Officials Say ‘Virtual Terminals’ Could Help Track Containers

AK BROOK, Ill. — To keep intermodal terminals working as the volume of containers keeps increasing, operators should develop “virtual terminals” that use technology to track containers and chassis, monitor truck traffic and share information, said speakers during the Intermodal Association of North America’s conference here May 2-3.

A “virtual terminal” would map the location of containers and chassis and enable “smart stacking” of containers to make them more readily available and add “capacity through velocity and visibility” of assets at rail and seaport terminals, said members of a panel on improving intermodal operations.

Terminal operators, railroads and drayage companies should “develop a culture of trust” and begin sharing information to boost the speed at which containers can be turned around in terminals, said panelist Ted Prince, senior vice president of marketing for Optimization Alternatives Ltd.