John Deere recently joined the Freight Logistics Optimization Works program, according to a July LinkedIn post from the federal platform.
The data-sharing platform under the Department of Transportation has increased its list of members to 80 as more shippers seek visibility on containerized freight as a way to combat potential supply chain challenges. Other shippers that joined FLOW in the past few months include Ace Hardware and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Other members, like The Home Depot and True Value, have praised the federal platform as a way to mitigate potential disruption and provide increased cargo visibility.
"It’s not a project to tell you what’s already occurred, but it’s a project that tells you where the bottlenecks are going to occur,” Jennifer McNeill, SVP of supply chain operations at True Value, told Supply Chain Dive in a May interview.
During the pandemic, several shippers faced delayed cargo shipments due to port congestion and staffing challenges across the globe. The lack of data available regarding where containers were moving and the amount of cargo shipments headed to the ports was a weak spot for supply chain stakeholders. To solve some of the data gaps, the White House launched FLOW to provide an information exchange that could improve cargo velocity.
