(RMI issued the following news release on March 22.)
ATLANTA — RMI, the largest independent provider of accurate, reliable, comprehensive and secure rail information services to the transportation industry, today announced the availability of its Automated Manifest System (AMS) Service. The new service provides carriers, port authorities, and freight forwarders with the ability to participate in the U.S. Customs’ AMS cargo release notification system, which uses EDI to facilitate the rapid identification and release of shipments.
“RMI is committed to creating a ‘Paperless Railroad’ system so that railroads can truly streamline operations, control costs and improve customer service,” said Paul Pascutti, vice president of marketing for RMI. The introduction of RMI’s Rail AMS Service further enables the “Paperless Railroad” environment by automating the formerly manual processing of customs documentation.
The AMS Service links directly to the U.S. Customs’ AMS System, a multi-modal cargo inventory control and release notification system, which interfaces directly with Customs Cargo Selectivity and In-Bond systems, allowing faster identification and release of shipments. AMS speeds the flow of cargo and entry processing and provides participants with electronic authorization to move cargo prior to arrival. AMS reduces reliance on paper documents and speeds the processing of manifest and waybill data.
How it Works
Through an Internet interface, the RMI solution gives shippers, consignees and carriers accurate information and visibility of the status of shipments throughout the customs clearance process. For rail carriers, the RMI system transmits a “consist” of the waybills and railcars in standing car order. This allows U.S. Customs the opportunity to review the submitted documentation and determine, in advance, whether the merchandise merits examination or release. The current status of shipments is communicated from U.S. Customs to the RMI system, where it is displayed through a web interface. The carrier, upon receiving a release from U.S. Customs, is able to make decisions on staging cargo, and the importer can arrange for examination, release and further distribution of the merchandise.
Throughout the transport process, the system provides railroads, shippers, brokers and other authorized parties with additional information to track shipments through the clearance process. This includes the ability to receive cancellation or deleted status notifications, cargo status and advance notice of General Order (GO) eligibility, notice of other government agency holds and exam notifications.
“As companies seek to widen the source of goods, increase their penetration of global markets, and reduce inventory holding using on-demand-led planning, avoiding delays at customs boundaries is becoming an increasing pressure point,” said Nigel Montgomery in an article published in The AMR Research Alert/LIS Acquires Online To Enhance Customs Management, October 23, 2003. “Companies need their vendors to help them tackle the problems.”
Key Features
RMI’s Rail AMS System provides shipping parties with several action and notification services designed to make U.S. processing and clearance seamless, secure and accurate. Key features of the service include:
— Send Customs a “train enroute, one hour out” message within one-hour of reaching the border
— Receive authorization, through the Internet, for multi-transit border or in-transit border moves
— Designate a broker in the bill of lading who will then receive the bill of lading in U.S. Customs CATAIR format, as well as bill status notifications
— Amend, delete or re-add bill of lading data via the Internet
— Receive in-bond authorizations via the Internet
— Designate secondary parties to receive carrier status notifications
— Receive notification of APHIS, other government agency, and U.S. Customs holds and removals
About RMI
RMI is the largest independent provider of accurate, reliable, comprehensive and secure rail information services to the transportation industry. Founded in 1979, RMI is recognized as the most successful Business Services Provider (BSP) in the industry with an in-depth knowledge of rail operations and a proven ability to translate complex business processes into valuable management information services. Currently, RMI processes approximately five million carloads annually for railroads, rail shippers and railcar owners. RMI’s services are accessed via the Internet through RailConnect(R) (www.railconnect.com), a web-based portal to the company’s integrated suite of proprietary information services, which are used to manage rail operations, improve customer service and reduce costs. Services include transportation, revenue, equipment, shipper freight and fleet management services and related executive information systems. RMI is an independent, privately owned company based in Atlanta. For more information about RMI, visit www.railcarmgt.com.