Insights - September/October 2017 - 26
Intermodal Technology Efforts Gain,
More Coordination Needed
Tremendous potential exists to further expand intermodal
technology and automation, EXPO speakers said, amid
the ongoing challenge of trying to coordinate and connect
information systems that vary across the modes.
Several education session panelists chronicled intermodalrelated technology advancements.
Advent Intermodal Solutions' Allen Thomas, who works with
freight data provider eModal, said collaboration has taken hold
as BCOs and customers are seeking to use the same data being
provided by the company to marine terminal operators and
truckers. Automating data transmissions can particularly help
workers such as truck dispatchers who do repetitive tasks, he
added.
REZ-1's service to reserve and manage equipment has made
advancements such as incorporating motor carrier delivery
records and is moving to implement application programming
interface, or API, based data integration, said Chief Technology
Officer Jim Glatiotis.
At MercuryGate International, Intermodal Product Manager
Jim Perdue stressed the importance and value of gathering
data from disparate sources, feeding it into tracking and billing
databases and addressing customer confidence.
"The biggest thing is convincing [customers] that the
information is there," he said, if it's stored in the cloud.
Matthew Wittemeier of Germany's INFORM GmbH outlined
the benefits of actual cost reduction and efficiency gains in
terminal operations, while also raising another key point many
others addressed.
"Data standardization is a significant issue," Wittemeier said.
"Data collaboration in intermodal is in its infancy."
Adam Compain, CEO of ClearMetal, said terminal customers
are having difficulty making sense of the data they receive,
though they want to use it for innovation.
"We know we have a whole bunch of capacity deployed at
ports," he said. "How do we get smarter with information for the
end customer?"
For Brian Moran, vice president of product management at
Savi Technology, it's difficult to convince some users to share
data from things like a sensor on a container.
Uber Expert Interviewed
An EXPO technology highlight was IANA Chair Adriene
Bailey's interview with Uber Freight Director Bill Driegert, making
his first public appearance in that role.
For intermodal, his broad message was don't worry about
an Uber model encroaching today. There are no plans to enter
the drayage market now, though he envisions a similar eventual
intermodal benefit from the "one touch" freight booking, shipping
and payment model that Uber offers today for people.
"There is a dream of Uberization in the truckload space that is
becoming more and more clear."
His company is selling transparent and fast technology,
targeting shippers with an initial focus on the spot market.
Driegert believes Uber can capitalize on that opportunity, working
with shippers' transportation management systems rather than
trying to "unplug" them altogether, and focusing on speed as well
as exception management.
"What distinguishes us is that being Uber, we benefit from
what technology already is in the market," he added. "There is a
lot of room for improvement in visibility and pricing."
Data Sharing Is Critical
Navis Vice President Scott Holland said, "If we can share
data effectively, that will drive a positive outcome." Holland said a
company survey found that the poor coordination of information
and lack of resulting freight visibility challenges were the logistics
industry's largest challenges. More than half of those surveyed
recognized the freight industry generally lags in technology
adoption.
Brian Mellen, vice president of technology at ITS ConGlobal,
put it this way: "For automation to work, the data has to come
together. We have to work on standardizing the data sets. There
is no standard in the internet of things for machines to talk to
each other."
AT&T representative James Pope made two related points.
"There are lots of ways to use data inside company silo systems,"
he explained. "But they are not ready to standardize. There
isn't the same equipment or APIs." Also, Pope cited a trucking
company that was reluctant to share information with external
sources.
26 Intermodal Insights | September/October 2017
IANA Chair Bailey (left) chats with Uber's Driegert about
technological advances in the freight and intermodal industries.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - September/October 2017
IANA News
EXPO Attendees Encounter Better Market, Technology Promise, More Show Features
Passion, Professionalism among Wide Range of Qualities Intermodal Employers Stress
Sleep Apnea, Fatigue Continue to Be Key Safety Concerns
Freight Report
Intermodal Prospects Brighten Despite Disruptions, Participants Say
Intermodal Technology Efforts Gain, More Coordination Needed
International Market Shifts Force Providers to Adjust
Cross-Border, Mid Range Intermodal Markets Could Spur More Intermodal Growth
As ELD Compliance Date Approaches, EXPO Panelists Stress Driver, Technology Implications
Committees Report Progress on Recommended Practices, Safety, Other Issues
New Approaches to Safety
Government News
Intermodal Information Services News
People News
Welcome New Members
Intermodal Calendar
Insights - September/October 2017 - Cover1
Insights - September/October 2017 - 2
Insights - September/October 2017 - 3
Insights - September/October 2017 - IANA News
Insights - September/October 2017 - EXPO Attendees Encounter Better Market, Technology Promise, More Show Features
Insights - September/October 2017 - 6
Insights - September/October 2017 - 7
Insights - September/October 2017 - 8
Insights - September/October 2017 - 9
Insights - September/October 2017 - 10
Insights - September/October 2017 - 11
Insights - September/October 2017 - 12
Insights - September/October 2017 - Passion, Professionalism among Wide Range of Qualities Intermodal Employers Stress
Insights - September/October 2017 - 14
Insights - September/October 2017 - 15
Insights - September/October 2017 - 16
Insights - September/October 2017 - 17
Insights - September/October 2017 - 18
Insights - September/October 2017 - Sleep Apnea, Fatigue Continue to Be Key Safety Concerns
Insights - September/October 2017 - 20
Insights - September/October 2017 - Freight Report
Insights - September/October 2017 - 22
Insights - September/October 2017 - 23
Insights - September/October 2017 - 24
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Prospects Brighten Despite Disruptions, Participants Say
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Technology Efforts Gain, More Coordination Needed
Insights - September/October 2017 - 27
Insights - September/October 2017 - International Market Shifts Force Providers to Adjust
Insights - September/October 2017 - 29
Insights - September/October 2017 - 30
Insights - September/October 2017 - Cross-Border, Mid Range Intermodal Markets Could Spur More Intermodal Growth
Insights - September/October 2017 - 32
Insights - September/October 2017 - As ELD Compliance Date Approaches, EXPO Panelists Stress Driver, Technology Implications
Insights - September/October 2017 - Committees Report Progress on Recommended Practices, Safety, Other Issues
Insights - September/October 2017 - New Approaches to Safety
Insights - September/October 2017 - Government News
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Information Services News
Insights - September/October 2017 - 38
Insights - September/October 2017 - People News
Insights - September/October 2017 - Welcome New Members
Insights - September/October 2017 - 41
Insights - September/October 2017 - 42
Insights - September/October 2017 - 43
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Calendar
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