Reducing greenhouse gases

Montreal’s advanced new Trucking PORTal Web-based application will be a key tool to help it achieve reduced waiting times at port container terminals.

“The Port of Montreal is among the first ports in the world to offer its road transport partners an advanced real-time information system on truck traffic on its territory. We are constantly working to improve freight mobility, which is our trademark, and reduce our environmental footprint,” said Sylvie Vachon, president and chief executive officer of the Montreal Port Authority.

A data capture system makes it possible to measure truck trips from entering to leaving the port and to relay this information in real time to drivers and dispatchers. This uses a combination of Bluetooth and RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technologies and licence plate readers.

Specifically, truck trips are captured at several points on port territory, tracking their movement. This results in a comprehensive view of the traffic, bottlenecks and wait times at the various terminals.

This information is sent to drivers in real time by means of a mobile application that they download on their mobile device or directly on their computer. They use this information to plan their route to get to the port and, while on Port territory, optimise the time it takes them to deliver or pick up cargo.

The port authority said that shortened waiting times result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to reducing traffic congestion and increasing the flow of truck transport.

The Montreal Port Authority received a CAN$1.375 million contribution from Transport Canada towards this project.