Roeth: Partnerships in freight and logistics lead to smarter, system-wide solutions

I’ve previously written about the value of cooperation and collaboration in the trucking industry. I’ve emphasized that this is especially important as we navigate through trucking’s Messy Middle.

Collaborating across the freight ecosystem to improve efficiency and resilience

As part of acting on what we say, NACFE recently joined the Advanced Freight Partners Group (AFPG). This public-private partnership will work to advance a more resilient, efficient, and interconnected freight system.

What I like about the group’s plan is the focus on the interconnectedness of freight systems. The most effective way to enhance freight movement efficiency is to consider the entire freight ecosystem as a whole, rather than examining each part separately. We explored some of this in our Guidance Report: Intermodal & Drayage: An Opportunity to Reduce Freight Emissions.

That report focused on how intermodal is a system of various modes of transportation working together to efficiently and reliably transport products from the point of origin to the consumer. It emphasizes the importance of working together to successfully reduce emissions starting at the ports.

Breaking down silos and selecting the right partners for meaningful impact

Successful collaborations are built on information sharing and working together to find the best possible solution. In the case of AFPG, one of the goals is to break down silos between freight modes, sectors, and technologies. Siloed information is a big impediment to finding practical solutions.

It’s not just about having information, it’s about having the right information—and that's why it's important to select the right partners to collaborate with. I think AFPG did a decent job of finding partners across a broad spectrum. The initial group of partners includes OEMs, utilities, infrastructure providers, port authorities, organizations that represent the maritime industry, and several NGOs.

An AFPG press release says, “The AFPG will develop and implement practical and scalable strategies—both operational and policy-driven—to accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies that modernize the future of freight movement and commercial delivery. The group will also elevate best practices and highlight projects around the country that demonstrate success.”

While that sounds like a big goal, I think that with so many people working on it collaboratively, we will get much closer to making it a reality than if each of the groups involved worked on it separately. And that’s how you know you've picked the right people to collaborate with, because the end results will improve the entire transportation system, not just a small portion of it.