The TAILgate MATRIX (TAILgate) DoP project builds on 3 previous TSB funded projects namely TAILgate 1 -“demonstrator”, Proof of Market and Proof of Concept between 2010-2013. TAILgate (Transport & Intelligent Logistics Gateway) is an Intermodal Collaboration Gateway (ICG) and will provide a unique capability to intelligently match supply and demand in the UK freight marketplace across all modes (road, rail, short sea and coastal shipping). TAILgate will be to Transport what Galileo and Amadeus are to travel, BACS and Swift to Banking and Late Rooms and Last Minute.com are to the hotel industry.

Tailgate aims to reduce UK annual road freight movements by 1.5% (1.5 million journeys) p.a. and associated carbon emissions by some 250K tons p.a. by 2018 through improved asset utilisation andmodal shift. The DoP involves development and testing of a Pre-production prototype of the principal components of a matching engine to match supply and demand and present it to ERP systems via multiple interfaces delivering a step change in efficiency in user experience and demonstrating the potential to: reduce manual effort and associated costs, increase asset utilisation, reduce emissions & congestion through accessing and matching empty capacity with demand.

User engagement in the PoC has provided the basis for a small group of shippers & carriers to sign off on the designs & processes with a view to progressing to the DoP during 2014. The scheme particularly benefits SMEs who have limited procurement leverage and could generate cost savings in excess of 50%. The Pre-Production Prototype will use large shippers and tier one carriers only in order to ensure maximum “match potential”. SME’s will be brought in at a later (production phase).