As of 11 a.m. on Feb. 1, the Port of Oakland in California reported an average truck turn time of one hour and 12 minutes at the SSA Marine Oakland International Container Terminal. This information comes from the recently launched Freight Intelligent Transportation System (FITS), which is aimed at enhancing port operations, particularly for truck drivers.
FITS features the Oakland Portal, offering real-time insights into vessel operations, regional traffic conditions, and turn time data for the four main terminals. Each truck entering a terminal is required to have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, contributing to the calculation of turn times.
The Oakland Portal consolidates various data, providing a comprehensive view of port activities. Pia Franzese, senior maritime projects administrator, highlighted the positive impact on efficiency and collaboration among stakeholders, enabling better decision-making.
“The Port of Oakland (Port) launched the FITS portal to help solve port challenges and provide a centralized source for reliable, real-time information. Before FITS, we had increasingly heard feedback from Port stakeholders that they had to go to multiple sites to get information for Port operations, creating a cumbersome process with conflicting information. Multiple platforms led to inefficiencies and confusion for users,” Franzese said. “The intent of the Oakland Portal is to have a one-stop platform where port stakeholders can go to find secure information relevant to them, such as information about terminals and turn times. The portal serves as the foundation for the port’s data technology, which will continue to expand. We plan to continuously add to this portal, such as a smart parking system and container data, among many others.”
FITS includes IT hardware and software upgrades, such as fiber enhancements, changeable message signs, an emergency operations center, and smart cameras. The Oakland Portal, along with the upcoming Smart Parking System (SPS), enhances operational efficiency and sustainability. Video analytics are utilized to estimate how long a driver may wait at a terminal and also how long it will take them to get through the terminal. The system’s early success has garnered positive feedback from users. Later this year, the SPS is anticipated to release a feature that will allow for parking reservations.
“Together, all of these elements work to improve operational efficiencies and provide real-time, reliable information to port stakeholders, such as truckers, terminal operators, wharfingers and ocean carriers, to enable better-informed, data-driven decisions,” Franzese said.
The new system will bring harmony between sustainability and preserving driver’s time.
“For example, the Oakland Portal and other technologies within the FITS platform provide visibility into traffic congestion, informing the trucking community about the best times to arrive at the port,” she said. “This information reduces wait times and congestion, which contributes to less emissions. Overall, the more efficient the port is with goods movement and traffic circulation, the less pollution will result, creating a more sustainable port community.”
The Port of Oakland emphasizes the importance of tailoring such systems to specific port needs. Franzese highlighted the shift from third-party data sources to direct port equipment data, enhancing control and accuracy.
FITS enables proactive issue addressing through predictive modeling, identifying congestion points and scheduling maintenance strategically. Parsons Corporation, in collaboration with various entities, developed FITS over four years, incorporating artificial intelligence, video analytics, and the iNET traffic management software.
The system’s predictive capabilities extend to freight wait times and road blockages at train crossings, aiding in custom border protection and port shipment tracking. FITS’ Oakland Portal is powered by the Advent eModal platform.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
