Horizon pushing for RFID readers along highways nationwide

Horizon pushing for RFID readers along highways nationwide    Horizon Services Group, the technology research and development subsidiary of Horizon Lines, is working to create a network of radio frequency identification readers on highways across the United States that could be the infrastructure backbone for a nationwide RFID container tracking system, a company representative said at an RFID conference in Dallas this week.
   A major obstacle halting the adoption of RFID in the intermodal logistics industry is a lack of reader infrastructure for tracking containers once they leave ports over the road to final destination, said Duncan Wright, director of business development for Horizon Services Group, during a presentation to delegates attending the RFID World conference.
   Working with state and federal transportation officials, HSG is proposing use of RFID reader infrastructure already in place on highways to create a national network for end-to-end, real-time intermodal container tracking.
   “This will be a significant step in solving the intermodal black hole,' Wright said. 'We could track assets in real-time, reduce unnecessary repositioning of containers, address congestion issues, improve asset utilization, and last, but certainly not least, increase supply chain security for everyone’s benefit.'
   Horizon Lines and Horizon Services Group completed implementation of the ocean carrier industry’s first fully functional, end-to-end intermodal active RFID tracking solution in Alaska in September.