VitalRail/Containerized International Freight IntelliConference: Difference between revisions

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== Context ==
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Containerized International Freight IntelliConference}}
=== Background Statement ===
Globalization of supply chains is linked to heightened congestion and operational complexities in the movement of containerized freight across North America. Stakeholders engaged in international containerized freight highlight substantial inefficiencies in the present utilization of ISO containers, chassis, trucks, railroads, ships, and supporting infrastructure.


* Globalization of supply chains has exacerbated congestion and chaos in how containerized freight is moved through North America.
===Core Question===
* Stakeholder groups involved in containerized international freight face significant inefficiencies in the current use of ISO containers, chassis, trucks, railroads, ships, and related infrastructure.
What improvements can stakeholders identify for moving containerized international freight through supply chains to improve efficiency, capacity, and commercial benefit with the least impact on the environment and community?


== Core Question ==
=== Dialogue Questions ===
 
# What strategies can North American ports and their partners implement to enhance capacity and efficiency in handling the increasing volume of containerized freight, especially from larger vessels?
==== What improvements can stakeholders identify for moving containerized international freight through supply chains to improve efficiency, capacity, and commercial benefit with the least impact on the environment and community? ====
## How can port infrastructure upgrades be expedited and optimized to meet current and future demand?
 
## What measures can be taken to reduce container dwell times at ports and improve the flow of inbound and outbound cargo?
== Round One Questions ==
# How can the effects of peak seasonal demand periods and rapid volume surges (e.g., from e-commerce growth) on port and intermodal network congestion be better managed?
 
## What collaborative planning or technological solutions could smooth out freight flows and prevent bottlenecks?
# What performance measures should guide planning of an optimal container logistics system for each of these stakeholder groups?
# How can the industry collectively address chassis shortages, imbalances, and utilization inefficiencies across North America?
## Equipment providers
## What solutions, including asset pooling, improved tracking, or regulatory adjustments, could ensure chassis are available where and when needed?
## Ocean carriers
# What operational and technological improvements are needed to enhance the efficiency of drayage operations (trucking to/from ports and rail yards)?
## Port Authorities
## How can truck turn times at terminals be reduced
## Land freight transportation providers
## What role can extended gate hours or appointment systems play?
## Non-asset-based industry service provider
# How can rail terminal congestion and bottlenecks be alleviated to improve the seamless transfer of containers between modes?
## Regulatory agencies
## What investments in rail infrastructure, technology, or operational practices would enhance intermodal rail fluidity?
##* Customs Border Protection/Department of Homeland Security
# What strategies can improve the overall utilization of intermodal assets (containers, chassis, railcars, trucks) to reduce idle time and repositioning costs?
##* U.S. Department of Agriculture
# What information-sharing platforms and data standards are necessary to create a unified and transparent view of container movements across the entire supply chain?
##* U.S. Food and Drug Administration
## How can real-time visibility for all stakeholders (shippers, carriers, terminals, logistics providers) be improved to enable proactive decision-making?
##* U.S. Department of Transportation
# What mechanisms can be established to foster greater collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders involved in containerized freight (e.g., shipping lines, ports, railroads, trucking companies, shippers, terminal operators, technology providers)?
##* Federal Motor Carriers Safety Association
## How can incentives be aligned to encourage system-wide efficiency rather than mode-specific optimization?
##* Federal Maritime Commission
# How can the industry collectively minimize the incidence of demurrage and detention charges by improving operational efficiency and communication across the supply chain?
## Beneficial cargo owners/shippers
# How can the North American containerized freight system enhance its durability in response to unforeseen disruptions (e.g., pandemics, geopolitical events, climate impacts)?
## Communities
## What contingency planning, diversification of routes, or adaptive strategies are needed to maintain supply chain fluidity during crises?
## Environmentalists
# What role can government policies and regulatory frameworks play in supporting investment, collaboration, and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and reliability of containerized freight movement?
## Terminal Operators
## Land Developers
## Private Equity
## Debt Providers
## Municipal Bond Providers
# What performance measures should guide the planning of an optimal containerized freight system for each of these stakeholder groups?
# What equipment-related inefficiencies need to be addressed?
## Chassis positioning
## Chassis pairing
## Chassis availability and accessibility
## Chassis maintenance
## Container positioning
## Container storage
## Container availability and accessibility
## Demurrage and detention charges
# Relative to the ocean carrier segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
## Ships slow steaming between ports
## IMO 2020 (International Maritime Organization’s sulfur in fuel reduction plan)
## Ocean carrier’s multi-company alliances resulting in vessel sharing
## Trend toward larger vessels (20,000+ TEUs)
## Empty container logistics
## Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
## Inhibited ability to match return loads for export
# Relative to the port segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
## Land space limitations at ports
## Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
## Hours of operations
## Level of automation
## Labor productivity
# Relative to the rail segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
## Turn times of trains at port terminals and container yards
## Transit times to and from ports
## Railyard capacity
## Railcar availability
## Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
## Level of automation
## Rail equipment requirements
## Cargo loading and weight requirements
## Switching requirements for placing containers on trains by destination
## Destination capacity
# Relative to the trucking segment, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
## Highway and on-dock congestion
## Appointment systems
## Inefficient drayage of containers including empty returns to dock
## Turn times at port terminals and container yards
## Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
## Level of automation
## Trucking equipment requirements
## Cargo loading and weight restrictions
# 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?
## Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
## Level of automation
## Commercial priorities
# How do the operations and regulations of various regulatory agencies impact the flow of containerized cargo?
## Customs & Border Protection/Department of Homeland Security
## Food & Drug Administration
## United States Department of Agriculture
## California Air Resources Board
## United States Census Bureau
## Federal Maritime Commission
## United States Department of Transportation
## Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
# Relative to the beneficial cargo owners, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?
## Container availability
## Truck availability
## Railcar availability
## Transload and intermodal site availability
## Door-to-door supply chain timeline
## Costs to move cargo
## Timeliness and accuracy of communications between parties
## Cargo or container damage and resolution
## Capacity issues along any part of the transport mov
# Relative to the location and configuration of cargo transfer facilities between domestic and international containers, what dynamics in each area below impact the flow of containerized cargo?

Latest revision as of 14:04, 15 July 2025

Background Statement

Globalization of supply chains is linked to heightened congestion and operational complexities in the movement of containerized freight across North America. Stakeholders engaged in international containerized freight highlight substantial inefficiencies in the present utilization of ISO containers, chassis, trucks, railroads, ships, and supporting infrastructure.

Core Question

What improvements can stakeholders identify for moving containerized international freight through supply chains to improve efficiency, capacity, and commercial benefit with the least impact on the environment and community?

Dialogue Questions

  1. What strategies can North American ports and their partners implement to enhance capacity and efficiency in handling the increasing volume of containerized freight, especially from larger vessels?
    1. How can port infrastructure upgrades be expedited and optimized to meet current and future demand?
    2. What measures can be taken to reduce container dwell times at ports and improve the flow of inbound and outbound cargo?
  2. How can the effects of peak seasonal demand periods and rapid volume surges (e.g., from e-commerce growth) on port and intermodal network congestion be better managed?
    1. What collaborative planning or technological solutions could smooth out freight flows and prevent bottlenecks?
  3. How can the industry collectively address chassis shortages, imbalances, and utilization inefficiencies across North America?
    1. What solutions, including asset pooling, improved tracking, or regulatory adjustments, could ensure chassis are available where and when needed?
  4. What operational and technological improvements are needed to enhance the efficiency of drayage operations (trucking to/from ports and rail yards)?
    1. How can truck turn times at terminals be reduced
    2. What role can extended gate hours or appointment systems play?
  5. How can rail terminal congestion and bottlenecks be alleviated to improve the seamless transfer of containers between modes?
    1. What investments in rail infrastructure, technology, or operational practices would enhance intermodal rail fluidity?
  6. What strategies can improve the overall utilization of intermodal assets (containers, chassis, railcars, trucks) to reduce idle time and repositioning costs?
  7. What information-sharing platforms and data standards are necessary to create a unified and transparent view of container movements across the entire supply chain?
    1. How can real-time visibility for all stakeholders (shippers, carriers, terminals, logistics providers) be improved to enable proactive decision-making?
  8. What mechanisms can be established to foster greater collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders involved in containerized freight (e.g., shipping lines, ports, railroads, trucking companies, shippers, terminal operators, technology providers)?
    1. How can incentives be aligned to encourage system-wide efficiency rather than mode-specific optimization?
  9. How can the industry collectively minimize the incidence of demurrage and detention charges by improving operational efficiency and communication across the supply chain?
  10. How can the North American containerized freight system enhance its durability in response to unforeseen disruptions (e.g., pandemics, geopolitical events, climate impacts)?
    1. What contingency planning, diversification of routes, or adaptive strategies are needed to maintain supply chain fluidity during crises?
  11. What role can government policies and regulatory frameworks play in supporting investment, collaboration, and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and reliability of containerized freight movement?
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