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The Alliance of Container Yard Operators of the Philippines (ACYOP) is working on the second phase of its container yard booking system that will allow truckers to book an appointment for empty container return through a mobile app
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To be called Simply Book, the mobile app will make the online booking system more accessible to truckers and will provide truck drivers visibility on their booking appointments
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The mobile app will complement the current system at the ACYOP website (http://www.cdap.ph/) that has been in place since last year
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ACYOP plans to complete the development and implement the mobile app in two months
The Alliance of Container Yard Operators of the Philippines (ACYOP) is working on the second phase of its container yard booking system that will allow truckers to book an appointment for empty container return through a mobile app.
To be called Simply Book, the app will make the online booking system more accessible to truckers and provide visibility over their booking appointments, ACYOP software developer Jaysent Camacho said in a presentation during a meeting with shipping lines and trucker/customs brokers on August 10.
Instead of a screenshot of the reference number for the booked appointment, the app will generate a quick response (QR) code that will contain all required information, facilitating transaction with the container yard, Camacho told PortCalls in an interview after the meeting.
The app will show both truck operators and drivers details of their bookings, including their available balance that can be used to pay for the booking fee.
Industry news, announcements and advisories from container yard operators will also be featured in the app, expected to be completed and implemented in two months.
Simply Book will complement the current system, which can be accessed on the ACYOP website and has been in place since last year. This online booking system was conceived in the last quarter of 2020 mainly to solve the truck queuing problem inside off-dock container yards (CY). A trial run was conducted in March 2021 and the system was fully implemented in September last year.
The system aims to improve turnaround of trucks returning and withdrawing empty containers, prevent traffic buildup along routes or roads where the container yards are located, improve yard service efficiency through the systematic and orderly queuing of trucks and less paperwork, and increase truck delivery utilization since trucks will no longer queue at the container yards and only arrive at the appointed time.
Currently, five container yard operators participate in the system: Brightpoint Logistics Corp., ESAFE Logistics Services, Inland Corp., Sea Container Depot Corp., and TBS Container Yard OPC. Shipping lines that use these operators’ container yards, located in the Camanava area and in Bulacan, are also part of the system.
ACYOP’s Alberto Linda said the online booking system has helped reduce and eliminate queueing as trucks only arrive when they have a booking, thus, helping improve the yards’ efficiency and operations. Trucks that arrive an hour early or are two hours late from booking may still be generally accommodated, however, thanks to the slot visibility offered by the system.
Association of International Shipping Lines vice chairman for Port Operations Committee Myra Tan said the system has helped lessen workload as it already schedules empty returns for shipping lines. The system has eliminated instances when trucks deliver empties all at the same time—at times in the middle of the night—creating queues and complaints.
Utilization of container yards of ACYOP member yards currently averages 85% as evacuation of empty containers by shipping lines are sometimes delayed due to the delay in arrival of ships. But Linda hopes that with the nearing peak season, ACYOP member yards will be able to manage the volumes through the help of the booking system. – Roumina Pablo
