George A Shipman (died 2010, age 73), iconic dreamer and air cargo doer who served many years at American Airlines Cargo and later was a management consultant, training the spotlight on the cargo agent stated that, “today [the cargo agent] is perceived differently than in the past because he is functioning in a different role than before. By definition, the agent is the agent of an air carrier. Traditionally, this definition drew a line between agent and consolidator. In the new environment, however, that line has proved to be as formidable as the Maginot Line. Consequently, the carrier who views the air cargo agent in a subordinate role and plans his marketing efforts around that assumption simply is not being realistic. The agent no longer is directing his primary effort toward promoting freight per se, but is functioning as a negotiator for the shipper.”

Brian P. Barrow, Director, IATA Cargo Agency Program, stated in an editorial:  “As the years wore on and the industry moved out of the piston-engine era and into the jet era and then into the widebody era, the reasons for mutual fault-finding and sniping grew more complex even as the industry expanded, gained in sophistication and started to show real muscle. Still, while all this was building, there was indisputable consciousness on both sides that they were fated partners; they needed each other. If not exactly Damon and Pythias, their interests coincided—at least up to a point.”