The Cooperative Logistics Network launched with the promise to applicants of a six-month free trial in exchange for registering attendance at its first annual meeting next May. According to the network, hundreds of applications are being received weekly.

Founder, Antonio Torres, explained, “Attendance at the first annual meeting is the best way for agents to kick-start their membership. From our experience in the networking industry, we have found that attendance at annual meetings is crucial to ensuring any members’ success; it’s a proven fact that members who attend increase their business.”

Torres continued, “Agents work with people they have formed relationships with – this is true of any industry. I believe that the best freight forwarders understand the importance of meeting in person and so those applicants who say no to attending do not have a genuine interest in developing a worldwide network of agents and, therefore, are not for us.”

The Coop team has been studying and whittling down the number of applicants to a block of 100 founding members which will be unveiled when the network has its operational launch on December 1, 2014.

“The standard of applications has been extremely high. To date we have accepted enough companies to fill over 50% of our original target of 100 founding members. We firmly believe we will meet and increase this target well in advance of December 1st,” Torres said.

“When asked by applicants why they should attend the first annual meeting we ask them this question. Who would you rather work with? An agent you know only via email or an agent you have met and had a meeting with in person? For me there is no contest, in person wins every time,” Torres concluded.