PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Pearl Harbor is serving as the first ocean terminal platform to test U. S. Transportation Command’s Transportation Management System (TMS) prototype on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD).

According to U. S. Transportation Command, the TMS prototype is being tested in order to determine if a commercial-off-the-shelf transportation management system can support the system requirements needed to conduct global transportation for the DoD.

U. S. Transportation Command selected NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor to test the TMS prototype while they were deploying the equipment for the 25th Infantry Division’s deployment.

“Our ocean terminal provides a capability for large-scale logistics movements,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Sargent, director of operations, NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor. “We facilitate port operations such as the transfer of vehicles, helicopters and equipment from shore to sea and sea to shore.”

NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor’s Ocean Terminals Division teamed together with, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, Military Sealift Command and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade to support the 25th Infantry Division’s deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

This large-scale logistics movement serves as an ideal test case for the TMS prototype.

Collectively, the team conducted around-the-clock port operations to load 1,462 pieces of Army equipment and cargo onto USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305), a Bob Hope-class roll-on/roll-off vehicle cargo ship.

A few advantages of implementing a TMS for DoD are improving shipment visibility, reducing operational and transportation costs, standardizing processes across lines of operations and improving productivity.

“Testing this innovative software helps us as port manager and operator ensure all documentation requirements associated with receiving cargo ahead of the operation are met,” said Sargent. “Our team worked closely with TMS team leads in the weeks leading up to the evolution to identify potential supportability gaps before they became issues. In addition, we captured lessons learned during the evolution to help improve TMS and ensure the program optimizes our efforts at NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor.”

In December, the TMS Prototype Core Team and end-users participating in the prototype will begin an extensive assessment on the functionality of the TMS. Their findings will be presented to DoD in the winter of 2020.

NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.