Community platforms for air cargo are on the rise at major US airports: Dallas/Fort Worth is the latest set to sign a contract for a system and Miami has similar plans.
The board of directors of DFW has given the green light for a contract to establish a cargo community system (CCS) via an initial agreement, with a ceiling of $447,430 that will run for two years, with options to renew for three additional one-year periods.
Details will be disclosed in the coming months but the provider chosen for the CCS is Nallian, a Belgian provider of data platforms for logistics hubs, one of which powers BRUcloud, the cloud-based CCS of Brussels Airport.
BRUcloud is one likely role model for the CCS at DFW. One important element is truck scheduling. A scheduling system can reduce the carbon footprint and it can reduce truck waiting time. The announcement from DFW follows the launch of a CCS at Hartfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport in November 2019, where truck management is also a major element.
On 14 January 2020, the Atlanta airport authority and Kale Logistics, which developed and operates the system, announced that PayCargo was coming on board to facilitate payment processes.
When a platform is connected with other cargo community systems, it will enhance the airport by making it more efficient in processing cargo. One of the ramifications for the cargo itself could be a decline in temperature deviations for freight that requires stable ambient conditions like pharmaceuticals and perishables.
Slot booking system for trucking is one main thing. Another is to replace paper documents with electronic data flows, an additional factor in the CCS plans.
Source : Various Agencies