Reinventing Container Logistics IntelliConference

Increasing globalization of supply chains has exacerbated congestion and chaos in how containerized freight is moved through North America. Stakeholder groups involved in container logistics face significant inefficiencies in how containers, chassis, trucks, railcars, loading equipment, and ships are coordinated.

Core Question:

What improvements can stakeholders identify for moving containers thru supply chains with the least environmental and community impact, while increasing efficiency, capacity, and economy?

  1. What stakeholder groups should be included in this dialogue to ensure that all perspectives are considered?
  2. Who are the most knowledgeable representatives of each stakeholder group that should be invited to participate?
  3. What performance measures should guide planning of an optimal container logistics system for each of these stakeholder groups?
    1. Equipment providers
    2. Ocean carriers
    3. Port Authorities
    4. Land freight transportation providers
    5. Non-asset-based industry service provider
    6. Regulatory agencies
    7. Beneficial cargo owners/shippers
    8. Communities
    9. Environmentalists
    10. Terminal Operators
    11. Land Developers
    12. Private Equity
    13. Debt Providers
    14. Municipal Bond Providers
  4. What equipment-related inefficiencies need to be addressed?
    1. Chassis positioning
    2. Chassis pairing
    3. Chassis availability and accessibility
    4. Container positioning
    5. Container availability and accessibility
    6. Demurrage and detention charges
  5. Relative to the ocean carrier segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Ships slow steaming between ports
    2. IMO 2020 (International Maritime Organization’s sulfur in fuel reduction plan)
    3. Ocean carrier’s multi-company alliances resulting in vessel sharing
    4. Trend toward larger vessels (>10,000 TEU’s)
    5. Empty container logistics
    6. Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
  6. Relative to the port segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Land space limitations at ports
    2. Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
    3. Hours of operations
    4. Level of automation
    5. Labor productivity
  7. Relative to the rail segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Turn times of trains at port terminals and container yards
    2. Transit times to and from ports
    3. Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
    4. Level of automation
    5. Rail equipment requirements
    6. Cargo loading and weight requirements
  8. Relative to the trucking segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Highway and on-dock congestion
    2. Appointment systems
    3. Inefficient drayage of containers including empty returns to dock
    4. Turn times at port terminals and container yards
    5. Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
    6. Level of automation
    7. Trucking equipment requirements
    8. Cargo loading and weight restrictions
  9. Relative to non-asset-based industry service provider segment (ocean freight forwarders, freight brokers, customs brokers, etc.), what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
    2. Level of automation
  10. How do the operations and regulations of various regulatory agencies impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Customs & Border Protection/Department of Homeland Security
    2. Food & Drug Administration
    3. United States Department of Agriculture
    4. California Air Resources Board
    5. United States Census Bureau
    6. Federal Maritime Commission
    7. United States Department of Transportation
    8. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and others
  11. Relative to the beneficial cargo owners, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
    1. Container availability
    2. Truck availability
    3. Railcar availability
    4. Transload and intermodal site availability
    5. Door-to-door supply chain timeline
    6. Costs to move cargo
    7. Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
    8. Cargo or container damage and resolution
    9. Capacity issues along any part of the transport mov
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