The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
October 29, 2019
DTJ Online
How Can Data Networks Improve In-Transit Visibility?
By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source
The world of logistics is complex, with many handoffs occurring during transport on the intermodal network. And critical to the whole process is the question: ‘Where’s my stuff?’
It’s that question—really a simplified definition of in-transit visibility—that CAPT Mark Failor, USN (Ret.), Senior Director for Solutions and Alliances at Infor, addressed during the Cloud Based Platforms for Military Readiness course given during Transportation Academy.
There is an opportunity for creating a global network. USTRANSCOM has a TMS [Transportation Management System], as do many of its commercial partners. So the question then becomes how do you get these TMS’ to tie together and share data in order to achieve end-to-end visibility?…
NDTA News
If you work in passenger travel and related services for the federal government, a state government, or the private sector, you should be at GovTravels. This is is the only event where decision makers from government and industry gather to meet, learn and collaborate on common travel issues.
The 2020 NDTA-DTMO Annual GovTravels Symposium is scheduled for February 24-26, 2020 at the Hilton Mark Center Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Our 2020 theme is “Shaping the Future Traveler Experience.“
We are putting together an exciting program with input from our co-sponsor DTMO, as well as the General Services Administration, and private sector stakeholders. Mr. Andrew C. Taylor, Executive Chairman of Enterprise Holdings, has already been confirmed as a keynote speaker and more schedule details are coming soon.
NDTA is also hosting a full-scale exposition, where organizations can highlight their travel solutions and offerings, and attendees can benefit from the sharing of information.
Corporate Member News
Maersk Bets on Alcohol Over Batteries to Cut Shipping Emissions
(Bloomberg) The world’s largest shipping company believes alternative fuels like alcohol are a more viable option than electric power in helping the industry become carbon neutral within a generation.
Managing the Realities of Today’s Freight Market
(Landstar) Landstar Agents and business capacity owners (BCOs) who are effectively managing their businesses in the current freight environment attribute their success to staying abreast of market dynamics and being flexible in their approaches to freight opportunities.
Creating IoT Ecosystems in Transportation
(Deloitte) Transportation providers’ customers want more speed, visibility, and customization. Outfitting trucks with IoT sensors was the first step. Next: Companies are moving to create connected ecosystems.
BREXIT Update – ‘Flextension’ Announced
(Crane Worldwide Logistics) The European Union has agreed to a further three-month flexible delay to the United Kingdom’s departure from the Union. Crane provides insights into what this means.
Safe and Secure: How New Warehouses Will Support African Supply Chains
(Agility) Supply chain and logistics operations in Africa are beset by difficulties including a lack of infrastructure and suitable storage facilities. One logistics provider, Agility Africa, hopes to tackle this by establishing a chain of high-quality warehouses throughout the continent.
Gov’t/Mil News
The Army is Finding New Ways to Airdrop Loads Large and Small, Even in Urban Terrain
(Army Times) The Army is testing and developing better ways to get supplies to soldiers in far-flung, austere places in both big and small packages.
US Logistics Boss Talks Risks to the Supply Chain and Protective Measures
(Defense News) Securing the supply chain can seem like a game of whack-a-mole involving cyberthreats, counterfeit goods and a shrinking industrial base. In the words of the DLA Director, LTG Darrell Williams, the supply chain “simply cannot afford to not be protected.”
GSA’s Simple Mantra Driving Modernization: Eliminate, Optimize and Automate
(Federal News Network) The General Services Administration is following a simple mantra to guide its agency-wide modernization effort—eliminate, optimize and automate. So far in just the Public Buildings Service alone, the EOA approach has saved almost $2 billion with a goal of saving $5 billion by 2024.
Trump Says Phase One of China Trade Deal Is ‘Ahead of Schedule’
(Politico) President Donald Trump said Monday that negotiations for the so-called phase one of the United States’ trade deal with China were “ahead of schedule.” The comments come ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile on Nov. 16-17.
Can Pentagon Acquisition Keep Up with Electronic Warfare?
(C4ISRNet) The cat-and-mouse nature of electronic warfare means systems need to always be up to date, but the Pentagon’s acquisition authorities don’t always allow for the Department of Defense to move fast enough, according to one senior acquisition official.
Industry News
How This Community College is Preparing Students for Careers in Aviation
(PBS NewsHour) According to Boeing, 800,000 new pilots will be needed worldwide over the next 20 years. In Bend, Oregon, a community college is preparing students to resolve this critical need—and cultivate their own career success.
The Battle to Digitize Truck Brokerage: Who Will Win?
(Benjamin Gordon) Digital freight brokers are challenging the incumbents. Will the winner be a startup like Convoy, Transfix, or Uber Freight? Or a giant like XPO, CH Robinson, or Echo?
5G is Coming. This Verizon Partnership Aims to Show How It Will Disrupt Manufacturing
(CNN) In a new partnership with industrial manufacturer Corning, Verizon aims to demonstrate the real life impact of 5G technology, by deploying and testing the effects of a 5G network in one of Corning’s largest manufacturing facilities. The companies will work together to test existing theories and develop new solutions for how 5G can make manufacturing more efficient, effective and safe.
Supply-Chain Planning and Execution Work Better Together
(Supply Chain Brain) The ability to rapidly sense, analyze, optimize and respond is now king. It is the time to realize the convergence of supply-chain planning and execution, made possible by new business realities, advances in technology and cultural readiness.
The Role of Geo-Information in the Future
(The Maritime Executive) Dr. Mathias Jonas, Secretary General of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), provides insights into mapping the sea floor, navigation and the future of autonomous shipping.