These are minutes of the Education and Intermodal Teams. The opinions, recommendations, or positions expressed herein do not constitute the opinions, recommendations, or positions of the MTSNAC unless they are expressly ratified after review, discussion, and vote of the full MTSNAC.

MTSNAC Education & Intermodal Teams Joint Meeting Minutes - FINAL

Maher Terminals, Port Elizabeth, NJ
Monday, March 21, 2005
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 

Sam Crane, Chair of the Intermodal Team and meeting host, convened the meeting and explained that the purpose of this joint Intermodal and Education Team meeting was to co-produce an information piece for the full MTSNAC on the MTS and the supply chain and to identify challenges to the MTS that impact efficient supply chain management that would warrant more in-depth MTSNAC study.

As a matter of order, Carol Lambos then reminded the attendees that, while non-MTSNAC members were welcome to participate in MTSNAC Team meetings, only MTSNAC members could vote on matters brought before the Team.

Action Item 1 – Approval of Team Mission Statements

·         The Education team mission statement was approved without changes.  It states as follows:

It is the mission of the Education Team to study issues relevant to the nation’s marine transportation system in an effort to prepare briefing materials for MTSNAC members to ensure an appropriate knowledge base for MTSNAC discussion, activities, and recommendations. In addition, it is also the mission of the Education Team, when authorized by the full MTSNAC, to prepare materials that support MTSNAC objectives, as well as inform the Department of Transportation and the general public.

Action Items 2 & 3 – Approval of Team Work Plans; Work Plan Implementation Schedules

·         The Intermodal team work plan was approved.  It consists of two work products.

• Product One—In conjunction with the Education Team

A document to explain the relationship between the MTS and the supply chain that will describe freight movement.  It will conclude with identifying challenges and choke points in the system. A re-draft of this presentation will be sent to Team members before the product is finalized.

Time frame: To be presented at the next MTSNAC meeting on 5/3-4/05.

• Product Two

• A critical analysis of challenges identified in Product One with an emphasis on landside challenges arising out of road and rail constraints.

• Time frame; Identify issues for next MTSNAC meeting on 5/3-4/05.

Tour of Maher Terminals

Attendees were shown how trucks and cargo are processed at Maher Terminals.

Miscellaneous

(A)   Ms. Robin Lanier of the Waterfront Coalition discussed a White Paper on supply chain choke points that her organization was preparing which would identify business practices that could be modified to help reduce congestion issues.  The paper first discusses areas that merit further inquiry including:

1. The productivity of domestic ports;

2. Alternative Asian routes;

3. Intermodal rail choke points;

4. National and regional freight projects;

5. Panama Canal expansion; and

6. System needs forecasting.

Potential suggestions for addressing congestions were also identified as:

1. 24 hour terminal operations;

2. Developing regional or national chassis pools;

3. Disciplining “free time” at marine terminals;

4. Developing a port-wide truck appointment system;

5. Looking at vessel arrival schedules to address capacity;

6. Looking at manufacturing schedules.

(B)   Professor Leigh Boske joined the meeting to explain about a study the Congressional Research Service (CRS) was conducting on Innovative Practices to Raise Efficiencies at Intermodal Corridors. More information on this study would be provided when it was authorized for release.

Group discussion

In addressing the agenda items a discussion ensued concerning the MTS and challenges to an efficient supply chain. It was agreed that most of the current issues are landside issues dealing with the ability to move cargo off the terminal through road and rail modes. Points made include:

• MTSNAC needs to inform policy makers how critical ports impact the nation.

• MTS stakeholders need to understand the business decisions that motivate the location of transloading and distribution centers.

• Many issues impacting MTS stakeholders are actually landside issues concerning in-land rail movements.

• MTSNAC needs to identify which choke points can be addressed through private sector initiatives and which ones require government funding.

• Better coordination between rail and MTS stakeholders to create a seamless intermodal flow. 

• Develop more comprehensive transportation data on which to base business forecasting.

• Options for managing equipment.

• Human resource issues relating to truck drivers.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:00 pm.