OAKLAND, Calif. — The Port of Oakland, Bay Area World Trade Center (BAWTC), and private partners (International Asset Systems, Sprint Nextel, Walsh Wireless, and Xora) have announced a new technology-based solution for truck movement efficiency an Advanced Transport Communications System that provides first and last mile visibility of cargo containers as they are nearing the Port of Oakland, and as they are delivered to retailers and distribution centers around Northern California.

This program is one of a bundle of technology innovations as part of the overall Port of Oakland Truck Tracker program (PTT) for improving truck movement efficiency.

The technology utilizes GPS-enabled mobile phones from Sprint, tracking software from mobile workforce software provider Xora, and container-transaction processing from International Asset Systems (IAS). In test mode since 2006, in conjunction with this announcement, the PTT program is now operational, and the Port of Oakland and Bay Area World Trade Center are actively rolling it out to the shipping community using the Ports services. Already in use by over 200 truckers and 2 major shippers and ocean carriers, PTT monitors truck movement by providing real-time tracking for more efficient cargo transport.

Port of Oakland Truck Tracker uses GPS technology that enables ocean carriers and shippers to accurately track the progress of trucks as they make their way toward their final delivery points. This allows for more efficient operations at distribution centers.

By enabling more efficient intermodal drayage moves, this initiative benefits ocean carriers and shippers alike, said Scott Smith, Director of Corporate Relations at APL. With this new operational advantage, carriers and shippers have another good reason to send their container shipment traffic through the Port of Oakland.

The technology provides a simple way for truck drivers to enter container information which can be automatically imported into carriers and shippers tracking systems. Pressing just a single button on a Sprint phone, the truck driver confirms that the cargo has either been picked up or delivered. The Xora software installed on the phone interprets the data entry and transmits the information via satellite to the IAS Hub, a common operating platform for container shipping moves created by International Asset Systems (IAS). The IAS Hub automatically translates the data to the format used by the carriers or shippers supply-chain visibility system, and automatically imports it into the system. Carriers and shippers container-tracking staff can log onto their systems 24/7 and see the pickup and delivery data in real time.