Madrid, Spain, January 4, 2011 – The world’s first “virtual multinational” freight forwarder began operating today as the first 50 members began contacting each other to start doing business together.
The Conqueror Freight Network, designed to equip qualified members with the tools and organizational infrastructure to compete in an industry increasingly dominated by a dozen multinational “mega forwarders”, began accepting applications for membership on September 15, 2010.
So far only about 15% of applicants met the group’s high admission standards.
The first 50 members, who have agreed to submit to Conqueror’s rules for “disciplined cooperation”, and to use each other for 50% of their shipments as the network grows, will operate on a trial basis until June, paying no membership fees until then.
Located in 47 cites in 33 countries, together they boast a total of 5880+ employees, 250,000+ shipments in 2009.
Within two years Conqueror hopes to fill the 564 slots in its network, providing coverage in all the world’s major cities.
Antonio Torres, who designed the network of freight forwarders, said: “We had a bigger response than we bargained for, and in our zeal to identify the most qualified candidates, we had asked for too much information and too many documents.”