Executive Summary
September 2003
IFTWG Asset Tracking and Freight Information Highway FOT Final Report
ES-2
Oakland deployment, was selected to provide data concerning regional dray
movements in combination with the accuracy and benefits of asset tracking.
Freight Information Highway. This portion of the project facilitated a method of
communication between transportation modes (i.e., marine, truck, and rail) through a
mix of open source message architecture from Transentric LLC and Internet
communications software designed around interoperability standards. The FIH was
designed to allow transportation providers and customers to communicate without
changes to their proprietary systems. This project provided the opportunity to
monitor intermodal data exchange via TranXML.
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
Freight Information Highway
The FIH served to integrate the third-generation Cargo*Mate® chassis tracking system
with Web-based intermodal freight logistics applications to provide end-to-end cargo
visibility over the defined life cycle of a cargo shipment. The primary goal of the FIH
deployment was to consolidate mode-specific data exchange technologies and
standards. Transentric accomplished this goal by developing a Transportation
Extensible Mark-Up Language (TranXML) that facilitates Internet-based information
exchange in the intermodal freight industry. TranXML supports application development
advantages offered by XML without requiring significant changes in existing legacy
systems by using existing data transfer standards and XML Data Dictionaries that permit
data transformation between EDI and TranXML. In addition, TranXML is attempting to
collapse certain modal-specific message sets into a common, intermodal message that
would reduce transportation-related applications maintenance.
The FIH provided standardized information via the Transentric's ShipmentVision and
Business Integration products. Figure ES-1 illustrates the projects architecture.
Illustration courtesy of Transentric
Figure ES-1. Freight Information Highway System Architecture.