The Department of Transportation has published new data on its Freight Logistics Optimization Works platform for inland freight hubs, including rail terminal and warehouse end destinations. With the additional data, the agency expects users to have an enhanced view of future container import volumes and traffic.
Lack of data sharing was pinpointed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a challenge preventing the ease of cargo flow. Since then, the Biden administration has doubled down to provide solutions to improve U.S. supply chains.
“Two years ago, we launched FLOW, the first public-private platform of its kind to share data on supply chains in order to help goods move quickly and cheaply,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a Wednesday press release. “The Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to strengthen American supply chains have helped reduce inflation from pandemic peaks - and today, with the expansion of FLOW, we expect to see even greater benefits to American families and businesses.”
On the second anniversary of its launch, FLOW has gained significant interest from beneficial cargo owners, intermodal equipment providers, logistics real estate companies, marine terminal operators, ocean carriers, rail carriers and other industry players.
Members of the federal platform praise the benefits the DOT initiative is providing for supply chains. Here are some notable reactions from industry leaders highlighted in the DOT's press release.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka
“FLOW provides participants with unprecedented access to supply chain data, empowering our port users with the ability to anticipate potential bouts of congestion. FLOW has become an invaluable tool to cargo owners seeking to manage their supply chains, and importantly, FLOW has become a safe and trusted repository of supply chain data, opening up possibilities for additional applications to support supply chain resiliency.
We see opportunities to leverage FLOW to make our port community system – the Port Optimizer – become a more powerful tool for our port customers. Under the leadership of Secretary Buttigieg and the staff at USDOT, FLOW has built a unique public-private partnership that addresses one of the core vulnerabilities of our nation’s supply chains – lack of sufficient data sharing.”
Port of Long Beach Chief Operating Officer Noel Hacegaba
“FLOW facilitates a secure and seamless process for supply chain stakeholders to share data that provides members with a forward-look on supply chain conditions and the ability to anticipate and adjust to avoid delays.
The Port of Long Beach is proud to be a founding member of FLOW. It is complementary to our own efforts to enable end-to-end visibility through our Supply Chain Information Highway digital initiative. We commend USDOT for its vision and thank the staff for their leadership in bringing the supply chain community together to holistically and collaboratively close the gap on one of the industry’s most glaring challenges - the lack of visibility. FLOW is a game-changer.”
Hapag-Lloyd
“FLOW data has been helpful in shaping our understanding of incoming volumes and bookings, and will enable us to make informed decisions and adapt to changing conditions. Working with the USDOT team has been a collaborative experience, fostering innovation and progress. As we celebrate the two-year milestone, we remain optimistic about the continued growth of membership and coverage, and eagerly anticipate the future developments of FLOW.”
MSC EVP of Maritime Policy and Government Affairs Bud Darr
“Emerging during a period of historic disruption to supply chains, FLOW is intended to provide an invaluable platform for collaboration to facilitate data-driven decision making to help stakeholders improve and streamline the entire supply chain. MSC looks forward to continued partnership and cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation and FLOW partners as we work to continue driving sustainable growth and resilience in global supply chains for years to come.”
CMA CGM President and CEO for Americas Peter Levesque
“FLOW not only provides us visibility into different segments of the supply chain but also increases opportunities to cooperate among various stakeholders. We have evolved our interactions from focusing on the technicalities of data transmission to engaging with the Department’s FLOW team to explore how we can more strategically utilize FLOW to improve our processes and become more efficient and effective.
We appreciate the FLOW team's leadership. They possess exceptional technical qualifications and the supply chain expertise that is essential to assisting industry implement the most effective solutions to improve the overall logistics network.”
UPS Supply Chain Solutions Director of Global Ocean Freight Jesse Whitfield
“FLOW members are getting more granular views of their supply chain allowing them to consider not only alternate routings but also potential shifts in their distribution networks. That directional insight is invaluable when it comes to being able to pivot during times of disruption. Since this project began the USDOT staff has been committed to creating a platform that brings visibility to the US supply chain from every view. Consistently listening to the needs and concerns of the members from day one they have developed views that help members make the right decisions when it comes to maintaining an efficient flow within their supply chain.
Additionally the USDOT leadership has added to their staff to accommodate the growing membership and the needs of this project. It hasn’t just been commitment, it has been the delivery of what matters.”
RoadOne Executive Vice President Don Taylor
“As one of the original members of the FLOW program, RoadOne’s partnership with the group has been productive and insightful. The creation of FLOW provides an in depth look throughout the supply chain that portrays the challenges from all of our partners.
It has been a pleasure to get acquainted with the USDOT staff and see the immense amount of work they have put into finding solutions for the industry as a whole. I look forward to the continued partnership and see a bright future in how we as a collective can bring solutions to the overall supply chain throughout the country.”
Land O’Lakes SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer Yone Dewberry
“As we approach the two-year anniversary of the FLOW initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, I am incredibly proud of how this groundbreaking public-private partnership is ushering in a new era of data-driven, responsive, and agile decision-making to strengthen the supply chain ecosystem. The FLOW initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration, where the public and private sectors have converged to equip stakeholders with the insights and tools to solve the supply chain issues of tomorrow.”
GE Appliances Vice President of Logistics Marcia Brey
“FLOW improves visibility of total freight movement through key supply chain nodes across the U.S. indicating system health. FLOW also provides networking opportunities for supply chain companies to discuss freight movement concerns and to collaborate on solutions that avoid interruption in the flow of critical components and consumer goods.”
True Value Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Jennifer McNeill
“We are representing local, independent businesses across America that serve their communities every day. Our retailers depend on us for supply chain expertise that enables a consistent movement of goods to their business, and FLOW helps us deliver on that.”
