Freight Logistics Optimization Works

Overview

The Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program collects Purchase Order (PO) information from importers in addition to logistics supply, demand, and throughput data from participants (e.g., beneficial cargo owners, ocean carriers, ports, terminals, railways). The Bureau of Transportation Statistics anonymizes, regionally segments, and aggregates the data. Participants can then receive or view FLOW data providing a broad, daily view of the current conditions of the overall logistics network, beyond what they may observe within their own operations.

FLOW is Voluntary, Secure, and Participatory

FLOW is a shared industry platform designed so that companies can share specific imported Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) data and, in exchange, get access to a feed of streams of data specific to each asset owner type (i.e., chassis owner, terminal operator, etc). This feed, updated daily, consists of the aggregated and anonymized imported TEU data from FLOW Members. This platform helps improve the efficiency and resilience of the U.S. supply chain by providing access to actual supply chain asset availability for logistics resources.

Voluntary: FLOW is a voluntary, market-based public-private partnership. The private sector has been working hand in hand with the internal FLOW team to develop this program since day one.

Secure: Member data exchanged through the data platform is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), subpoena/legal discovery, or regulatory use.

Participatory: Access to FLOW data is available only to companies that provide qualified data—the data can’t be shared publicly.

How does FLOW work?

1. FLOW partners with private industry on a voluntary basis.
2. Industry securely shares information with DOT.
3. DOT anonymizes and aggregates the imported TEU information by asset owner type.
4. FLOW provides access to the FLOW data portal so that Members can view and download the imported TEU information by asset owner type. 

The Benefits of FLOW Data

Participants use FLOW data to develop more responsive operations strategies to improve their supply chain throughput and resilience. Because importer POs drive the demand for logistics services, aggregating future demand data (e.g., purchase orders, incoming container volumes, origin and/or destination regions) coupled with regional supply and throughput data across different transportation modes (ocean, truck, rail) enables participants to forecast how current capacity and throughput will fare against the future demand. Participants then use this insight to optimize operations and ensure healthy throughput.

By sharing aggregated regional data from multiple participants, FLOW provides a broad and timely level of transparency beyond the visibility and scope of any single company’s operations. Participants can use this data to better understand how regional logistics capacity can service current and future demand, as well as how demand fluctuations may impact their own utilization of assets and logistics throughput. Because demand data is shared in advance of when respective logistics services would be required, supply-side optimizations such as modifying supply capacity levels, service level mixes, and service expectations can be made by participants in a more proactive and responsive manner. This in turn can help the industry mitigate bottlenecks and service-level volatility.