MTMC TIGHTENS CONTAINER DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
The U.S. Military Traffic Management Command said it would introduce tougher guidelines for containerized shipment information, starting Nov. 4.
“We need to provide the warfighters with line item content visibility for all shipments to ensure that they get what they need when they need it,” said Capt. Ed Horres, MTMC’s director of global distribution.
The military’s surface transportation logistics unit said undocumented cargoes have been a problem for decades.
“Inadequate documentation delays processing and increases security risks,” the agency said. “For troops in the field, unmarked containers contribute to distribution and warehouse challenges and delay delivery of vital cargoes to customers.”
Horres said Defense Department shippers and their vendors should complete all documentation at the time containers are stuffed.
“If we find problems with compliance, accuracy or consistency, we will return the documentation to the shipper for immediate correction,” he said. “When documentation is approved, (MTMC) Operations Center personnel will authorize container pick-up by ocean carriers.”
The MTMC Operations Center, based at Fort Eustis, Va., will be staffed to provide same-day documentation review services to Defense Department shippers. “We’re staffing for 24/7 coverage to accommodate global operations and we will add people and add staffing hours if we have to,” Horres said.
MTMC will test the new documentation requirements Oct. 28 through Nov. 1. Shippers are encouraged to submit their documentation to the operations center by e-mail. During this time, shippers may continue to instruct carriers to pick up containers.
“This has been a long-time goal,” said Greg Sweetland, director of global distribution international for MTMC. “Undocumented cargoes cause lots of problems in distribution channels and slow down our goals of seamless deliveries.”