• The British International Freight Association (BIFA) brought the freight forwarding community together for its National Conference 2026
• Two days of discussion focused on the major forces reshaping international trade and logistics.

Held on 23 and 24 September at The Slate in Warwick, the conference was driven by the theme ‘Navigating a Shifting World’, bringing together BIFA members, policymakers, regulators and industry experts to explore how the freight forwarding sector can respond to an increasingly complex and fast-changing trading environment.

From artificial intelligence and customs reform to freight crime, sustainability, skills and changing patterns of global trade, the two-day programme covered both the immediate challenges facing freight forwarders and the developments likely to shape the industry in the years ahead.

BIFA Director General Steve Parker said:

“What’s very clear from the last two days at the conference is that freight forwarders are operating in a period of significant change, but we are an industry with an enormous capacity to adapt.

“Freight forwarding sits at the centre of international trade, and our members are having to respond to change on many fronts at the same time.

“Whether we are talking about AI, customs reform, sustainability, crime, skills or the future of global trade, our role at BIFA is to make sure members have access to the expertise, information and representation they need to navigate that change. The BIFA National Conference is the perfect place for these discussions to happen.”

Technology and the future of freight

Artificial intelligence featured prominently on the first day of the conference, beginning with Sidecar founder and CEO Sudhanshu Heda exploring how freight forwarders, 3PLs, shippers and carriers are already putting AI to work across quoting, operations and finance.

A dedicated AI and data panel later examined the technology from industry, academic and government perspectives, including the changing use of data across freight and logistics and the implications for future regulation and compliance.

Delegates also heard directly from HMRC on customs developments affecting the day-to-day operations of freight forwarders, including the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and Trader Support Service (TSS), alongside an overview of future priorities.

Tackling freight crime and supporting resilient businesses

The growing threat posed by freight crime and financial fraud was another key focus.

Representatives from Companies House, Opal and NaVCIS joined BIFA to examine how criminals can exploit weaknesses in company information, and the steps businesses can take to strengthen due diligence and protect themselves.

Sustainability formed another major strand of the programme, with discussions examining practical approaches to decarbonising freight and the growing role of data in measuring and reducing supply chain emissions.

Preparing for a changing global trading environment

Day two focused on the future of customs and international trade, kicking off with an expert panel considering the implications of EU Customs Reform, greater data sharing, digitalisation, AI and increasing compliance requirements.

Peter Foster, World Trade Editor at the Financial Times, joined BIFA’s Allie Renison for a discussion on the trends shaping global trade, examining the UK’s trading relationships, and wider international developments likely to influence trade flows and supply chains.

Delegates also heard from DP World on building more sustainable international supply chains, while Citation provided an update on changes facing employers following the Employment Rights Act 2025.

Developing the next generation

With recruitment and skills continuing to be a significant focus for the logistics sector, Jennifer Swain MBE of Road to Logistics joined BIFA’s Carl Hobbis to examine how the industry can move beyond traditional recruitment models and take a more active role in developing its future workforce.

The conference concluded with a keynote session from James Tibbitts of LabourList, examining some of the key policy issues affecting the sector.

Bringing the freight community together

The first day concluded with a drinks reception and gala dinner, including a fundraising appeal for international development organisation Transaid and guest appearances from Harry Redknapp and Tony Cottee.