FORT EUSTIS, Va. --- Speeding Defense Transportation System surface cargo movement around the globe by developing an automated booking process for overseas shipment is at the center of the Military Traffic Management Command's Integrated Booking System.

That automated process is getting even faster thanks to a promising joint test initiative undertaken by MTMC's Deployment Support Command and Matson Navigation Company, a U.S. flag ocean carrier.

"Initiated in February, the goal of the automated carrier response test is to reduce cargo booking turnaround times by automating the ocean carrier's response to cargo offers," said Jim Hudgens, chief, Deployment Support Command Ocean Cargo Booking Office at Fort Eustis, Va.

"Another added benefit is this process will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week enabling automated requests to be booked anytime of the day or night.."

Historically, less than 50% of carrier responses are received within 12 hours, and less than 60% are received within 24 hours. Test goals for carrier response to automated bookings were set at one hour, an aggressive goal most in the industry would agree.

After 30 days of testing, results are encouraging. During the initial test period, which ended 30 March, median carrier response time was reduced to one hour and 30 minutes.

Overall time to book automated requests, from receipt in the Integrated Booking System to delivery of a booking number to the customer, dropped from 39 hours to five hours and 45 minutes.

Planned IBS software changes will further reduce processing time by relieving bottlenecks in the automation pipeline and permitting simultaneous processing of multiple cargo booking requests to and from the ocean carriers used by MTMC.

DSC applauded Matson's efforts in partnering to improve service to our customers. Other industry partners are reviewing test data and looking at how they can achieve similar results.

American President Lines, Ltd., another of the nation's largest ocean carriers, has committed to a pilot test with DSC in the near future.

"Together with our industry partners, we are moving in the right direction," said Hudgens. "DSC will continue in its quest to provide quality service through speed, precision, pride and passion." (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND, DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).