Intermodal trucking companies continue to lose approximately 35% of available driver hours to empty drayage moves. These unproductive trips return marine containers to congested terminal gates when those same containers could be street-turned directly to nearby export customers. The financial impact is measured in wasted fuel, excessive driver detention, increased per diem exposure, and lost capacity that could otherwise be used for revenue-generating loads.
Strong Tower Consulting has developed a proven methodology that leverages real-time telematics and algorithmic matching to eliminate the majority of these empty terminal runs. Our approach integrates seamlessly with existing TMS platforms including Truckmate, McLeod, and TMW Systems while maintaining complete independence from any single software vendor.
The Empty Drayage Waste
Most intermodal fleets operate under tight margins where every empty mile directly erodes profitability. When an import container is stripped at a warehouse, the default process sends the driver back to the marine terminal with an empty chassis. This creates multiple layers of cost:
- Deadhead miles consuming fuel and driver hours
- Terminal gate congestion adding detention time
- Continued accrual of import per diem while the container sits at the terminal
- Missed opportunity to immediately serve an export booking that requires the exact same equipment type
Traditional manual processes relying on dispatchers making phone calls to steamship lines rarely achieve street-turn rates above 12%. The coordination required between import receivers, export shippers, chassis providers, and ocean carriers creates too many points of failure.
The Strong Tower Street-Turn Protocol™
Our protocol combines CheckPoint telematics with intelligent business rules to automate the entire street-turn workflow. CheckPoint, available at https://exspeeditecheckpoint.com/login.php, serves as the central nervous system that continuously monitors container status across your entire fleet.
Intelligent Import-to-Export Matchmaking
CheckPoint analyzes inbound import container specifications (20ft, 40ft high-cube, steamship line ownership, last free day) against all pending export bookings in your TMS. The system evaluates proximity, equipment compatibility, and customer authorization rules in real time. When a viable match is identified, the platform surfaces the opportunity to dispatch with full visibility into both the import empty-out and export load details.
Automated Ocean Line Approval Requests
Instead of manual phone calls or emails, the platform dispatches electronic street-turn requests directly to the ocean carrier's system. For carriers such as Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM, this integration uses approved EDI channels and API connections to secure rapid authorization. The request includes verified GPS interchange timestamps from the import delivery, creating an indisputable chain of custody.
Free Time Clock Reset and Per Diem Protection
The exact minute an ocean carrier authorizes the street turn, CheckPoint simultaneously terminates the import per diem clock and initiates the export free time period. This precise synchronization typically eliminates 70-85% of disputed per diem charges that arise from mismatched documentation between import and export moves.
| Metric | Blind Terminal Returns | Manual Dispatch Phone Pairing | Strong Tower CheckPoint Automated Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty Terminal Gate Moves % | 88% | 64% | 18% |
| Drayage Fuel Savings per Box | $0 | $18 | $67 |
| Container Turn Velocity (Days) | 6.8 | 4.9 | 2.7 |
| Disputed Ocean Carrier Per Diem per Month (avg fleet of 45 drivers) | $14,200 | $9,800 | $1,650 |
Navigating Steamship Line and Port Street-Turn Rules
Each ocean carrier maintains specific street-turn platforms and business rules. Maersk operates through its MatchBack system while MSC and CMA CGM utilize Avantida and proprietary portals. Our protocol ensures compliance by submitting requests through the carrier-preferred channel while maintaining a unified dashboard for your dispatch team.
The system also respects port-specific requirements regarding equipment interchange agreements, chassis pool rules, and environmental restrictions. By embedding these constraints into the matching algorithm, CheckPoint prevents unauthorized equipment diversions that could trigger costly fines or loss of carrier contracts.
Integration With Existing TMS Platforms
The Strong Tower approach works alongside your current transportation management system. Whether you run Truckmate, McLeod, TMW, or a custom SQL-based dispatch solution, CheckPoint ingests EDI 204 tender information, posts real-time EDI 214 status updates, and returns completed EDI 210 freight bills with accurate street-turn documentation attached.
Driver settlement rules, fuel surcharge calculations, and detention billing logic remain under your control. The platform simply augments your existing workflows with street-turn intelligence rather than replacing them.
Independent by design
Strong Tower Consulting, LLC and Exspeedite LLC are separately organized sister companies under common ownership. We engineer intermodal profitability. Because we do not sell transportation management software, motor carriers and drayage operators never have to buy our software to benefit from our expertise. Our only incentive is your operational improvement. Call us at 763-244-1373 to discuss how the Street-Turn Protocol can be adapted to your specific fleet.
Implementation Timeline for 2026
Carriers implementing the Strong Tower CheckPoint Automated Street-Turn Engine typically see measurable results within 45 days. The phased rollout begins with telematics installation on existing power units, followed by TMS integration, ocean carrier credentialing, and finally full algorithmic matching. By Q3 2026, fleets using this methodology will hold a significant cost and capacity advantage over competitors still relying on manual processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documentation does CheckPoint provide to prove a street turn occurred if the ocean carrier issues a per diem invoice?
CheckPoint generates a complete audit trail including GPS-verified interchange timestamps, automated EDI 214 status updates, digital street-turn authorization confirmations from the ocean carrier, and immutable container condition photos taken at the time of the street-turn match. This package is automatically attached to the corresponding EDI 210 and can be exported as a single PDF for dispute resolution.
Can the system match street turns between different contracted customer accounts?
Yes. The Strong Tower Street-Turn Protocol intelligently matches import empties from one customer account with export bookings from another, provided both parties have granted permission within the CheckPoint platform and the equipment specifications align. All matches respect strict customer confidentiality and equipment ownership rules.
Does the platform verify that an import container is clean and undamaged before assigning it to an export shipper?
Yes. CheckPoint integrates driver-captured photos, seal verification, and damage notation fields at the time of empty-out. The system applies configurable business rules that prevent assignment of containers failing cleanliness or structural integrity thresholds. Export customers receive advance visibility of container condition before the load is dispatched.
How does automated street-turn authorization affect per diem and free time calculations?
The moment an ocean carrier electronically approves the street-turn request, CheckPoint simultaneously terminates the import per diem clock and initiates the export free-time clock. This precise timestamp synchronization eliminates the majority of disputed per diem charges that arise from mismatched documentation between import and export moves.
The intermodal drayage market in 2026 will be defined by those who successfully eliminate non-productive empty miles. The technology exists today to automate street turns at scale while maintaining full compliance with ocean carrier and port authority requirements. Strong Tower Consulting stands ready to help your organization implement these capabilities without forcing you to replace your current TMS or dispatch processes.
Ready to reduce your empty terminal gate moves by more than 70%? Schedule a no-obligation operational assessment today.
Begin Your AssessmentOr call Scott Elliott directly at 763-244-1373