Three Additional West Coast Ports Join the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) Initiative

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that the Port of Oakland and the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which encompasses the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma, have officially joined the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) initiative.

With the addition of the Port of Oakland and the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the FLOW initiative now includes the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, making a total of five ports that collectively manage approximately 95% of the inbound container volume on the West Coast. This comprehensive membership allows ocean carriers, shippers, truckers, and railroads to enhance their planning and forecasting capabilities, thereby facilitating smoother cargo movement and reducing the risk of bottlenecks.

FLOW is a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors, spearheaded by the DOT, aimed at fostering a unified understanding of the U.S. supply chain among its members, which include the busiest container ports in the nation, major ocean carriers, and leading retail importers.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "When President Biden took office, supply chains were in disarray due to the global pandemic, leading to increased prices and delayed shipments. Our department has implemented several proactive measures to create more resilient supply chains through significant infrastructure investments and unprecedented public-private partnerships like FLOW, which help safeguard against systemic shocks."

He further noted, "With today’s announcement, FLOW now encompasses the five largest container ports on the West Coast, which will facilitate more informed decision-making across America’s supply chains. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and ultimately reduce costs for consumers."

Danny Wan, executive director of the Port of Oakland, expressed enthusiasm about joining FLOW, stating, "This partnership will enhance our visibility into goods movement trends nationwide and improve our data-sharing capabilities throughout the supply chain."

Toshiko Hasegawa, Commissioner of the Port of Seattle and co-chair of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, remarked, "We are pleased to join the FLOW program. This collaboration allows us to work closely with industry partners and the USDOT to proactively tackle supply chain challenges. By sharing data and insights, we can optimize freight movement, alleviate congestion, and bolster the resilience of our logistics network."

Kristin Ang, president of the Port of Tacoma Commission and co-chair of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, added, "Joining the USDOT’s FLOW initiative aligns with our mission to provide top-tier service to our customers and strengthen the U.S. supply chain and national economy through collaborative efforts and data-driven insights."

Recently, FLOW played a crucial role in mitigating supply chain disruptions during the nearly three-month closure of the Port of Baltimore following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Secretary Buttigieg has been actively engaging stakeholders from across the supply chain to address potential and ongoing disruptions. He recently held two meetings with ocean carriers and shippers to ensure that container traffic at the Port of Baltimore returns to normal levels, while also addressing disruptions caused by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and other supply chain challenges.

Through the FLOW initiative, the DOT collects, aggregates, and anonymizes critical information shared by participants regarding inbound containerized freight, starting with importer purchase orders, and aligns future demand volumes with current regional capacity for moving ocean containers. Currently, FLOW boasts over eighty members, including the eight largest U.S. container ports, nine of the largest ocean carriers, and nine of the twenty largest import retailers, with over ninety additional companies in the onboarding process.

Members of the FLOW initiative can access secure data via a shared online portal or API hosted by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The DOT is committed to collaborating with industry members to enhance and develop use cases utilizing FLOW data. Presently, FLOW members are working with the USDOT to leverage FLOW data for better estimates of port and inland network congestion.

Participants are integrating FLOW data into their existing decision-making processes to improve supply chain planning, thereby reducing volatility and supporting commercial needs.