Accurate information on vehicle dimensions and weight is essential for LSPs to ensure proper loading and stowing. Additionally, LSPs benefit from knowing the fuel type of vehicles at the time of booking, which enhances service quality. This insight came from a small working group between OEMs and LSPs.
The collaboration was initiated after ECG’s Quality Working Group received feedback from a shipping line about the lack of information regarding fuel type and security information in some instances. To address this, the dedicated working group was formed to analyse the information needs of LSPs. A questionnaire was sent to them to identify the information they currently receive and what they consider either essential or ‘nice-to-have’. Similarly, OEMs were asked to clarify the information they currently provide and the challenges they face in sharing specific details.
The survey revealed that logistics companies require certain essential information, much of which is already provided by most OEMs. This includes vehicle dimensions and fuel type, necessary for each individual vehicle transported. Additionally, LSPs expressed a need for guidelines for handling all vehicles in case of emergency. Optional information, such as ground clearance and left-hand/right-hand drive indication, was also identified.
Based on the survey results and group discussions, a short document was drafted including the information which is recommended for sharing with LSPs:
- Fuel Type (i.e. diesel, petrol, hybrid, etc.)
- Calculated Weight
- Width
- Length
- Height
OEMs in the working group agreed on a process for providing vehicle dimension data to facilitate efficient load preparations. They emphasized that while the data comes from digital systems, it is not individually verified and may vary case by case.
To streamline the sharing of this information, it is best communicated to LSPs via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messages, which allows for moving away from more manual communication methods such as Excel files and e-mails. The existing ECG-Odette-VDA standard for digital messages, adopted by many OEMs, includes fields for all the recommended information in every message type, ensuring a structured and efficient data exchange.