RFID in CARGO SECURITY - A PARADIGM SHIFT ...

From CARGO SECURITY - A PARADIGM SHIFT, W. Gordon Fink writes ...

... "Technology is beginning to address the carriers' operational needs to reduce costs and increase safety and security. Some marine terminals are using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on their chassis, generator sets, and in a few cases containers to reduce on-terminal costs. At the terminal gate, the relationship with container number and the RFID chassis tag is entered into the manifesting system. These systems are improving the efficiency of terminals including a reduction in gate delays. RFID systems eliminate the need for keystroke date entry systems, thus reducing the frequency of human error and increasing operational efficiency. Rail carriers have installed RFID tags on all their rolling stock and placed readers on their tracks to provide rail car location. Recent innovations in their information technology systems have integrated the container or trailer number with the rail car identification providing location information on the cargo including the estimated arrival and de-ramp times. Customers who know which rail carrier are moving their cargo can access this data - often using the internet. Marine terminals are also reading the rail car RFID tag as it enters their terminal and using information provided by the rail carrier to immediately access the in-bound container numbers. " ...