Edwards improves freight management system to be more efficient, cost effective

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  • By 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Edwards became the final military installation to implement a new Department of Defense freight management system designed to more efficiently ship military freight throughout the continental United States. 

The Defense Transportation Coordination Initiative is a third-party partnership contracted through Menlo Worldwide Government Services, LLC of San Mateo, Calif., that aims to increase operational effectiveness of managing DOD freight.

The Traffic Management Office began using the new system to improve the effectiveness of the previous transportation system, enhancing efficiencies through consolidation and cost savings, said Samuel J. Ames, 95th Mission Support Group Traffic Management specialist.

DTCI uses Electronic Data Interface transactions to process shipment requests, confirm outbound shipping details, and then provide shipping status to include pick-up, delays in route and delivery notification. Even the billing procedures are fully automated and allow for integration of commercial and government systems.
 
When DTCI was first being implemented, it was heralded for business-like efficiency. 

"It enables the Department of Defense - just like 80 percent of the Fortune 500 companies - to use a third-party logistics company to secure on-time, cross-platform and cost-effective advantages," said Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, then commander of U.S. Transportation Command.

It is a third party logistics freight management program designed to improve the reliability, predictability and efficiency of DOD materiel moving within the continental United States by reducing cycle times and improving predictability through the use of more dedicated truck schedules, cross-docking operations, better mode selection and load optimization.
 
Certain categories of freight are excluded from DTCI, such as sensitive or classified shipments, arms, ammunition and explosives, bulk and missile fuels, household goods and privately owned vehicles.