Electronic Freight Management (EFM)

Electronic Freight Management Initiative

Slide 1. Electronic Freight Management Initiative

ITS JPO Lead: Kate Hartman
Technical Lead: Mike Onder, Office of Freight Management and Operations

Slide 2. Challenge

• Current economic forecast indicate that freight volumes will double by 2020.
• Existing and planned physical capacity to move this amount of freight will be severely challenged.
• Freight movement is multi-modal, among partners with different with needs for information.

Slide 3. Opportunity

• The activities under this initiative will:
  • Assist supply chain partners by using ITS to:
    • Exchange information electronically in a standardized format;
    • Provide an open architecture in which all shippers, across all modes can access needed information;
    • Allow information concerning freight to be made available for security screening

Slide 4. Goal

• Improved operational efficiency, productivity and security of the transportation system through the use of a common electronic freight management (EFM) and message portal that enables access to shipment information to all supply chain partners in real time.

Slide 5. Milestone/End Product

• Initial Milestone: Can all supply chain partners integrate the EFM into their business processes? Do we go forward with the deployment test?
• Initiative Milestone: Do we expand to other modes?

Slide 6. Roadmap

Image Details

Slide 7. Program Plan/Approach

• Coalition Building

• Intermodal Freight Technology Working Group
  • A neutral organization for industry and government to work together on applying technology to freight issues of mutual concern.
• EFM Steering Group
  • Project leaders from industry and government to help shape / direct this effort

Slide 8. Program Plan/Approach

• Foundation Elements

• EFM Standards
  • Create Data Dictionary Standard
    • Electronic freight management
  • Monitor Biometric Standards
    • Biometric identifier to positively ID the possessor
  • Monitor Electronic Tracking & Tracing Device Standards
    • Tracking and tracing devices on cargo or conveyances
  • Working through International Standards Organization (ISO) on all three.

Slide 9. Program Plan/Approach

• Foundation Elements (continued)

• EFM Freight Information Highway (FIH)
  • Operation Plan and Tools
    • Develop a concept for allowing an electronic message to move through a virtual portal for all supply chain partners to have equal access.
  • System Architecture
    • Develop an architecture approach for information flows between the virtual portal and the traffic management centers and traveler information systems.

Slide 10. Program Plan/Approach

• Foundation Elements (continued)

• EFM Business Case
  • Develop Deployment Test Plan
    • Map the supply chain and model the changes that an EFM would require.
    • Determine the rules of engagement for partners.
  • System Level Design Document
    • Determine the operating procedures for adopting EFM, FIH and biometrics.
  • Initial Decision Point

Slide 11. Program Plan/Approach

• EFM Deployment Test and Evaluation

• Conduct Deployment Test
  • All procedures in place and adopted.
  • Operate over 6-8 month period of time with new procedures.
• Evaluate Deployment Test
  • Gather baseline data before test and operating data during test.
• Initial Decision Point

Slide 12. Summary

• Improve supply chain efficiency
• Technology
  • Data Standards
  • Freight Information Highway
• Improved methods of information sharing
• Deployable across modes when successful
• Broad benefits to industry