Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo said, “The protection of cargo has been a crucial factor right from its exiting the shipper’s warehouse until it’s handed over to the airlines. The consequences of not sufficiently protecting cargo can be devastating, ranging from financial loss and damaged reputation to long-term, intricate legal disputes. And considering the fact that presently the thieves are highly tech-savvy and constantly developing modern ways and strategies to steal cargo from shippers, it’s essential that the vehicles must be equipped with high quality seals with unique serial numbers, barcodes and GPS for easy tracking followed by strict security protocols and procedures for handling, loading and unloading cargo to minimize the tempering or theft. The custodian of the airport are also expected to install CCTV at the strategic locations apart from keeping strict vigil on the movement and activities by its personnel concerned. The monitoring cell should also be imparted with the related training for proper implementation of security measures.”

Mahendra Shah, CMD, V Trans said, “When we handle goods on behalf of our clients, safety becomes our foremost priority. Whether it is surface transportation, express cargo, or warehousing—including our specialised hazardous chemical storage facility, ChemStore—we ensure each consignment is managed with the utmost care and responsibility. We offer clients tailored service levels based on the nature of their cargo, ensuring that every shipment receives the specific attention it requires. Adherence to stringent safety protocols, including MSDS-based checklists, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Material Handling Equipment (MHE), and regular emergency drills, ensures our teams are well-equipped to handle sensitive cargo and unforeseen challenges safely. Our ChemStore facility is designed in line with global safety standards, offering a secure and compliant environment for storing classified hazardous materials. The facility is backed by advanced infrastructure and a suite of value-added services, making it one of the most trusted chemical storage solutions in the country. With decades of experience in handling industrial cargo—especially chemicals for both large enterprises and MSMEs—our continuous focus on safety, regular team training, and strict process adherence create a culture of reliability and operational excellence. Clients can trust that their goods are in capable hands with V-Trans group.”

Jinali Gandhi, Director – Global Growth & Expansion, Gandhi Automations said, “Safety is at the heart of all our designs. Our dock levelers have anti-slip checkered platforms and built-in safety features that prevent workers and forklifts from falling off the edge. High-speed doors come with sensors that stop the door if a person or vehicle is detected. Dock shelters create a sealed environment to protect goods from weather, dust, and pests. Additionally, we follow international safety standards in design and installation to minimize the risk of accidents and product damage during loading and unloading. We design our products to grow along with our customers’ evolving needs. A number of our systems are modular in nature, allowing them to be expanded or upgraded over time. Many of our solutions also feature smart control sensors and automation options that can integrate seamlessly with warehouse management systems or existing building infrastructure. For example, our high-speed doors can be connected to sensors and access systems for hands-free operation. Whether a customer is beginning with basic automation or operating a fully smart warehouse, our solutions are built with the flexibility to adapt to future requirements.”

Malcolm Dsouza. CEO, KSH Distriparks said, “GPS helps monitor vehicle and container tracking. Drivers training for defensive driving and education on vehicle health to reduce accidents and zero fatalities. Vehicle health check up and periodic maintenance, Geo fencing through GPS for cargo and vehicle safety. The infrastructure has seen huge developments in the last few years, average container turnaround time in the ports areas have seen improvements due to the construction of new roads and flyovers. The missing link on the Mumbai Pune expressway will be a significant game changer for the heavy vehicles. Rail infrastructure is also to see a significant development between Mumbai and Pune. The proposed ring road to create better access between the national highways and stand alone MIDC’s.”

Softlink Global educates customers about LogiTrack, an extension of its LogiSys platform that brings real-time shipment tracking and booking management into one easy-to-use digital tool, in a webinar. The session saw participation from over 300 attendees, including freight forwarders, logistics professionals, and customers from across the industry. Led by Ashwin Mishra, Head – Product team and Vishal Pawar, Sr. Manager – Product, the webinar gave attendees a comprehensive look into how LogiTrack is transforming the way logistics businesses manage shipment visibility, documentation, and communication – all on a single unified platform. What is LogiTrack? LogiTrack is a branded customer portal within Softlink’s Logi-Sys platform, built specifically for freight forwarders. It enables forwarders to offer their customers—shippers and consignees—a secure, self-service interface for real-time shipment tracking, document management, and financial visibility. More than just a tracking tool, LogiTrack acts as an extension of the forwarder’s brand, empowering them to deliver transparency, build trust, and enhance customer relationships. It consolidates critical shipment information into a single platform, reducing communication gaps and helping forwarders stand out in a competitive logistics landscape. Key Highlights from the Webinar Real-time Tracking: Users can see live updates of shipments via a map view, including location tracking using AIS data. Easy Booking: Customers can send booking requests directly to logistics service providers (LSPs), attach documents, and receive timely updates. Invoice Access: Shippers can view, verify, and download invoices and documents directly through the platform – no more endless email chains! User-Friendly Interface: LogiTrack works seamlessly across mobile and desktop, and can even be embedded into customer websites. Approvals Made Simple: The tool includes workflows for approving shipping documents, keeping records locked and secure. White-label Ready: Businesses can brand …

According to IATA, seasonal demand, front loading of shipments to avoid tariffs and lower fuel prices helped air cargo demand rise again in April, but airlines need to remain ready for trade changes, IATA has warned. The trade association said that total demand, measured in cargo tonne km (CTK), rose by 5.8% year on year. Month-on-month, demand also rose by 2.3%. Demand rose 4.4% year on year in March due to front loading of cargo. Fashion and consumer goods are typically shipped between April and June, ahead of the summer retail cycle, supporting these numbers. Moreover, front-loading aimed at avoiding the upcoming US tariff change on 2 May, 2025, regarding lifting of the de minimis allowance, contributed as well,” said IATA in its Air Cargo Market Analysis for April. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne km (ACTK), increased by 6.3%. The cargo load factor (CLF)—measured as CTK divided by ACTK—stood at 43.9%, a 0.2 percentage point decline compared to April 2024.

Zeeshan Mukhi, Vice President – Freight Forwarding, Subcontinent DP World said, “Significant investments are being channelled into specialised warehousing for high-growth segments like e-commerce, perishables, and pharmaceuticals, creating new opportunities for Indian exporters and strengthening domestic supply chains. While growth prospects are strong, challenges persist in multimodal connectivity and last-mile logistics. Addressing these gaps, DP World has developed an integrated ecosystem comprising 3 free trade warehousing zones, 5 million square feet of warehousing space, and a 15,000-pincode express network. As India’s one of the largest private rail freight operator with 16,000+ containers and 7 inland terminals, the company is enhancing critical connectivity between ports, airports, and hinterland markets. Private sector efforts complement government initiatives like the UDAN 5.0 scheme which is upgrading cargo infrastructure at 24+ Tier 2/3 city airports. The convergence of public and private investment is creating seamless logistics solutions that boost India’s trade competitiveness. With the air cargo sector projected to maintain its double-digit growth trajectory, these coordinated developments position India to capitalize on shifting global supply chains and meet rising demand for efficient freight solutions.”

Lufthansa Cargo has introduced a new AI-driven system to speed up how it processes booking requests. By combining AI with robotic process automation, the airline can now automatically extract booking details from unstructured customer emails and input them directly into its system, removing the need for manual entry. Customers then receive immediate, fully automated booking confirmations instead of waiting for manual processing. While most bookings already come through structured digital platforms, Lufthansa still receives many requests in formats such as plain text or file attachments. Previously, these had to be transferred manually. The new system eliminates that step, making the booking process quicker and reducing the chance of errors. Sales teams benefit from fewer repetitive tasks, giving them more time to interact personally with customers instead of managing administrative duties.

  According to WorldACD Market Data, “Global air cargo volumes saw a notable recovery in mid-May, with a 6 per cent week-on-week (WoW) increase in tonnages during week 20 (12–18 May), largely driven by a resurgence from Asia Pacific. This rebound follows a recent softening of US-China trade tensions and the end of holiday disruptions in Japan and South Korea.” According to the data, the majority of the global tonnage gain came from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Japan recorded a sharp 60% WoW increase and South Korea rose by 21%, both bouncing back from public holidays. Meanwhile, volumes from China and Hong Kong rose by 8% WoW, spurred by an interim US-China agreement that reversed or delayed new tariffs and softened restrictions on low-value imports. As a result, shipments from China and Hong Kong to the US surged 19% WoW, returning to levels seen before the recent slump caused by tariff hikes.

Jupiter Wagons’ electric vehicle arm, Jupiter Electric Mobility (JEM), has signed MOU with Pickkup, a Delhi-based logistics platform, to promote electric vehicle usage in the logistics industry. Pickkup is a fast-growing EV-first logistics company with a presence across key NCR cities and tier-2 markets like Mohali and Chandigarh. Focused on electric mobility, it has a scalable delivery infrastructure with 3W and 4W commercial EVs, offering customised on-demand, corporate, and warehouse solutions. The partnership aims to deploy 300 units of JEM TEZ, JEM’s top-of-the-line electric light commercial vehicle, in Pickkup’s growing EV fleet by the end of this year. The collaboration kicks off with the successful delivery of the first batch of JEM TEZ vehicles under the MoU, following extensive pilot runs that showcased the exceptional capability of delivering real-world performance, range reliability, and operational efficiency across both intra-city and inter-city routes.