The Freight Logistics Optimization Works platform from the Department of Transportation has been a handy tool for shippers mitigating ongoing ocean freight challenges or day-to-day operations.
The federal platform was piloted by the Biden administration in 2022 as a data sharing initiative to helps businesses improve the flow of goods along the supply chain. Some of the data collected includes purchase order information from importers, data around volume and the timing of cargo moving out of specific ports of origin.
Since its launch, the FLOW initiative has expanded to 85 members as of Dec. 5. That’s up from an initial launch of 15 companies and three ports.
“As that data gets richer, and as that data gets better, I think it’s got a lot more applicability, and there will be higher levels of confidence on making decisions strictly on the FLOW data,” Jennifer McNeill, SVP of supply chain operations at True Value, told Supply Chain Dive in a May interview.
As the FLOW initiative continues to expand its data pool and members, here is a look back at how the federal tool impacted various supply chains.
