Less than a year since launching a first-of-its kind digital solution to keep cargo flowing efficiently through America’s largest container port, the Port of Los Angeles and GE Transportation are expanding the program, to include all container terminals and shipping lines at the Port.
The two parties have agreed to new commercial agreements worth up to nearly $12 million and extended their relationship for at least five years. The agreements, subject to review by the Los Angeles City Council, will be far reaching, supporting approximately nine million TEUs, more than 15,000 truck providers and thousands of cargo importers.
“The GE portal is an investment in the long-term growth of the Port of Los Angeles and tells our stakeholders and customers that we take seriously our responsibility to find new ways to drive efficiencies and optimization. We believe this project will not only move the needle but could be a game changer”, said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.
Based on the initial pilot results, the Port of Los Angeles anticipates efficiency gains of between eight and 12 percent as the enhanced solution is rolled out across the Port.
“This project has been a home run,” said John Ochs, senior director at APM Terminals, the site of the pilot project. “The Port of Los Angeles has transformed data into information that can be utilized by stakeholders to optimize their goods movement processes.”
This digitalisation of the supply chain creates new levels of efficiency to cargo movement, according to Weston LaBar, executive director of the Harbor Trucking Association. For example, a trucking dispatcher will not have to visit up to 40 websites a day to coordinate cargo movement into the port complex, but he will achieve efficiency by having a single portal.
Additional areas for progression include improving the level of detail users can access about each shipment, and increasing their access to shipment data across the supply chain.
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