Smartfreight

As part of the Innovation statement 'Victorians. Bright Ideas. Brilliant Futures', the State Government provided funding of $4 million over four years (ending June 2007) for the Smart Freight initiative.

Smart Freight seeks to develop a range of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based solutions that will improve the efficiency of Victoria’s freight and logistics industry. In the 21st century core transport infrastructure it includes not only road, rail, bridges, tunnels, intermodal terminals and ports, but also ICT.

Ineffective links between transport functions are impacting on the reliability, performance and cost structures of stakeholders throughout the supply chain. Increasingly the lack of effective information sharing is creating bottlenecks and unnecessary delays. These deficiencies increase operating costs and congestion while simultaneously decreasing the safety, economic competitiveness and air quality associated with the movement of freight.

The potential for efficiency gains through ICT applications has been highlighted in numerous government documents:

The Port of Melbourne Container Origin & Destination Study identified a number of stakeholder issues, which if addressed, could deliver improved container transport efficiency:

1. High incidence of empty truck trips
2. Large numbers of interim container moves
3. Poor vehicle utilisation
4. Ineffective container management
5. Unproductive stevedore terminal queues
6. Delays at container parks
7. Delays at Footscray Rd and Dock Link Road level crossings
8. Sub-optimal transport routes used
9. Limited information technology systems

The Smart Freight initiative is a means of seeking ICT tools to improve efficiency of freight movement in and around the Port of Melbourne.

By offering the freight and logistics industry an integrated, scaleable, low cost and voluntary set of business tools under the Smart Freight Initiative, users will have the opportunity to improve the efficiency, transparency and value of their supply chains.

The Victorian Government has been working industry over the past 18 months to develop an exciting new initiative: The Port of Melbourne Supply Chain Model.

The Model maps the import and export processes at the Port, demonstrating how and where stakeholders in the chain interact, the transactions which take place and the technology used.

By increasing awareness and understanding of the Port of Melbourne supply chain, the Model can assist industry to improve business decision making and identify areas for effeciency gains across the import and export processes.

A user guide and application for the Port of Supply Chain Model is available at http://www.redwahoo.com/vicdoi.html

Further Information:

Port of Melbourne Container Origin Destination Study Executive Summary.
This publication contains an overview of findings from the Port of Melbourne Container Origin Destination Study.

- Part 1 (cover to page 6) (PDF size 663kb)
- Part 2 (pages 7 to 12) (PDF size 1.6mb)

Melbourne Port Container Origin and Destination Process Mapping Report.
This report highlights opportunities for industry and government to work together to improve efficiency in the movement of containers.

Port of Melbourne Container Origin and Destination Process Mapping Report (PDF size 239kb)

Victorians. Bright Ideas. Billiant Future (PDF 2.6mb)

Visit Smart Freight www.doi.vic.gov.au/smartfreight

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