APM Terminals (APMT) has begun rolling out its truck appointment API, its platform to cut traffic and ease the flow of date, starting with APM Terminals Los Angeles.
The terminal operator said the API automatically connects the customer’s Transport Management System directly to TERMPoint, APMT’s standard truck appointment system.
It will reduce transit times and associated costs by providing real-time information directly from the terminal and cut the chance of human error that occurs during manual operations.
The Truck Appointment API enable customers to perform appointment tasks currently carried out manually through TERMPoint, such as viewing available time slots; creating, updating and cancelling appointments; and producing a list of appointments, appointment information and updates for a requested timeframe.
Appointments can be made for empty container pick up and drop off, import pickup and export drop-off.
Combined with data from other APIs offered by APM Terminals, such as vessel schedules and import availability, it becomes a powerful tool for reducing the time a container takes to transit through the container terminal to an absolute minimum.
Wiebe-Jan Kloosterman, Landside Digital Solution Manager at APM Terminals, said, “Using APIs not only removes the manual errors that occur when copying and pasting between different systems.
“But having a complete set of real-time data all in one system, can help flag errors or oversights before they occur, through for example, real-time reporting.”
