Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Joining and Onboarding

Thank you for your interest in FLOW! FLOW is a voluntary program and participation requires data sharing. The aggregated and anonymized supply chain data of all participating companies is only available to companies that share their own data. At the moment, the platform is designed to exchange data on imported containerized cargo, meaning only companies that can share this type of data are eligible to participate.

Eligible companies include asset owners, operators, freight forwarders, and beneficial cargo owners that import international containerized cargo through US ports and/or handle this cargo. If this describes your company, please continue with our steps outlined below! If this does not describe your company, we encourage you to stay informed about FLOW as we plan to move into new markets in the future. If you are unsure, please fill out the intake form and our team will respond promptly.

Joining FLOW

Number 1

Step 1: Make contact with FLOW

Connect with FLOW by filling out an intake form. We will confirm your eligibility and then offer an Orientation Meeting, where we will introduce you to FLOW and answer your questions.
Number 2

Step 2: Eligible Members Submit an MOA

Download the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), fill it out, and send it back to us at FLOW@dot.gov.
Number 3

Step 3: You are a FLOW Member! 

You can now enjoy several member benefits:

  • Assigned individual Account Manager.
  • Access to our bi-monthly General Assembly meetings to get regular FLOW updates and connect with other Members.
  • Participate in the National Logistics Forum or FLOW Office Hours.
  • Participate in virtual or on-site trainings.
  • Invitation to our Member-only Annual Meeting held at USDOT Headquarters in Washington, DC.
  • Gain limited access to the data portal to directly upload your information.

All of these benefits will be outlined in a welcome letter you will receive from our team. Your Account Manager will lead you through the Data Onboarding in Step 4 to gain full access to the data portal.

Data Onboarding

Number 4

Step 4: Meet with our Data Team

To gain full access to the data portal, you will need to begin regularly submitting data. Your Account Manager will assist you in scheduling a Data Onboarding meeting where you will receive one-on-one guidance on how to submit your data to FLOW, including a test file template. You will establish the file delivery method and get all your questions answered live.
Number 5

Step 5: Access the data portal and build your test file

Next, we will work with you on your test file. We have several resources to help you with this process:

You can also reach out to your Account Manager or email FLOW@dot.gov with questions anytime.
Number 6

Step 6: Complete Data Onboarding

The Data team will continue to work with you on initial data file submission until we receive two acceptable data file submissions.

Once done, data onboarding is complete. You now have full access to the data portal!

With data portal access, you can take full advantage of FLOW. You can directly download FLOW Data and access exclusive materials available to data-sharing members.

 

Last updated: Friday, October 25, 2024