USDOT’s FLOW meeting puts freight data sharing back on the delivery agenda
Michael Rutherford outlines FLOW’s coordination role as freight operators focus on container demand and congestion.
USDOT convened more than 100 freight-industry stakeholders at the October 21 annual meeting of Freight Logistics Optimization Works, its public-private data-sharing program. Participants represented ocean carriers, railroads, trucking, chassis providers and shippers.
Michael Rutherford, assistant secretary for multimodal freight infrastructure and policy, emphasized how disruptions in one part of the freight network can affect other modes and industries.
FLOW shares information about incoming container demand to help participants anticipate congestion. USDOT connected the meeting to its 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan.
The announcement describes an operational coordination program. It does not announce a construction project, contract award or new funding amount.
What happens next
USDOT did not announce a dated follow-on milestone or procurement in this meeting release.
Source for this milestone →Why it matters for the industry
The relevance for freight operators is demand visibility and coordination. The release provides no basis for treating the meeting as a new construction opportunity.
Supporting source →Sources & reporting
- USDOT FLOW annual meeting · October 21, 2026
Sources checked 2026-10-26.