Update October 2024 – An Open Letter to the Incoming CEO of Cargo Network Services

IATA has posted a job opening for a new head of CNS. DGTA has written this open letter to the incoming CEO to encourage them to evaluate CNS’ position on their involement in the employer-training mandate that is required by US Federal Law. US law requires that this be left to the employer and we encourage CNS to return to that position. Here is the letter from DGTA, posted on Linked-In.

Update August 2024 – Understanding the CNS and IATA DG Training Requirements for Forwarders

IATA, through their accounting arm in the US (Cargo Network Services) is making good on their threat to force forwarders out of business by terminating their IATA number in the CASS system if they do not obtain DG training through them directly or through one of their training franchisees. There are two issues — one is cost. Most of the DG training in the US (thousands of students a month) is conducted by DGI, Lion, Labelmaster, TDG, Unz, JJ Keller, BDG and many others who don’t participate in the IATA franchise trainer system. These are good training companies(and many are DGTA members) who have been in business for decades and quite honestly are a lot less expensive. IATA charges $1600 for a lithium battery seminar and over $2300 per student for the old “Category 6” training which is now rebranded under Well-Defined Job Functions 7.3. In the US, CNS had a hands-off attitude because of antitrust issues of price-fixing and competitive issues from a while ago. Some of us remember those days when the justice department was looking into this. So in the past, CNS said (informally) if the training is good enough for the FAA and DOT, it’s good enough for us. That’s the way it’s been until last year when CNS announced enforcement of this new rule to require training through either their franchise system or their own proprietary “DG Compass” System.

The second issue, other than cost, is safety. IATA’s system does not allow students to view or study the questions they got wrong. Their passing score threshold is 80% but as many of you know, being wrong “20% of the time” is not acceptable in aviation. Most mainstream trainers like the companies mentioned earlier, review the exams with the students (or provide that online capability) so the student is 100-point zero percent competent after testing. By IATA prohibiting this, it seems an unnecessary safety risk. In addition, US FAA and DOT requires DOT safety and DOT security training for all hazmat employees shipping by air — IATA’s system doesn’t cover it. DG Compass for example only covers the IATA checklist. By CNS restraining the forwarders ability to stay with the trainers they’ve been using effectively for decades, this has a potential safety impact. Under US law it is ONLY the employer who is allowed to certify their employees. Period.

Here are a couple videos we have produced on the topic to help inform our member trainers and the forwarders in the audience.

CNS/IATA Trainer Intoductory Video

CNS IATA Detail Video

See our linked-in post here.

UPDATE JULY 11, 2024 – Click on the “Forum” tab for updates from the DGTA delegation to the latest UN meeting (or click on the link below). There is a summary of our notes as well as a summary and “explainer” document we have created explaining the proposed lithium battery rules.

July 11, 24 Dangerous Goods Trainers Association, Inc. Forum (July UN update) click here.

May 3, 2024. There are some HUGE changes being proposed at this summer’s UN meeting for Lithium and Sodium Battery Transport. Look at the new UN numbers and hazard class divisions being proposed. Click here to open the comprehensive notification (and an audio recording if it’s easier to listen-to).

Click on the new “CBTA” Menu for Competency-Based Training Information

Click on the “Forum” menu for the latest UN meeting information.

The Dangerous Goods Trainers Association, Inc. promotes and develops exceptional competence in dangerous goods professionals and trainers worldwide through education, communication, networking and voluntary professional certification.

DGTA focuses its efforts on delivering dangerous goods instructor training that address not only the technical nature of the subject matter but also incorporates active learning in the training design and delivery.

Our efforts also provide instructors with the skills and knowledge to customize their training programs to meet student needs and apply active learning techniques as well as sequence learning activities to ensure an effective mix and flow while emphasizing effective knowledge transfer so that students can apply what they learned on the job.

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