The ASI Web based container delivery information system was developed to fulfill a need for more complete, timely information than is currently available from any other source. Currently, there are three types of information providers; the Ocean carrier, the terminal operator, and private third party vendors. Each has their own benefits and limitations.

An ocean carrier's site cannot provide real-time gate information. This information is provided to them by the terminal via EDI (a batch mode system). The ocean carrier is not provided with information regarding; Demurrage amounts due or guaranteed, Customs examination fees due or guaranteed, or AQI examination fees dues or guaranteed. Also, the ocean carrier is never provided with the name of the driver who actually picked up the container.
This information is recorded by the terminal; however, there is no terminal that I am aware of that transmits this information to an ocean carrier. Therefore, an ocean carrier can never have the complete status of a container. The best an ocean carrier can do is report the AMS and Line release status. This makes thier web site information of little use to the trucking community.

Third party vendors, for the most part have the same limitation as the ocean carriers. In most cases, their information is out of date, inaccurate, or missing. This is becouse, they recieve their information via a copy of existing EDI messages between the marine terminal, Customs, and the ocean carrier. The main problem with a third party information center is that you never know what information is captured. At best, the third party's system captures Terminal information from a few marine terminals and from a few steamship lines. If you are lucky enough to be looking for the right container, then you receive stale data which does not tell you if there are any fees due which must be guaranteed or paid at time of pick up. The system can not be used if a dispatcher wants to see the status of his drivers or check the status of an export container. Third party systems can be of some use in ports where pier charges are guaranteed by the Ocean carrier, and there are several small stevedores in one or two piers.

Terminal operators have all the information regarding every container on their pier(s). This is their strength, and their weakness. The terminal operator always has the most current information. Most terminals record the name of the driver who picked up or is attempting to get a container. as well as how long a driver was at the pier. The pier has current information regarding truckers insurance, truckers credit status and guarantees of pier charges. The terminal operator knows about all containers and movements (Imports, Exports and Empties) on its pier. A terminal can, therefore, report all activity for a trucking company for a selected period.
Unfortunately, each terminal operator only knows about the containers on its pier or gate movements from its pier. This means that a trucking company in New Jersey would have to check each marine terminal where he was trying to track all the containers he wishes to pick up or he has delivered. Although no one terminal system can provide all the information for all the containers in a region, they can provide the most comprehensive information available.

Web services should include an open portion where any interested party may:

• enter an import container number and get the current delivery status. The system must report if there are any fees due or there is an insurance or credit exception. The information must be real-time, no delay is acceptable. There should be no surprises when a driver comes to the pier to pick up the container. If the container was already delivered, the system should report the date and time delivered, the name of the trucking company, the name of the driver, and the trucker interchange receipt number.
• enter an export container number and get the current load status.
• enter a booking number and get the current status, including the amount of containers booked and delivered.
• enter a list of containers not currently releaseable. When one of the containers become releaseable, an E-Mail should be sent to the trucker. The list should be reviewable by the trucker at any time. This feature is commonly referred to as a "Watch List".
• The trucker should be able to review all activity attributable to his drivers. The system should report all activity regardless if the container was an import, export or empty.

American Stevedoring provides all the above services as well as a Delivery Order System. The Delivery order system has two modules, one for brokers (BSP), and one for truckers(TSP).

When a licensed broker joins the "Broker Service Package" (BSP), he may may nominate a trucking company to pick up a container by entering the truckers SCAC code. The broker then receives a confirmation and a Delivery Order Authorization Code. The container is then added to the truckers "Watch List". Brokers may review the status of the containers they have nominated to tucking companies at any time.

When a trucking company joins the "Truckers Service Package" (TSP), he may assign a specific driver to pick up a container which he has been nominated for and eliminate the need for a hard copy Delivery Order. When the TSP member reviews his watch list, the list will inform him of the broker which nominated him. The trucker must get the Delivery Order Authorization number from the broker. We will not supply the trucker with the Authorization number. When the container becomes available, the trucker may enter the SEALINK number of the driver he wishes to pick up the container. The driver may pick up the container by showing his SEALINK card, and informing the clerk of the Deliver authorization number.