Improving container movement efficiency

In September 2006, the Victorian Government provided Murray Goulburn Co-operative with a $75,000 grant to assist in identifying ways to transfer containers more efficiently between the Port of Melbourne, importers, exporters and container parks.

The trial delivered substantial time and cost savings:

• up to 50 per cent reduction in the time trucks spend on the road transporting containers
  
• 95-100 per cent of trucks loaded with containers when travelling both to and from the port precinct (before the trial it was 50 per cent)
  
• savings of between $20 and $50 per container due to reduced transport and inventory management costs
  
• less congestion on major freight routes due to less truck traffic.

The foundation of the improvements is better sharing of operational information between transport operators, Murray Goulburn Co-operative, shipping lines and container parks as well as stakeholders adjusting some of their business processes to suit each others needs.

This included:

• implementation of computer-based software which allows key stakeholders to access and share information quickly and easily in a internationally-recognised standard electronic format. Functions include:
  • automatic alert function to avoid unexpected detention charges
  • daily report to Murray Goulburn Co-operative on container stock
• an agreement with road transport and storage operator Patrick to:
  • store 30 containers per shipping line for Murray Goulburn Co-operative use
  • deliver an empty container each time a full one is picked up
• transition to greater proportion of trucks travelling during off peak
• agreement to share some cost savings between both parties.

Testing triangulation

The Murray Goulburn Co-operative trial also tested triangulation as a method of reducing the movement of empty containers and increasing efficiency. Triangulation is an agreement that enables a container unpacked from an importer to be handed directly over to an exporter for re-packing, without the container being transported empty to an Empty Container Park. For more information, see the detailed report Testing triangulation (PDF, 163 KB, 2 pp.).

Other importers and exporters are encouraged to review and adapt the strategies and findings from Murray Goulburn Co-operative's container utilisation trial to their own environments, to contribute to improving container movement efficiency across the Port of Melbourne.

For more information, contact Robert Coode at Murray Goulburn Co-operative on 03 9389 6400 or via email.