New DOT Office Will Focus on Supply Chain

The supply chain shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic were certainly a headache for administrators of grant-funded programs, and for the general public as well. A recent restructuring within the Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to limit future supply chain shortfalls.

As part of the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, DOT has set up the new Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy (Multimodal Freight Office) to oversee the maintenance and improvement of the nation’s freight network and supply chains. In partnership with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the new office will continue the advancement of DOT’s Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program designed to help businesses get goods to shelves faster and cut costs for consumers.

The Multimodal Freight Office, located within the Office of the Undersecretary of Transportation for Policy, was established and funded by Congress to:

• administer and oversee certain multimodal freight grant programs;
• promote and facilitate the sharing of information between the private and public sectors with respect to freight issues;
• conduct research on improving multimodal freight mobility, and to oversee the freight research activities of the various agencies within DOT;
• assist cities and states in developing freight mobility and supply chain expertise;
• serve as a liaison and coordinate with other federal departments and agencies; and
• carry out other duties, as prescribed by the DOT secretary.

According to DOT, FLOW now includes the five largest U.S. container ports, seven of the largest ocean carriers and four of the five largest retailers by imports to create a shared picture of supply chain networks and facilitate a more reliable flow of goods. Data from this public-private partnership will inform decisionmaking and planning across the supply chain.

FLOW provides greater transparency across supply chain networks, DOT adds, helping make the supply chain more resilient and adaptable in the face of major anomalies and changing circumstances. By providing a secure, shared view of the national logistics system without compromising sensitive proprietary information, including both supply and demand assets, participants can make more informed decisions regarding their capacity and supply chain planning.

A full list of FLOW participants is available here. We look forward to the success of these efforts to ensure vital goods and products are received in a timely manner.

Join us for our following Thompson Grants event:
Federal Grants Forum | Dec. 6-8, 2023 | San Juan, P.R.