The Electronic Freight Management Initiative

2006PDFTech ReportFHWA-HOP-06-085Freight trafficCommercial vehicle operationsElectronic data interchangeFreight transportationSupply chain managementIntermodal freightOutreach/marketingInstitutional issuesInternationalOperational testsBenefitsCapacityEconomyMobilityTimeThroughputSafetySecurityElectronic supply chain manifestGlobal positioning system or GPSInternet or world wide webSmart cardsPublic private partnershipsSupply chain visibilityFreight trackingService-oriented architectureElectronic data exchangeData standardsUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationFitzpatrick, DavidDreyfus, DanielOnder, Michael P.Sedor, JoanneBooz Allen Hamilton for 2001-United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Freight Management and OperationsUnited States. Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation SystemsNTL-INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS-Commercial Vehicle OperationsNTL-FREIGHT-FREIGHTNTL-FREIGHT-Freight Economics and FinanceIntelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office;Federal Highway AdministrationThis report discusses the Electronic Freight Management initiative, a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) sponsored research effort that partners with industry to improve the operating efficiencies, safety, and security of goods movement. The EFM initiative uses Web technologies to improve data and message transmissions and facilitate business transactions among supply chain partners. A service-oriented architecture leverages the Web technologies and supports them by setting data standards. The potential benefits of using Web technologies include 1) improving shipment visibility throughout the supply chain, 2) reducing the amount of repetitive data entry required, 3) augmenting the diagnostic tracking abilities that come from greater supply chain visibility, 4) simplifying interfaces with government agencies, and 5) providing additional data on shipment status that can make supply chains more secure. A service-oriented architecture leverages Web technologies The paper provides the context for developing the EFM initiative and describes its approach, components, and products. It also discusses the benefits of using EFM concepts and the importance of adopting data standards to improve communication among supply chain partners. The paper identifies opportunities for implementation in both the private and public sectors and discusses approaches to achieve broad adoption