‘FLOW’ to ease congestion at US ports

The Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) programme which is a supply chain pilot data-sharing project, aimed at mitigating the congestion at U.S. ports has commenced the exchange of data and doubled in size. The US Transportation Department (USDOT) had announced the project in March with truckers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers and ports with the objective to develop ‘a digital tool that gives companies information on the condition of a node or region in the supply chain’.

There were initially 18 participants in the programme, including FedEx, UPS, C.H Robinson, Albertsons, Target as well as the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and ocean carriers CMA CGM and MSC and Fenix Marine Terminal and Global Container Terminals. Presently the group consists of 36 participants including logistics giant DHL, part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, long-haul trucker J.B. Hunt, Maersk, Samsung and Procter & Gamble. 

Commenting on FLOW, USDOT said it is serving as “an independent steward of supply chain data across a largely privately-operated enterprise that spans shipping lines, ports, terminal operators, truckers, railroads, warehouses, and beneficial cargo owners.”