GE Transportation Tech Pilot at Port of Long Beach Boosts Cargo Flow

Begin by deploying the GE Transportation tech pilot’s scheduling engine across several terminal zones to cut congestion and accelerate container movement. This approach answers a clear ask from the association and carrier teams: how can we coordinate yard, gate, and quay moves in real time without slowing equipment?

In july, the pilot handled roughly 5,400 teus per day at the Long Beach terminal, up from 4,200, with dwell time down by about 12% and gate queues shortening by roughly 15%. The gains come from tighter sequencing and scheduling alignment that help operations anticipate bottlenecks rather than react to them.

Beyond the numbers, the system links container data with gate and crane sequencing to deliver a unified plan that accommodates operations. After the pilot, dispatchers can align tasks with available chassis, cranes, and yard space, reducing errors and cutting the number of handoffs between teams. For carriers, the improvement translates to tighter windows and fewer delays for them and their customers.

The data point to a scalable path: from a single terminal to multiple gateways, with a phased Step plan. Step 1 expands the tech to two more yard zones; Step 2 ties the scheduling engine to a regional terminal network; Step 3 trains staff and aligns with the scheduling windows used by shippers. The objective remains simple: accommodating constraints while trimming congestion and boosting throughput across these routes.

Looking to the future, the pilot framework serves as a blueprint for future improvements across port operations, with gains that can be replicated through simile initiatives and close association with partners, shippers, and the local freight community. By coordinating data with stakeholders and maintaining a futuro-oriented perspective, the port can extend benefits to other corridors and containers, keeping congestion under control while expanding capacity with better scheduling.

Pilot scope, objectives, and implementation at the Port of Long Beach

Launch a three-step pilot in june to test data-sharing, gate scheduling, and cargo movement at the Port gateway; this will be beneficial, help shipping, and build a scalable transport service across the gateway that accommodates varied cargo and facilitates business growth. The approach focuses on practical data exchange and real-time visibility, with roles defined for port operators, carrier partners, and suppliers.

The pilot scope covers three work streams: gate operations, yard flow, and data integration across systems. It uses a developed ames data model to align actions, with high-speed data links to support scheduling and transport coordination. The setup was designed to be accommodating for partners and to capture learnings that magazines and industry networks can reference as they expand.

Objectives include increasing greater throughput, improving scheduling accuracy, and delivering a total service improvement that reduces delays and queueing. The team aims to create a scalable project blueprint that can be replicated at other gateways and support three main outcomes: faster transport moves, higher reliability for forward shipments, and stronger business relationships.

Implementation plan includes four steps: Step 1–baselining current performance with existing data; Step 2–deploying sensors and a unified interface for gate and yard operations; Step 3–executing controlled cargo moves and testing scheduling logic; Step 4–evaluating results and shaping the expansion plan to fit more ships and more traffic across the gateway.

Key metrics focus on total container moves, average dwell times, on-time gate appointments, and user satisfaction from partners. The plan includes a 12-week cycle with a june start, milestones set every four weeks, and a clear decision point on expanding to additional lanes and ships.

What technologies are piloted and how they integrate with terminal workflows

Adopt automated gate processing and real-time container visibility to reduce dwell and move cargo more efficiently through the terminal. The GE Transportation Tech Pilot at Port of Long Beach combines innovative and developed solutions that cover gate, yard, and dock workflows, connecting seaports to the trade ecosystem and accelerating cargo through the facility, creating forward momentum for trade.

The installation begins with sensor deployments on containers and chassis, followed by the rollout of RFID, GNSS, and IoT gateways that feed the poréal data channel into the central system. RFID and IoT sensors provide live asset tracking, a centralized Yard Management System (YMS) handles dynamic stacking and routing, and automated equipment such as AGVs move containers along defined yard lanes. The data streams feed a single terminal operating system, enabling access across them and covering the movement from gate to stack to ship. Anne notes that this layer increases visibility and reduces unnecessary handling, while these steps have been developed and refined through prior deployments.

Integration with terminal workflows relies on standardized data exchange between carriers, stevedores, and the port’s transport management system. Sensor data maps to container IDs, enabling smarter gate release decisions, optimized yard coverage, and synchronized handoffs to trucking windows, which translates to shorter days of idle equipment and improved throughput through peak periods. This approach benefits seaports worldwide, with a path to wider adoption via the worldwide association and input from industry peers such as schopfer. The plan also ensures cover for peak days, supporting more predictable service.

Collected metrics from the first 60 days show beneficial results: dwell times decreased by a double-digit percentage, yard density rose by about 15%, and gate-cycle times shortened by 10-15% on average, translating into a greater forward flow of containers and smoother trade routes.

To scale, the port should formalize the data-sharing framework through the worldwide association of terminal operators, standardize data models across equipment and systems, and extend the pilot to additional gates and container types. Prioritize user-friendly access for terminal staff and customers, invest in ongoing training, and establish quarterly reviews with anne and the project team to track improvements in movement, trade throughput, and overall potential for global coverage.

Impact on yard operations, crane scheduling, and container throughput

In june, implement a three-pronged plan to boost yard operations, crane scheduling, and container throughput. Deploy geostamp-based tracking across all terminals to cover every movement, enabling real-time visibility and proactive re-planning within minutes rather than hours. Three-pronged solution yields results that cut dwell by days and improve predictability for shippers and terminal services alike. We have data from the pilot showing that coordinated planning can accomplish measurable gains across transport and shipping lanes, with stable results across three terminals and a total of several million containers moved annually.

• Yard operations: create three zone layouts (import, export, transshipment) with dedicated staging lanes and a zone-based gate process. Dynamic rolling and clearing rules reduce double-handling. Expected result: 20-25% reduction in yard dwell time and 60-90 minute faster truck turnarounds, translating into about 1-2 days fewer container days in yard.
• Crane scheduling: adopt dynamic window planning tied to vessel calls and port gate data. Use 45-60 minute windows, limit crane idle time to 6 minutes per cycle, and raise lift productivity by 15-25%.
• Container throughput and tracking: optimize sequencing by terminal with geostamp-based tracking to improve total throughput. Target annual volume around 2.5-3.0 million TEU across the pilot terminals, with room to grow to 3.5 million if future demand grows, while maintaining high service levels.
• Executive support and services: appoint an executive sponsor, ensure monthly reviews, and invest in operator and shippers training. The coordinated approach yields greater reliability and improved service levels for shippers and transport partners.

Data architecture: sensors, telemetry, and interoperability across systems

Adopt a unified data fabric that links ge-port sensors, terminals equipment, and telemetry into a single platform, with explicit data contracts across stakeholders. In the pilot, 320 sensor nodes cover gates, yards, and truck lanes; 200 chassis tags enable real-time tracking; 60 cameras feed event streams that merge with container data at 1-second intervals for critical paths and 60-second intervals for background metrics.

Interoperability across systems hinges on open APIs and a common data model. Use REST and MQTT bridges to feed tracking and matchbacks between shipping orders and yard movements, so the platform can align inbound releases with chassis and containers. This approach supports seamless access for ge-port terminals and the community of operators and carriers, accelerating adoption and planning milestones.

Data governance ensures reliability. Implement RBAC, SSO, and data lineage, with retention of 365 days for operational metrics. Maintain data quality dashboards tied to installation milestones, and publish magazine-style briefs to inform stakeholders, including the president, about progress and planned expansions.

Deployment focuses on risk-limiting, phased installation. Start with two terminals, then scale to all ge-port terminals within 12 months. Use modular services to isolate sensor streams, telemetry, and analytics, enabling mario to coordinate data contracts and expedite matchbacks while managers monitor planning and performance.

Platform-enabled outcomes include improved tracking, faster matchbacks, and enhanced service functionality that directly benefits shipping partners and terminal operations. The system supports scalable data access, strengthens community trust, and delivers measurable gains in throughput and asset utilization, making adoption a practical, beneficial move for terminals and carriers alike.

To sustain momentum, couple the technical rollout with regular updates in magazines and briefings, plus hands-on training that highlights installation steps, data contracts, and operational use cases. Emphasize a clear roadmap, align with planning cycles, and provide concrete metrics to demonstrate how the solution enhances decision-making and asset flow across the network.

Cybersecurity, data privacy, and risk controls for the pilot

Recommendation: Implement a zero-trust access model across all pilot systems, enforce MFA for every login, apply least-privilege RBAC, segment networks, and protect data in transit and at rest with strong encryption. Run a phased trial and a short release window for critical components, starting with motor control interfaces and the data gateway, then expanding to sensors and software consoles. For the second-busiest harbor by cargo volumes, this stabilizes operations and provides greater resilience, with practical solutions that can be deployed quickly and rolled back if needed after any anomaly.

Data privacy design begins with data minimization and defined owners. Collect only what is needed for operations, tag datasets, and apply pseudonymization for sensor streams in workstreams. Configure access logs for collected data and retain them for 12 months, while sharing only de-identified signals with the community and with magazines that publish security best practices. Ensure data stays within enterprise boundaries and align retention with release and audit cycles. Document how their data is used by vendors during appointment planning and trial releases.

Risk controls include a formal incident response plan with a clear detection-to-containment target, a runbook for common alarm scenarios, and periodic vulnerability scanning after each software release. Implement a vendor risk program, require security assessments for updates, and maintain a change log for the pilot environment. Use ML-based anomaly detection to flag unusual access patterns on the harbor data lake, and share signals with the community to reduce congestion and enhance optimization across interfaces and among partners, while isolating sensitive keys and credentials to protect them from exposure. These controls help sustain safety.

The appointment of a dedicated security lead from bynum coordinates across IT, operations, and vendor teams. This role keeps the trial milestones aligned with the release calendar and helps assure consistency with similar interfaces across port systems. Implement a patch cadence that minimizes downtime and enables low-downtime updates to motor-control software and related components. Establish a data-sharing agreement with the harbor authority, appoint data stewards, and publish concise release notes and magazines to maintain transparency with the community and local stakeholders.

Timeline, milestones, and decision gates for scaling the program

Recommendation: implement a three-gate scaling plan that will rely on collected data and transparent Go/No-Go reviews at 60, 120, and 180 days. This national transport initiative will have strong support from the Port, terminals, carriers, and shippers, and will accomplish measurable gains in shipping times and dwell times. The gateway approach keeps the effort focused, with bynum leading data integration and stakeholder updates, and this step will set a clear path to greater performance.

Timeline at a glance: in june, baseline metrics are collected across all terminals and the data stream is validated. in july, the initial gateway report is published and Gate 1 is approved to scale to two additional terminals, aligning with national priorities and with the momentum from the second-busiest shipping gateway. The plan tracks times, throughput, and motor activity to ensure predictable results.

Milestones and gates: Gate 1 targets two additional terminals and a 5–8% improvement in average dwell time; collected data should show early gains and a path to a million additional annual moves. Gate 1 requires a cost-benefit threshold and safety sign-off. Gate 2 adds three more terminals and rail connections, aiming for a greater share of the national transport corridor and a 10–12% improvement. Gate 3 scales to all terminals across the port, delivering the initiative at scale and establishing a multi-terminal gateway that accelerates shipping times and reduces truck congestion.

Decision gates and governance: Gate 1, Gate 2, and Gate 3 use predefined thresholds for throughput, dwell time, safety, and cost. bynum will chair the review board and coordinate data from terminal operators and transport partners to decide whether to proceed, pause, or adjust scope. This step provides clarity for all stakeholders and keeps support strong across the initiative.

Key performance indicators and data: we track motor idling, crane moves, container dwell time, truck turnaround, on-time departures, and throughput. Collected figures are compared against the baseline to quantify improvements and to demonstrate the program’s impact on the second-busiest port and on national transport outcomes. This approach supports a transparent, data-driven path to scale the operation.

Risks and next moves: maintain a pragmatic pace, validate results with terminal operators, shippers, and rail partners, and adjust scope as needed. With disciplined governance, the program will enhance efficiency, sustain support, and lay the groundwork to expand the initiative across more gateways and to larger milestones.