ATLANTA (USTCNS) --- The success of the Military Traffic Management Command is directly proportional to industry support.
That was the theme of Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, commander, as he opened MTMC's 2000 training symposium on April 4 in Atlanta.
"We share our collective success with commercial business enterprises," said Privratsky, to an audience of 1,600 which included many representatives of the transportation industry.
"Together we execute billions of dollars in contracts every year," said Privratsky.
"At any given minute of each day, we have cargo moving on trucks, trains, ships, barges and planes worldwide," said Privratsky.
Recent MTMC transportation success included loading a ship on a Norwegian fiord in arctic weather so stormy two of the ship's mooring lines broke.
Army transporters finished the job as snow drifted to depths of five feet.
Privratsky said re-engineering of MTMC's organizational structure will provide a seamless structure and reduced layering.
"We will be more efficient and more effective in the future," said Privratsky, commander since July 9.
More attention will be focused on MTMC customers in the future, he said.
"Today you will find a MTMC employee stationed at the Army-Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas," said Privratsky. "You will find another spending time each week between the Navy Exchange Service and the Defense Commissary Agency.
"In the next few months, you will find a person on site with our largest shipper the Defense Distribution Center in Pennsylvania, as well as an army major augmenting the U.S. Central Command as a MTMC planner.
In a joint action, Privratsky said MTMC has teamed with the Defense Logistics Agency and the U.S. Transportation Command to improve the efficiency of freight movement.
"We seek to improve velocity and providing time definite delivery to customers," said Privratsky.
"We have formed and resourced a Distribution Analysis Center out-of-hide," said Privratsky. "It is receiving support from Rand and the Logistics Management Institute. I see good things happening from this initiative."
Emphasis on costs has reduced MTMC costs in recent months, said Privratsky.
"I would surmise that never before in MTMC history has so much attention been targeted at cost management as it has in the past six months," said Privratsky. "On simple things -- like travel budgets, authorizations in the work place, contract assistance, contracts for conveyance."
To date, these savings are estimated at $45 million, or 5 percent of MTMC's near $1 billion annual budget.
"In all of this, our strategic industry partnership is essential," said Privratsky. We absolutely could not perform our many, many varied missions … some with virtually no notice -- without your (industry) assistance.
Privratsky said partnering with industry is essential for the success of his military organization.
"I sincerely believe that many of the answers to problems we are facing can be found in the commercial sector," said Privratsky. "I want them to be part of the solution for the future."
The Military Traffic Management Command ships over a million measurement of tons of cargo every month. In addition, on a annual basis, MTMC arranges for the movement of 640,000 personal property moves, and 75,000 privately owned vehicle moves for the nation's service members. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND).
