Connectivity between shipper and trucking line supports Truck Tracker Initiative

IAS-Trinium, a joint venture between International Asset Systems (IAS) and Trinium Technologies, announced its first major product deployment creating a real-time connection between MOL and its house trucking line, Central Cal Transportation. The break-through integration streamlines truck dispatch operations and enables container pickup and delivery information to be automatically updated into MOL's in-house equipment management system, all with the truck driver pushing a single button on a GPS-enabled mobile phone. A first among world ports, the technology is a key component of the newly launched Port of Oakland Truck Tracker (PTT) initiative, and is actively being rolled out by the Port, BAWTC, IAS-Trinium, and other PTT technology partners.

Around the world, shippers and ocean carriers all share the same frustration from the lack of timely information when containers are picked up and delivered. The 'black hole' in the 'first and last mile' of a container's journey has caused transportation managers to wait up to 48 hours after delivery to update their computer systems with the status of the box. IAS-Trinium is ready to deliver instantaneous updates of dispatch and delivery information to the global shipping community.

With the IAS-Trinium automated dispatch solution, container gate-in and gate-out events are captured on a java-enabled mobile phone carried by the truck driver, and automatically imported to the transportation-management systems of carriers and shippers alike. MOL has been piloting the solution since May, with live data being passed between ocean carrier MOL and trucking company Central Cal Transportation, as part of the PTT program to help reduce truck congestion and improve cargo visibility in and around the Port of Oakland. The mobile phones' GPS functionality enables port authorities to ensure that trucks are using only authorized routes in the port zone, keeping traffic away from residential areas.

The technology enables MOL to improve its internal asset control and management, and to provide better service to its customers.

'Many of our customers are demanding more real-time information about their deliveries," said John Gurrad, VP of Business Planning and E-Commerce at MOL. "With the capabilities provided by this initiative, we can provide more accurate and up-to-date information to our customers about where containers are, which helps them be more efficient in their inventory management and distribution center planning."

Trucking companies also see the benefits of increased efficiencies in dispatch. Using the system, dispatchers at the trucker's headquarters can enter new dispatches directly into the system, with the pickup order automatically sent to the trucker's handset in the field.

'With this new capability, we can not only provide our customers with up-to-date information on container status, which has traditionally been a challenge to do, but we can also automate and streamline our own dispatch management process,' said Jeff Cox, Operations Manager of Central Cal Transportation. 'And it's easy for the drivers because all they need to do is push a button on their mobile phone.'

How it works

Using the new technology integration, Central Cal Transportation enters MOL's request for pickup or delivery into the online IAS-Trinium dispatch management service. The information is captured in IAS-Trinium's data repository and processing engine, which relays the data to the driver's mobile phone. Mobile resource management software onboard the phone alerts the driver and presents dispatch details.

After both pickup and delivery, the driver simply taps a single button on the phone, and the container's status is instantly updated online in the IAS-Trinium dispatch management system, as well as imported via EDI into MOL's in-house systems. Meanwhile, the mobile phone's GPS functionality allows the driver's progress to be tracked through breadcrumb technology,