The U.S. Department of Transportation said it has launched a new initiative to improve supply chain visibility.
The American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative will provide ocean carriers, trucking companies, railroads and retailers with a high-visibility dashboard to connect to major hubs like the Port of Los Angeles. The initiative will bolster American supply chains for U.S. businesses and families, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
“When it comes to our supply chains, time is money. Fewer delays mean lower costs throughout the entire supply chain,” Duffy said. “The American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative will prevent bottlenecks, move freight faster, and deliver goods more affordably for the American people.”
DOT officials said a more transparent supply chain will speed cargo processing, while lowering logistic costs. Duffy called on Congress to include legislation in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act that would authorize the US DOT to create role-based access for specific data points. That legislation, Duffy said, would give the DOT the framework and flexibility needed to securely streamline national logistics.
Officials said the American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative is based on the success of the DOT’s Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program, and builds on Duffy’s new strategy to modernize the nation’s nearly 7-million-mile freight network.
The initiative was announced during Duffy’s visit to the Port of Los Angeles – the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, a position it has held for more than 25 years. The port ranks No. 16 worldwide. Officials said When data for the Port of Los Angeles is combined with the Port of Long Beach, the two ports handled approximately 31 percent of all containerized international waterborne trade in the United States.