal recognition of negotiable transport documents beyond maritime transport to multimodal and electronic formats. Drawing on practical examples such as the FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading (FBL) and its electronic version (eFBL), FIATA underlined how NCDs can enhance flexibility in trade, enable the secure transfer of goods in transit, and expand access to trade finance, particularly for multimodal and land-based corridors and MSMEs. The panel also stressed the benefits for customs when e-NCDs are used, including earlier access to structured, reliable data and improved alignment between commercial and regulatory information, supporting more effective risk management and trade facilitation.

FIATA will continue to engage closely with the WCO and international partners to advance work on governance, data standards, and digital trade facilitation.

Strengthening Collaboration in Training and Education: FIATA Meets with Spedlogswiss

Ms Sofia Aiche, Head of Training and Programmes, FIATA and Mr Tom Odermatt, Manager Forwarding and Customs, Spedlogswiss

FIATA was pleased to visit its Swiss Association Member, Spedlogswiss, in Basel, Switzerland, on 5 May 2026, for a constructive exchange focused on strengthening cooperation in the area of training and professional development.

The meeting brought together FIATA’s Head of Training and Programmes, Sofia Aiche, and the training team of Spedlogswiss to discuss the long-standing training and education agreement between the two organisations. Switzerland has a well-established national framework for freight forwarding education, where the profession is recognised through a government level apprenticeship system. Within this context, the collaboration between FIATA and Spedlogswiss continues to provide valuable opportunities for international alignment and exchange of best practices.

Discussions also focused on the potential validation of the FIATA Diploma in Supply Chain Management and on opportunities for Swiss young professionals to participate in initiatives such as the FIATA Young Logistics Professionals Award.

In addition, both parties exchanged views on new potential areas of collaboration in training and education, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the continuous development of the freight forwarding profession.

Through visits and regular dialogue with its association members, FIATA remains committed to staying close to the needs of its community, identifying areas where it can bring added value, and supporting members and their wider networks through meaningful initiatives and partnerships. For any questions or query on FIATA’s training offers, kindly contact us via training@fiata.org.

Legal & Regulatory: Supreme Court Ruling Reshapes Broker Liability in the United States

A landmark decision issued on 14 May 2026 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC is set to significantly impact the freight brokerage landscape.

In a unanimous ruling, the Court held that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA), a U.S. deregulation statute that governs elements of road transport, does not pre-empt state-law negligent carrier selection claims against freight brokers.

While the FAAAA generally limits state regulation relating to a broker’s “price, route, or service”, the Court confirmed that its safety exception preserves the ability of states to regulate matters concerning motor vehicle safety. As a result, claims alleging that a broker failed to exercise reasonable care when selecting a motor carrier may proceed under state law.

Practical implications for freight forwarders

This decision effectively removes the federal “preemption shield” that had recently gained traction in U.S. courts. Brokers may now face liability where inadequate due diligence in carrier selection can be demonstrated.

In practice, this means:

Carrier vetting processes may be subject to scrutiny and disclosure in litigation
Publicly available safety data (e.g. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records) may be used to assess whether reasonable care was exercised
An increase in negligent-hiring claims could be expected

Whilst this judgment focuses on road transport and the selection of motor carriers, it could reflect a broader trend towards increased scrutiny of carrier selection decisions, which may be relevant for intermediaries involved in multimodal transport operations. For freight forwarders operating in or engaging with the U.S. market, whether acting as brokers, intermediaries, or arranging transport services, this development reinforces the importance of robust, documented, and data-driven carrier selection procedures.

This development also highlights the importance of sound contractual and operational practices. FIATA’s existing guidance, including its Best Practice Guide on Contract Management, provides a useful framework for documenting roles, responsibilities, and decision‑making processes across the supply chain.

Industry outlook

The ruling is expected to drive broader changes across the logistics sector, including increased legal exposure, higher insurance scrutiny, and a stronger focus on compliance and risk management practices. FIATA is closely monitoring these developments to assess their implications for freight forwarders globally and to determine how best to support members in adapting to this evolving liability framework.

Members with questions or seeking guidance on this topic are encouraged to contact FIATA at legal@fiata.org.