THE implementation of a community data system at London Heathrow airport's congested cargo sheds has reduced truck dwell times.
Since the launch 18 months ago of the Advance Information System (AIS) by the air cargo data community CCS-UK, a number of logistics players are now using the system to receive shipment updates and data through a centralised platform.
Speaking at a seminar to raise awareness of the system, CCS-UK user group programme director Guy Thompson explained that AIS enables freight agents to pre-alert handling agents of loads being delivered and picked up down to house air waybill level, as well as submit electronic Consignment Security Declarations (e-CSD), reported London's Air Cargo News.
This advance information - including vehicle, driver, cargo being delivered, handling agent and estimated time of arrival (ETA) - can be submitted either through a web portal or messages sent direct from the forwarder's own system using APIs. The information is then accessible to all relevant parties in the supply chain.
Mr Thompson said that by receiving this information electronically in advance, handlers can populate their systems with the shipment information, reducing paperwork and delays on arrival of the truck, and eradicating re-keying errors.
At the seminar DHL Global Forwarding National transport manager Jamie Peacock said that it has observed a reduction in truck dwell times, especially when using 'blue lanes', which give users of the system priority over other truckers when arriving at participating handling facilities.
Other benefits included greater visibility of a shipment's progress along the transport chain and the ability to analyse the cause of delays. According to Mr Peacock, DHL is able to provide information to handlers 45 minutes before the arrival of its trucks.
Wallenborn manager Jason Breakwell said that the road feeder service provider has replaced all of its manual systems since it began using the AIS portal one year ago.
'That means all our teams over Europe - London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Liege - are using AIS and no longer reporting by email.' He added that that Wallenborn uses geo-fencing to automatically update the system with a time of departure and estimated time of arrival (ETA).
WORLD SHIPPING
Since the launch 18 months ago of the Advance Information System (AIS) by the air cargo data community CCS-UK, a number of logistics players are now using the system to receive shipment updates and data through a centralised platform.
Speaking at a seminar to raise awareness of the system, CCS-UK user group programme director Guy Thompson explained that AIS enables freight agents to pre-alert handling agents of loads being delivered and picked up down to house air waybill level, as well as submit electronic Consignment Security Declarations (e-CSD), reported London's Air Cargo News.
This advance information - including vehicle, driver, cargo being delivered, handling agent and estimated time of arrival (ETA) - can be submitted either through a web portal or messages sent direct from the forwarder's own system using APIs. The information is then accessible to all relevant parties in the supply chain.
Mr Thompson said that by receiving this information electronically in advance, handlers can populate their systems with the shipment information, reducing paperwork and delays on arrival of the truck, and eradicating re-keying errors.
At the seminar DHL Global Forwarding National transport manager Jamie Peacock said that it has observed a reduction in truck dwell times, especially when using 'blue lanes', which give users of the system priority over other truckers when arriving at participating handling facilities.
Other benefits included greater visibility of a shipment's progress along the transport chain and the ability to analyse the cause of delays. According to Mr Peacock, DHL is able to provide information to handlers 45 minutes before the arrival of its trucks.
Wallenborn manager Jason Breakwell said that the road feeder service provider has replaced all of its manual systems since it began using the AIS portal one year ago.
'That means all our teams over Europe - London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Liege - are using AIS and no longer reporting by email.' He added that that Wallenborn uses geo-fencing to automatically update the system with a time of departure and estimated time of arrival (ETA).
WORLD SHIPPING