Trends in the Use of Intermodal Freight Identification Technology

Revised June 14, 1998

Michael Wolfe

(781) 834-4169
Fax (781) 837-7681
noriver@worldnet.att.net

Prepared for

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America

and

The U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
ITS Joint Program Office

---

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Introduction and Summary
   1. The Context for this Paper
   2. Harmonization and Interoperability
   3. An Overview of the Paper
2. The Intermodal Freight Movement Process
   1. Freight Terminals and Freight Identification Events
   2. Freight Identification vs. Equipment Identification
3. Freight Identification Trends and Strategies
   1. The Long Term Trend in Freight Identification Technology
   2. Freight Identification Strategies
      1. Mute Freight in Deaf Networks
      2. Talking Freight in Listening Networks
      3. Smart Freight in Smarter Networks
4. Transportation Modes and Freight Communities
   1. Modal Approaches
   2. Freight Community Approaches
5. Freight Identification Technologies
   1. Contact Methods of Freight Identification
   2. Non-Contact Methods of Freight Identification
      1. Barcodes
      2. Image Recognition
      3. RFID
      4. Long Range Communications and Location Determination
   3. EDI and Internet Data Links
   4. Decision Support Tools
6. Looking Forward
   1. Implications of the Current Situation
   2. Key Enablers of Coming Changes
      1. Auto-Networking Tags
      2. Cheaper, Smarter Real-Time Tracking
      3. Miniaturization and Integration
   3. Impediments to and Tools for Change
   4. User Requirements vs. Changes in Technology

List of Figures and Tables

Figure 1. An Overview of the International Freight Transportation System
Figure 2. Freight Nesting Relationships
Table 1. Characteristics of Freight Identification Strategies

next