ITS, eModal partner on predictive cargo availability pilot

The project will see the terminal operator and drayage appointment system provider collaborating to take unnecessary steps out of the cargo availability and appointment process.    A terminal in the Port of Long Beach is working with eModal, a platform that enables appointment scheduling for container pickups, to provide predictive visibility into container availability.
   International Transportation Service, the terminal operating subsidiary of “K” Line, is partnering with eModal, which merged with Advent Intermodal Solutions in 2012. The project will expand the eModal community portal to predict when import cargo becomes available for pickup at ITS’ Long Beach facility.
   “The solution will include two key capabilities to drive efficiency for ITS customers and their truckers,” the companies said. “Rather than just informing a dispatcher or trucker as to a future availability date/time, the new function will also fundamentally change the pre-gate and appointment processes in eModal by enabling the user to indicate their desire to either request an appointment slot or complete a pre-arrival notification automatically, negating the need to return to the portal to make an appointment after an availability message is received. It’s expected this should save the user up to 10 minutes per import container.”
   The companies said the bigger efficiency benefit lies in the ability to automatically secure a preferred pickup appointment, either a first available slot or an exact date/time. The project is slated for completion in November.
   “ITS analyzed how information on cargo availability was collected today between our shippers and their drayage partners and found a big opportunity to innovate,” said Sean Lindsay, chief operating officer, ITS. “With nearly all terminals in the port already using eModal to share container availability and make appointments, we felt it was the obvious place to share data and collaborate.”
   Port authorities and container terminals are increasingly seeking ways to provide more real-time and predictive data about cargo status and availability to increase cargo fluidity. GE Transportation and the Port of Los Angeles are engaged in a major data sharing pilot project.