Helping Supply Chain Stakeholders Solve Their Biggest Challenges
Whether clean truck initiatives, traffic mitigation programs, port-wide drayage truck registries or custom development, Advent eModal has a long history of helping supply chain stakeholders solve their biggest challenges and remove friction from the intermodal interchange points. Click on the Case Studies below to learn more about some of our past projects.
Ports of Los Angeles & Long Beach
Clean Truck Program for the Ports of Los Angeles / Long Beach Advent software & services help to reduce SoX/NoX emissions by 70% in the LA/LB port complexes.
Improving emissions, one truck at a time...
Tagging and tracking 20,000 trucks for a cleaner portIn 2009 a Clean Truck Program was implemented in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, as a central element of the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), which targeted major sources of air emissions in and around the ports, including ships, trains, trucks, and cargo handling equipment.
Advent’s prior success with in thePierPASS/OffPeakemissions reduction program led the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to engage Advent again to help implement their Clean Truck Program initiative. In this project, Advent resources outfitted over 20,000 trucks with WhereNet RFID tags to enable real-time movement tracking at the 12 local terminals and to help assess and collect containerized freight fees that would ultimately help fund a new fleet of clean-burning harbor drayage trucks. Newer model year trucks were exempt from the fee, which encouraged owners to upgrade their vehicles to newer, cleaner models.
The Ports established a common customer service center, staffed by port and Advent resources, to help deal with a host of adoption and operational issues. An Advent tracking solution (Port Check) was developed to pair live data feeds from RFID readers with gate transaction information from terminals, producing a global monitor of movements from all trucks and the subsequent levying of correct charges to each one, based on the condition of the truck’s engine and emissions equipment. As the correct charge was applied to each truck, the Clean Truck Fee was processed and invoiced to the responsible party by Port Check.
After one year of deployment in February of 2009, the program reduced the rate of port truck emissions by an estimated 70%. By 2012 (full implementation), port truck emissions were reduced by more than 80% based on a total banning of the last highly polluting trucks from port terminals.
Today, virtually all of the drayage trucks servicing the Port terminals are 2007 or newer models.
WEST COAST MARINE TERMINAL OPERATORS - WCMTOA
West Coast Terminal Operators Agreement(WCMTOA)
The eModal Drayage Truck Registry module provides a cloud-based solution to standardize and streamline the management and validation of over 23,000 truck movements per day in USWC ports
Advent’s eModal® Drayage Truck Registry (DTR) was implemented on the west coast of the US as the preferred trucker database and truck validation engine for marine terminal operators in the Ports of Oakland, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Seattle/Tacoma.
A Common Truck Registry for the US West Coast
WCMTOA, a discussion agreement filed with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in 2004, enables marine terminal operators on the US West Coast to collectively discuss common operational practices and standardize certain processes/programs.
These common programs include the PierPASS Program and Clean Truck Program in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, and the Comprehensive Truck Management Program (CTMP) in Oakland, California. Ten terminal operating companies manage more than 25 container terminals across these port areas. The eModal DTR was selected as a common cloud-based software solution to enable motor carriers to manage their truck fleets, drivers and RFID tags (required for entry).
The project entailed a custom integration between the eModal DTR and WhereNet RFID tag location systems in order to monitor the entry & exit of trucks and enforce compliance with the port-related programs. As trucks enter the gates of most west coast terminals, the truck-mounted RFID tags are read by in-lane WherePort readers in order to grant or deny the trucks access to the terminal (based upon port program compliance). All program compliance and validation is stored in the eModal DTR, available in real time through a TruckerCheck API called during gate operations. Through eModal, the WCMTOA now has one common, self-service drayage truck database which dramatically simplifies the administration of the motor carrier and drivers. Additionally, the marine terminal operators rely on the customer support provided by eModal to help the drayage community maintain this information and keep all truck-related data up to date. This tool is widely accepted within the trucking community and has been the basis for verification for nearly all major port initiatives on the US west coast.
pierpass
PierPass Off Peak Program Reducing daytime congestion in the ports of LA & Long Beach
The PierPASS off-peak gate program has grown to handle 55% of all container traffic at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports and is reducing port and road congestion by enabling millions of truck visits to occur at night. OffPeak Program Designed to Cut Congestion
OffPeak is the off-peak hours program created by PierPASS, a not-for-profit company created by marine terminal operators at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. Created in 2005 to address congestion, security, and air quality around the ports, OffPeak established five new shifts per week during off-peak hours.
As an incentive to use these off-peak shifts and to cover the added cost of the shifts, a Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) was enacted for most cargo movement during peak hours (Monday through Friday, 3:00AM to 6:00PM). Thus, the OffPeak program provides an incentive for cargo owners to move cargo at night and on weekends, which reduces truck traffic, pollution, and port congestion during peak daytime traffic hours. In 2005, PierPASS awarded the initial contract for this program to a large toll collection system provider. However, the provider had a narrow focus on toll collection, and was unable to understand the nuanced requirements of trading EDI with 13 marine terminals.
In 2008, PierPASS realized the weakness in their existing solution architecture and posted requirements for a replacement solution. In May 2008, PierPASS awarded Advent Intermodal Solutions a three-year operations and system replacement contract.
Advent’s Port Community System (PCS) provided PierPASS the solution they were looking for. The Advent PCS’s interface incorporated an extensive knowledge of container terminal and shipping operations, which proved critical to enable OffPeak’s long-term success.
Today, the OffPeak program continues to be achieve its primary goals. Over the past eight years, PierPASS off-peak gates have grown to handle approximately 55% of all container traffic at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, and accommodates more than 23 million truck transactions annually. The OffPeak program has greatly eased congestion on city streets and nearby freeways during daytime business hours, and has reduced emissions from trucks idling outside of terminals and in traffic.
By spreading traffic across more hours, the OffPeak program also makes better use of valuable port assets, reduces the uncertainty of delivery times, and improves turn times for trucks and drivers. For more information, please visit:www.PierPASS.org
port of oakland
Digitizing Landside Cargo Flow at the Port of Oakland Streamlining landside operations by ensuring data consistency and building stakeholder trust
One system of record for the Port of Oakland establishing a platform for the future.
A collaboration platform driving efficiency and cargo velocity for all port stakeholders.
Signs of the Times...Strategically positioned on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, the busy Port of Oakland has been in operation since 1927. Over time, seaport operations have become busier, more complicated and in need of some additional help.
The daily stresses of managing incoming and outgoing port cargo traffic had become more frustrating because the ways in which critical information among the Port’s four terminals was disseminated had not kept up with the times. Chief among these frustrations was the lack of a single place to view, analyze and track cargo data for all shippers, truckers, terminal operators and other stakeholders. Without this data visibility, BCOs and truckers constantly second-guessed the whereabouts of their cargo and extra work started to pile up quickly for those managing the terminals.
That situation changed on May 24, 2018, when the Oakland Portal, “a one-stop, online gateway” to streamline and expedite information sharing, went live. Streamlined Access
Designed and engineered by Advent Intermodal Solutions under the direction of the Port Efficiency Task Force (a combination of local port stakeholders), the new digital platform was built on Advent’s eModal® platform, which was already being used by Oakland’s four marine terminal operators. This interface was a customized solution that tackled difficult challenges that are unique to the Port of Oakland.
Now, shippers, terminal operators, cargo handlers and other stakeholders are able to access the information they need online, in one location. The portal streamlines terminal operations and facilitates collaboration throughout the Port by providing greater cargo data visibility and transparency.
Advent executive Allen Thomas explains how the portal benefits stakeholders: “Before, people had to go to multiple websites and make phone calls to get this information,” he said. “With this community 'port portal' template, both port authorities and their terminal operators can channel all the critical information kept in the eModal® platform to guide users through a simple, customizable interface that they control.” Finding Solutions
One of the changes the Port of Oakland wanted to make was to simplify the search for information so that port customers could pick up and deliver cargo more efficiently. Now stakeholders can visit a single site to:
See vessel schedules
View cargo status
Make terminal appointments and pay fees
Find empty container return information
Read up to the minute operational notices
Find marine terminal open-hour information
Enhance information-gathering using Port and terminal web cameras
Get the latest truck turn times at each marine terminal
The cutting edge, online gateway is designed to significantly streamline landside cargo operations andreduce truck turn times at marine terminals. Consolidating Information
Ships, trucks and trains converge at the Port of Oakland’s four terminals, which are operated by separate companies. Incoming and outgoing cargo arrives and must be sent to the proper destination, whether that is aboard a vessel leaving for Singapore or on a truck bound for Las Vegas. Through the new Oakland Portal, a unified customer interface is available to all four marine terminals and will eventually extend to any facility that cargo flows within the port complex. Cargo owners and their supply chain stakeholders can find out when to expect cargo availability. Trucking companies can schedule container pickup. Looking at Options
For Advent, creating a state-of-the-art digital collaboration platform for a world-class port was business as usual. Whether it involves finding a vessel in port by facility, checking a container status via a custom Watchlist or making an appointment to pick up cargo, the new terminal operations software is designed to make each workday run more smoothly for Port of Oakland customers and stakeholders alike. The standard features are publicly available to all users, and more specialized and password-protected eModal functions about their cargo, such as the ability to make terminal pickup appointments and pay fees, require company and user registration and validation by Advent resources. The Portal is live now and new features are already funded for phased deployments planned through 2018 which include incorporating performance metrics and KPI dashboards for users as well as real time turn time calculations citing any congestion at all terminals. A Leading Role
Improving the flow of information among its terminals is vital to the efficiency of a major port. In Oakland, the feeling is that by using the new online gateway, shippers will be able to manage international supply chains with greater ease and efficiency. While the Oakland Portal is thought to be the first digitized platform of its kind in the realm of seaport operations, other ports are expected to follow suit. “We hope that the Oakland Portal will meet the needs of our stakeholders to improve efficiency and the flow of information,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “If we are successful, it could be something other ports replicate.” For more information, visit portofoakland.emodal.com.
Northwest SEaport Alliance
Port of Seattle Truck Registry eModal DTR supports clean truck program by streamlining truck management and validation in Seattle
In order to comply with goals stated in the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy in 2008, the Port of Seattle leveraged the eModal Drayage Truck Registry (DTR) to help manage and verify drayage trucks entering their port complex.
eModal driving port emission program complianceThe eModal DTR was successfully implemented to help ensure that only clean trucks access the Seattle port terminals. Drayage truck drivers are now required to operate trucks with a 1994 or newer engine.
Since the solution went live in 2010, more than 5,900 trucks and 1,100 trucking companies/truck owners have registered in the Port of Seattle’s DTR. The DTR requires the truck’s VIN, license plate, make/model, and contact information to be registered. If compliant, the driver or company is issued a “Green Gateway” sticker, which identifies their vehicle as being clean and ready to enter a port terminal. The Port of Seattle has since moved to an RFID tag truck identification program that is integrated to eModal on the entire US West Coast (with RFID tag order fulfillment and support being supplied by Advent professional services resources). The current DTR has been combined with eModal in conjunction with services for RFID tag distribution and management. As a result, all trucking companies serving the Port of Seattle are now using the same DTR as other ports on the west coast. This has brought efficiency to the drayage industry because they no longer need to maintain truck-related data in multiple registries, and they can manage their RFID tags and requests within eModal.
Port of NY / NJ
A Common Collaboration Portal for New York/New Jersey Streamlining landside operations by ensuring data consistency and building stakeholder trust
A common system of record for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey was the first of its kind in the US A unique platform driving efficiency and cargo velocity for all port stakeholders.
TIPS: The First of its Kind In late 2013, the Port Authority convened the Port Performance Task Force (PPTF) comprised of executive level port constituents. The goal of the Task Force was to identify challenges to port efficiency and provide a forum wherein everyone could discuss their common interests; identify challenges to port efficiency and service reliability and recommend potential solutions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), all aimed at maintaining the port’s position as a preeminent port in the United States. After extensive collaboration, the task force produced 23 recommendations, which the PPTF prioritized according to impact on long-term efficiency and service reliability as well as feasibility of implementation. These recommendations, based on input from the port community, indicated a need for increased efficiency, measurement, communication of data in a timely and meaningful manner, and transparency. We were contracted to address two of the Primary recommendations:
Integrated Port Community System (PCS) Utilization: An integrated Port Community System to optimize logistics planning and information sharing is required to ensure key information is communicated in real-time to the port community.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology to Measure and Report on Truck Movements: RFID technology can be used to measure and report on various truck movement times; including turn times within the terminal, queue times at terminal entrance gates, and traffic on the port roadways leading to terminals. The availability of near real-time information on actual conditions will facilitate informed decision making which could lead to better productivity. RFID can be the key to more accurate planning and information that is more reliable.
Port Community System
Today, the Port of New York/ New Jersey uses an Advent developed system known as Port Truck Pass (PTP) to issue and manage Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for drayage trucks. PTP was been developed by Sustainable Terminal Services, INC (STS); a nonprofit corporation composed of the five major container terminal operators at the port. This system can be readily modified and expanded to include additional services in a single website. It is envisioned that the Port Truck Pass system will provide more enhanced services to the port community.
Real time information on container availability and bookings;
Real time information on highway and port traffic congestion;
Visibility of inbound and outbound movements at terminal gates;
Notices and alerts (i.e. vessel cut offs, extended gates, etc.);
Equipment availability;
Information on CBP exams; and
Accessible via an Internet enabled computer or a Smart Phone Application.
Truck Tracking Through RFID
Reliable and accurate information about conditions throughout the supply chain enables informed decision making, resulting in greater efficiency and productivity. Today, information about terminal conditions is reported one to two times a day by some terminals in what is often referred to as a “burst fax.” These reports simply state qualitatively that the gates are, for example, “light and running free” or “heavy traffic expect delays.” Similarly, the truck drivers have taken to reporting conditions on their own through the Port Driver Facebook page with comments that are not helpful and often inaccurate the moment they are posted.
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system was introduced in the port to identify all trucks seeking access to the secure area of the container terminals. Through a series of readers installed at each container terminal gate, small RFID tags mounted on nearly 16,000 trucks that service the port are automatically read, allowing the terminal operator to determine if the truck meets the requirements for entry.
RFID technology is a cost effective and reliable method to seamlessly monitor activity. The current RFID system can be expanded to quantitatively measure and report on various truck movement times including turn times within the terminal, queue times at terminal entrance gates, and traffic on the port roadways leading to the terminals. However, since the RFID system is privately owned and operated through STS, discussions are needed to explore the viability of expanding the existing system, attendant related costs and who should bear such costs.
The information that is generated by a RFID system should be available to the trucker and/or beneficial cargo owners on a transactional basis and be made publicly available on an aggregated basis. It is recommended that at a minimum RFID readers be installed at both the out gates (or closest approximation) as well as the entrance to all terminal queues. The queue area would need to be defined and agreed to by multiple stakeholders including terminal operators, truckers, and the Port Authority.
Terminal Appointment System Advent has also completed the first NYNJ marine terminal appointment system Go Live for the Global Container Terminals automated facility in Bayonne, NJ. Publicly released results confirmed by GCT in JOC.com have shown turn times reduced by over 45% following implementation of the NYNJ customized appointment system.
Virginia Port Authority
Port of Virginia Community Portal A common community platform to increase cargo velocity and customer service statewide
Leveraging eModal Port Manager, a customized, white-label version of the eModal Community Portal, the Port Authority of Virginia has provided its entire stakeholder community with a single window collaboration platform providing container status, motor carrier truck registration, terminal reservations and an integrated mobile app.
A Common Port Community Platform to Drive Trade
The Port of Virginia and their associated stakeholder community have been eModal users since 2013. The eModal platform was initially implemented at the port’s Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) to support an appointment program implemented across multiple cargo types. The operational purpose of this program was to help meter truck flow at their gate complex and to prevent bottlenecks at their yard equipment staging areas defined for the transfer of cargo to straddle carrier operations.
At the time of the initial eModal implementation, The Port of Virginia was also experiencing lengthy wait times for the trucking community servicing their facilities and an overwhelming reluctance on their part to adopt the appointment system. The Virginia trucking community was extremely hesitant to embrace this approach, as they felt it would lead to more work on their part without improved turn times at the NIT facility.
Because of this reluctance to participate, the port extended a thorough community outreach campaign to educate the trucking community and to ultimately promote their buy in and adoption of the eModal appointment system. Advent worked with Port of Virginia personnel and trucking community leaders to convey the value of the appointment system during trucker work group forums, webinars and overall outreach to help improve the NIT experience.
The port experienced some initial success in the form of clout with a skeptical trucking community and improved terminal queue and turn times, however they came to believe that for the Port of Virginia to grow as a legitimate east coast option for larger ships and their BCO customers, and to attract these constituents, the appointment system was only a small part of the overall solution to help improve their productivity.
Fast forward to 2016, with the Port of Virginia on the heels of their Navis N4 TOS upgrade and in the midst of a major infrastructure project, the port approached Advent about the possibility of implementing a larger, more complex solution to complement the investment in their new gate complex. The Port of Virginia understood that their infrastructure investment also required an upgrade in their TOS, related technologies and overall operational approach to take advantage of the efficiencies in their new gate complex.
Advent eModal was re-engaged to work within a team of vendors that included RFID technology integrators, gate system providers and system integration partners to deliver a solution including a custom branded portal for the Port of Virginia stakeholder community. With a desire to ride the wave of familiarity and limited success the port had achieved with the eModal appointment system, Advent proposed a solution for a custom branded community portal powered by eModal. The Port of Virginia realized the value of this approach and implemented this solution for the stakeholder community under their proprietary Port of Virginia Pro-Pass brand.
The solution consists of the following eModal functionality:
eModal PreGate – Appointment and pre-advice solution
eModal Community Portal – Visibility portal for import and export cargo and vessel schedules.
eModal Mobile – Mobile application for import container availability and eModal PreGate support
eModal Drayage Truck Registry - Trucking company, truck and driver registry with RFID tag support
eModal RFID tag distribution and management services
The Port of Virginia project is relatively new and on-going, however the initial implementation and adoption at the Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) has exceeded expectations for the Port of Virginia. The eModal PreGate system, Drayage Truck Registry and Community Portal are currently implemented to support this operation on the form of the Port of Virginia Pro-Pass brand. This solution will soon be expanded to support operations at the Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and future implementations at facilities in Portsmouth, Richmond and inland port locations.
The partnership will also empower the Port of Virginia to stay aligned with the core eModal user base, as the “white labeled” implementation of eModal for the port keeps them aligned with the same code base, enhancements and release schedule provided to other port and terminal users of the eModal portal.
South Carolina State Ports Authority
South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCPA) SC integrates a new Tideworks Terminal Operating System (TOS) with a full service eModal backed community portal
The SCPA has enjoyed considerable container volume growth over the past several years. This included record 2019 volumes and expanded services at the inland ports in both Dylan and Greer, SC, as well as the new Hugh Leatherman Terminal (HLT) and Navy Base Intermodal Facility (NBIF) for rail transfers.
To help further support this growth strategy, SCPA has recognized a need to modernize its current suite of software applications to provide efficiency,agility and a clear competitive advantage enabling it to quickly and accurately meet demands of its BCO and trucking stakeholders.The decision to begin migration fromits YMS system in favor of the Tideworks Mainsail TOS was reflective of this strategy. However, it brings into question the long term viability and supportability of its in-house Go!Port and Rapid Rail systems given the considerable integration between the three environments.
Advent eModal brings a solution to facilitate the implementation ofits eModal®community platform (to initially integrate with but eventually augment SCPA’s GO!Portsolution),as well asimplementation of a customizable, white-label version of the eModal Dray Exchange platform (as a means of replacing the SCPA Rapid Rail solution).
Defining the Need
Migrating away from custom-built, in-house applications (GO!Port & Rapid Rail) towards broadly distributed platforms like eModal provides some greater efficiencies to SCPA and its stakeholder community.
First to consider should be the long-termsupportability of any in-house development effort versus the cost/benefit and product fit from solutions available in the marketplace. eModal’s broad adoption history provides SCPA and its stakeholders with an extensive, configurable feature set that represents a true commercial product and which includes an integrated mobile app, infinitely customizable appointment options, rich terminal information capabilities, as well as automated collection and distribution of vessel schedules and empty container return information. SCPA will continue to benefit from product innovations and enhancements available free of charge in future releases, as well.
eModal will also help SCPA launch and/or better manage multi-purpose port programs and scorecard initiatives (e.g. PierPass fee collection, clean truck initiatives, RFID tag management and metrics collections for congestion monitoring, etc.). eModal provides a single, common platform to extend cargo visibility across many terminals and ports in North America thereby normalizing the interaction between large BCO’s, 3PL’s and motor carriers moving freight through more than one port area. Community users that operate in multiple ports have a familiar, common portal to service many different needs such as cargo visibility and fee payment.
The use of a common, statewide eModal Port Manager branded community portaluser interface (vs. eModal.com) will ensure consistent port branding, process and user experience before and after the Tideworks TOS migration (while seamlessly leveraging existing GO!Port prearrival functions before Mainsail go live).
Most importantly, the eModal platform is deployed within an innovative cloud-based environment and requires no hardware or software for SCPA to buy or maintain yet still ensures 24/7 availability to over 160,000 users across North America.
Lastly, the eModal platform will serve as a ‘digital’ foundation from which to connect and collaborate directly with stakeholders enabling them to digitally transform their businesses as well and eliminate the typically manually intensive processes tied to moving cargo (i.e. checking status, paying fees and making appointments).
With eModal Data Services, these functions can be automated via a direct (system-to-system) link with all stakeholders in the supply chain.
Port miami
Port Miami Drayage Truck Registry PortMiami initiates the registration and RFID tagging of trucks to help optimize terminal throughput and on-terminal truck identification
In 2020, the Port of Miami turned to Advent eModal to use the eModal Community Portal and Drayage Truck same (DTR) for the registration of trucks and associated RFID tags. Terminal Operators, such as APM Terminal's South Florida Container Terminal, will utilized the eModal truck identification feeds to automate gates and enable on terminal coordination of truck movements.
The eModal DTR provides the following:
Registration of trucks and associated RFID tags
0Allows integration with readers at MTO or any location throughout the city
Self service motor carrier registration & validation portal
Ensures port / terminal program compliance
Ability to validate trucker / driver / shipment / carrier authorization at gate or pre-gate with MTO data integration
Registration & continuous validation of motor carrier insurance & USDOT FMCSA operating authority
Registration & validation of driver’s license, TWIC & motor carrier relationship
Fulfillment of truck tag purchases, delivery and return authorization
The same eModal Community Portal, operating on a Software-as-a-Service (Saas) platform, that facilitates the Drayage Truck Registry program also accepts data feeds to provide real-time cargo visibility across all participating terminals.
Panama portal
Panama Portal A single, centralized information hub for Panama logistics
Timely information leads to better decision making...and for those moving cargo through the five Panama Canal area container terminals, getting critical data on container availability, location and status in a timely manner has been a big problem. The Portal for Panama initiative was born after extensive community outreach with key terminal operators, shippers, truckers and other stakeholders in the Panama Canal region. The portal serves as a call to action to join a collaborative, independent and transparent consortium to leverage a proven port community system that increases cargo visibility, velocity and volume through a single, centralized information hub.
A single portal for all Panama Canal terminal operators, truckers, shippers and agents, providing:
Terminal information & CCTV camera feeds
Cargo status & location
Pre-arrival & appointments
Fee payment
Peel pile & group codes
Vessel schedules
Empty return instructions
APM Terminals
APM Terminals Custom development & ongoing support of mission critical enterprise systems
Since 2010, APM Terminals has relied on Advent Professional Services to provide a custom-developed enterprise terminal appointment system as well as ongoing development and support of over 12 mission critical terminal and back-office applications
CustomEnterprise Appointment System
As a web-based transactional application, the primary users of the system are the trucking community (dispatchers), consignees and possibly US Customs. The appointment system encompasses all gate transaction types with users reserving time periods for container pick up and drop off. The appointment system has the ability to set different time periods by day of the week and by transaction type. It can set maximum limits on the number of appointments by transaction type, time period and by groups of yard blocks. The application includes the collection of pre-advice data when arranging the appointment. Appointment data is also visible in the TOS for yard planning and allocations.
Professional Services – Development and Support – Back-Office Transport Applications
Since 2010, APM Terminals has also relied on Advent Professional Services to develop, enhance and support over 12 mission critical back-office systems in support of their operations. Advent eModal's professional service project and development teams provide consulting services, development and support for systems managing terminal operations, fee payments, accounting and other critical functions.
Port botany | Transport for new south wales
Port Botany/Transport for New South Wales A revolutionary platform to drive visibility and efficiency for New South Wales ports and the entire landside container supply chain
Integrated platform and mobile app for landside performance metrics and truck management analytics for Port Botany/Transport for NewSouth Wales
One partner, three project phases to modernize port & landside operations
The New South Wales (NSW) government established the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS) initiative, led and coordinated by Sydney Ports Corporation (SPC), later changed to Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW). PBLIS aimed to improve the competitive access and service arrangements of container movements between stevedores and transport carriers at Port Botany, Sydney, Australia. The government determined that poor landside performance at the port created an inefficient and ineffective supply chain that placed a burden on the NSW economy and industry.
It was common for queues to extend around the entire port precinct (two to four hour waiting times were common), and demurrage charges to beneficial cargo owners at USD 100 or more per hour were the norm. The objective of the PBLIS program was to maximize the amount of trade passing through Port Botany by making the landside supply chain more efficient, transparent, and consistent, and by transitioning to 24x7 operations.
PBLIS would establish the setting of and compliance with access and performance standards relating to access by road carriers to the Port Botany Container Terminals, the performance of road carriers at those terminals, and the performance of stevedores in providing services to road carriers at those terminals. These performance standards would improve efficiency at Port Botany’s landside interface by encouraging the port supply chain’s stakeholders to be accountable to each other for their performance.
In order to measure performance, SPC turned to Advent Intermodal Solutions to provide a performance management system for drayage companies and stevedores servicing the port complex. Advent eModal proposed use of their Port Community System as a tool for performance metrics to help SPC measure the success of the new strategy. This port’s fee-based program monitors truck turnaround time in the port complex. To do this, a trucker first makes an appointment with the marine terminal they will be visiting for pickup or delivery of cargo. Once the truck enters the port complex, a series of radio frequency ID (RFID) readers—in conjunction with port-issued truck tags “start the clock” by monitoring the movement of the truck throughout the port complex, including pre-gate queueing and on-Terminal events.
If the truck is delayed beyond the defined threshold for their appointment at a terminal, the stevedore pays a fee to the trucker. In turn, if the trucking company does not stick to their defined appointment, they are subject to a fee payable to the terminal they were scheduled to call. This fee gives both the drayage and stevedoring communities ownership in the program, and ultimately helps streamline the movement of cargo in and out of the port. PBLIS performance standards and industry financial penalties commenced on 28 February 2011. Stevedores and truck carriers now incur reciprocal industry financial penalties for poor performance against the PBLIS Operational Performance Management (OPM) standards.
The OPM standards that are measured for truck carriers include the following:
Early arrivals (payable only once a Truck Marshalling Area is in operation)
Late arrivals
No-shows
Cancellation of bookings
The standards that are measured for include the following:
Minimum slots offered per hour
Truck turnaround time and wait time
Truck non-service
Time zone cancellations
Financial penalties are issued via the stevedores’ invoicing process for which they are responsible. Stevedores send an invoice to truck carriers that have not met OPM standards (detailing penalties they owe), and are responsible for self-invoicing for financial penalties they owe to truck carriers. These invoicing processes are monitored and audited by SPC.
RFID readers were established at strategic points within the port complex to determine the volume within specific travel segments. These allow for the reporting of near-real-time traffic data to provide alerts to stakeholders via multiple communication methods (email, website and port signage). TfNSW currently has 25 RFID readers installed within the port complex collecting trucker data for traffic management, as well as incident mitigation. Data is compiled around the clock using standard web service calls to create logical Truck Trips at each terminal. These provide statistical data to monitor queue times, queue volume and trucker turn times in near-real-time and to build historical metrics for performance monitoring.
Lessons Learned
Stakeholder commitment is essential for the success of this type of monitoring program.
Building of the truck tracking data and Operations Performance data requires timely communication of the RFID reads. Any delays require additional logical sequencing of the reads and slows the reporting process.
Data quality is essential.
Duplicate reads must be accounted for and filtered.
Any missed reads due to equipment failures by either the port or trucker stakeholders will cause delays and possible incomplete metrics.
Rail Operations
Advent eModal has also developed a rail operational management module as part of the PBLIS and OPM system. The module was introduced in 2010 and was upgraded using new technology and better UI /UX tools in 2017.
The module provides for planned and actual train movements and placements within the Port Botany Yard. Stakeholders and external users have access to dashboards that show pertinent operational information. The application also supports a ‘Live’ Yard map that graphically shows the real-time location of the trains within the yard and stevedore sidings.
Mobile Application Development
An additional chapter in the application development for TfNSW highlighted the need to provide some of the operational information currently being captured in a Mobile application. This allowed the port community access to the following Live and Historical data – outside the confines of a ‘closed’ port system. The Mobile application was developed as a cost-effective addition to the TfNSW applications offering and was developed and launched in 2017.
It is available in Australia in Apple and Android versions and supports live and historical information.
Live Data
Truck Turn Time at each terminal
Number of Trucks in queue at each terminal
Average time in terminal queue at each terminal
Number of trucks in each terminal
Number of trucks in cargo link queue
Number of trucks in each Empty Container Parks
Truck turn time for trucks in each Empty Container Park
Historical Data
Average Truck Turn time
Penalty Query
Historical Data – Unforeseen events/slot reductions
SSA Marine
SSA Marine Professional services consulting to evaluate and select a Terminal Operating System for SSA bulk terminals
SSA Marine retained Advent Professional Services to lead an exhaustive analysis of both common and unique operating practices over its network of breakbulkterminals in North America in hopes of providing insight on whether to buy or build a next generation TOS to run its facilities.
Independent Analysis & Insight
In 2017, Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) Marine embarked upon a project to update its strategic business direction. A key outcome of that endeavor was the need for a new TOS to revolutionize its breakbulk and general cargo terminal operations.
SSA awarded Advent eModal a contract to work with executives and operations experts to outline a collective, five terminal set of requirements for a new TOS solution and then provide a strategic buy/build recommendation considering the globally available market offerings. The Advent eModal team worked first to document the unique feature sets needed to support SSA's varied terminal operations. The analysis covered the operational, organizational and customer needs that would eventually make up the optimum solution.
The buy / build analysis included:
Leveraging the analysis collected to date to create a conceptual solution framework
Identifying the minimum feature set required to support future operations among all terminals
A solution storyboard which allowed SSA to envision how the final solution would flow for the operation
A solution outline with buy and build functions identified and documented
Independent market analysis and scoring of available "off the shelf" solutions
Cost estimates for the build and rollout phases, including short list of qualified industry vendors
Functional specifications and business requirements to be used to support a buy or build solution decision
Timeline & milestones for build and rollout phases
The effort concluded with a detailed report and analysis of available vendors, options, costs and timelines to allow SSA to determine a direction forward in support of their expanding business in this segment.
Consolidated chassis management | CCM
Consolidated Chassis Management Portal Perfect to highlight success stories and capture leads by providing a downloadable white paper.
The new common chassis.com platform aims to revolutionize the chassis fleet management and operations model.
One common platform to drive efficiency
Contracted in 2009, Consolidated Chassis Management (CCM) selected Advent to create the Chassis.com platform and provide an industry wide solution to streamline mandated DVIR (driver/vehicle inspection reporting) and chassis maintenance and repair (M&R) operations. CCM, as the sole representative for the majority of major ocean carriers, is the primary supplier of chassis in North America. This web based solution, built on the backbone of Advent’s transportation portal platform, was implemented in response to the FMCSA regulations for chassis roadability and reporting requirements.
Integrated with the chassis.com solution, CCM additionally contracted Advent to implement their IEP M&R solution to manage the systematic maintenance and repair of over 150,000 chassis in North America. These chassis are located in 6 regional pools under CCM’s management. The M&R module of chassis.com enables turnkey process automation connecting IEP's and lessors to the national network of depot operators and service providers.
The platform provides all IEP's:
complete tariff management
equipment inspection
damage estimation tools
damage approval process for work orders associated to each lessors equipment demands
EDI messaging
automated invoicing including damage re-bill processing
parts inventory management
comprehensive reporting engine to all stakeholders
ONE | Ocean network express
Ocean Network Express [ONE] ONE Launches North American Fee Payment Portal
In order to offer its customers, the highest level of standardized service across North America, ONE turned to Advent eModal to develop an Import Demurrage Payment Portal. This unifies activities previously handled separately through various terminal systems and ONE’s systems. Launched in late 2019, ONE selected the eModal Community Portal for these activities.
Key Features of the Program Include:
Single point of payment (U.S. and Canada)
Quick, online ACH & Credit Card payment
Real time automated demurrage hold release upon payment
No post out-gate demurrage invoices
Appointments, pre gate, status information and fee payment integrated into a single platform Payment Options, including eCheck, Wire, ACH, Credit Card, 3rd Party Financial Platforms
In 1999 “K” Line contracted Advent eModal to develop from scratch a global terminal operating system to replace a mashup of back office systems and drive the business forward.
From Complexity to Simplicity...
Advent developed an n-tier application — with multiple middle tier servers deployed throughout the world — based on a single centralized Oracle database. While benefiting from the “thicker” Microsoft Visual Basic platform client, the system deploys automatically to the client via the middle tier server. This approach, revolutionary at the time, allowed “K” Line to deploy the application globally without having to visit each desktop for an installation. This project — completed in just under 18 months — reduced risk and increased ROI for KLine compared to other development options.
Advent eModal maintained the system for all “K” Line offices worldwide for three years prior to transitioning maintenance of the system to an internal IT group. The system is currently in use in every country in which “K” Line did business.
Chassis.com | gate control
Chassis Gate Control via chassis.com Real time authorization & validation of motor carriers attempting to depart with intermodal chassis at terminal/depot gates
Any chassis provider or IEP can securely validate and authorize a trucker removing a terminal chassis in real time through a common centralized platform
Chassis.com | Real time chassis usage & validation drives gate velocity.
As ocean lines exit the chassis supply game in North America, equipment providers are increasingly dependent on the chassis rental model, in which motor carriers pay per diem charges for chassis usage. This model requires a distributed gate control solution to validate whether a motor carrier is permitted by a specific chassis or equipment provider to take a chassis out of a facility. To tackle this challenge, Advent developed a gate control solution supporting multiple implementation methods.
With the new Advent eModal Chassis Gate Control system, marine terminal and depot operators alike are now able to sign up, download, and configure gate control chassis validation services by creating a free account on the Chassis.com website. Chassis providers provide the complementary reference and fleet data used during the live validation calls, also through the chassis.com platform.
As the chassis paradigm in North America continues to evolve, the need for a gate control solution will become a necessity for providers. At facilities where gate control technology has been adopted, equipment providers have seen a substantial decrease in unauthorized chassis usage. In turn, providers who have endorsed the technology have seen substantial financial savings and a decrease in damage to their assets by unauthorized or delinquent users.
