MTMC program office expands mission - and changes name

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- A Military Traffic Management Command program is broadening its mission - and changing its name as well.

Continental United States Freight Management is now called Global Freight Management.

In recent years, the program's mission has expanded from the automation of installation transportation offices' domestic freight movement to include international shipments. The office's expanded mission will include the addition of international air freight rates.

"The name change more correctly reflects our evolving mission," said Dianne Constable, chief, functional requirements office.

The suggestion to change the name came from MTMC's Transportation Systems Review Committee.

"The name 'global' just makes sense," said Lt. Col. Henry Abercrombie, product manager. "With the growth of the Web, we can be accessed from all over the world."

The name change was officially approved Jan. 18 by the Army Acquisition Executive Support Agency.

It was implemented by MTMC the same day.

The Continental United States Freight Management, or CFM, name has been in use since 1988.

"The change is a logical one," said Steve Russell, a senior functional analyst.

"Not only does it reflect our current position but it recognizes the functionality enhancements that are currently being developed and that are planned."

Examples of this expanded mission include the pending release of Worldwide Express which will give transportation offices the ability to ship small packages under 150 pounds internationally via air freight.

In its 13 years of existence, the office has boasted many accomplishments. Its staffers developed the Army's first automated transportation offices' freight movement system with prepayment audit capability.

Originally, it allowed transportation offices to obtain specific freight carrier tenders via modem - ranked by cost.

This system transitioned to the Web in 1998. The Web version included a spot bid bulletin board posting which allowed carriers to submit a one-time all-inclusive bid.

The office's 93 employees are located in MTMC Headquarters, in Alexandria, Va. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).