Secretary Pete Buttigieg Touts FLOW Information Initiative
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Greater than half a 12 months after the launch of an information-sharing discussion board meant to facilitate communication between freight stakeholders, the nation’s prime transportation officer gave it a powerful endorsement.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) provide chain discussion board, established to answer ongoing freight bottlenecks that disrupted entry to business transportation ports.
The Biden administration launched FLOW in mid-March. “Most Individuals would assume there’s extra information sharing than there’s,” Buttigieg informed freight and trucking executives final month, emphasizing that entry to such information may enhance dialogue amongst stakeholders. “That’s going to permit us to see issues within the system that we simply can’t see proper now, when it comes to the place the backups are going to be.”
Right now, the Biden-Harris Administration is asserting the launch of Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW), an information sharing effort with firms throughout the provision chain to hurry up the motion of products. https://t.co/i3yVjs6GSM
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) March 15, 2022
In expressing optimism about this system, the secretary additionally acknowledged potential challenges from data-sharing within the market. As he put it, “One potential impediment I can see finally is, as we develop it individuals begin to be sort of jealously protecting of their information.”
“We’re not going after anyone’s proprietary information,” he continued. “We’re simply making an attempt to get info that it will make sense for everyone to have. So we might must have that dialog later. However proper now, it’s so new that I’m very happy with the extent of participation we obtained and really conscious of that it’s on us to, I believe, get these prototypes going.”
Lyons
The administration describes the FLOW initiative as an information-sharing pilot program that goals to alleviate issues stemming from the motion of freight alongside key corridors. Ret. Gen. Stephen Lyons, port and provide chain envoy to the Biden-Harris administration provide chain disruptions job power, additionally has endorsed this system.
“The beginning of information sharing between business and [the U.S. Department of Transportation] is a crucial milestone for FLOW. We look ahead to persevering with to collaborate with business to develop this device to allow business to make extra knowledgeable selections that can enhance the motion of products alongside our provide chain,” Lyons mentioned just lately.
“Provide chain disruptions have raised nationwide consciousness of the necessity for improved info trade. Provide chain stakeholders deserve dependable, predictable and correct details about items motion and FLOW will check the concept that cooperation on foundational freight digital infrastructure is within the curiosity of each private and non-private events,” in line with background from the White Home. “FLOW is designed to help companies all through the provision chain and enhance accuracy of knowledge from end-to-end for a extra resilient provide chain.”
FLOW companions embrace DHL, BNSF Railway, C.H. Robinson, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Lengthy Seashore, TRAC Intermodal, True Worth, UPS Inc., FedEx Corp., Werner Enterprises, West Basin Container Terminal and Goal.
In an announcement following a gathering of stakeholders over the summer time, Scott Fremont, Goal’s vp of transportation, mentioned: “Goal stays dedicated to discovering options to the challenges dealing with the U.S. provide chain. We are going to proceed to work with the administration and business leaders to extend information transparency to maneuver items extra effectively and meet the wants of American households and the U.S. financial system.”
“It’s a vital job at an necessary time, and we’re happy to be engaged in a plan that can profit U.S. customers and companies alike by making this nation extra aggressive in worldwide commerce,” mentioned Mario Cordero, government director of the Port of Lengthy Seashore.
