Hi Carriers
We can now advise a further update to the acquisition of slots in the 1-Stop (Optibook) VBS exchange.
Effective immediately Wednesday 25th Jun import slots booked will have a 2hr limit to be 'confirmed'. (which means it needs a valid container attached)
Within that 2hrs a slot can be cleared to a 'booked' status and re-confirmed as many times as carriers like. Or left in 'booked' status if they prefer.
The same container cannot be used twice on the same slot to confirm it.
Once the 2hr limit is reached, and the slot is not 'confirmed', it will automatically list.
Clearing the slot and re-adding a container DOES NOT RESTART THE 2HR TIMER.
Carriers will not be able to retrieve this slot for 30min once it lists. (another significant change). This will also apply to carriers clicking the "List" button. So slow down and take your time. R&D will not be able to retrieve/cancel/replace if you have made a mistake and list a slot you did not wish to.
If the slot is still available after 30min carrier can retrieve the slot and process will start again.
There will also now be a persistent display of the estimated discharge in the container list.
There is no change to the way export slots are booked.
In addition to the above the slot cap will increase from 4 per zone to 6 per zone for both import and export slots effective immediately on Wednesday 25th Jun.
This update overall will reduce even further the 'slot hoarding' that still is an ongoing issue, albeit vastly reduced. As such it will create more visibility for carriers of slots.
It will impede Bots being used to acquire slots and hold them indefinitely, skewing what slots are seen as available. And the slot cap increases flexibility and choice carriers have when accessing the exchange.
This is a further step towards enhancing exchange for the benefit of the entire carrier industry. On top of the recent update to allow carriers to book slots for 'held' containers, increased slot volumes on all shifts, and the slot swap function. Carriers should now see and feel a significant difference in the exchange from prior to Dec 2024.
There are still other updates being worked on that were unable to be activated in the initial roll. We will continue to work with 1-stop to see these advances enacted improving the exchange for all.
Attached is an update on stack run guidelines that reflect the changed environment to integrate stack runs more closely with the exchange so all carriers can have fair access to the exchange in whatever method they choose. The main change being night shift runs now being able to cater to higher manifest per zone limits. There are more details around stack run specifics as a reminder to those who use these regularly and those carriers thinking of using them. The conditions around stack runs will be require carriers to adhere to these more closely moving forward. Those submitted runs that are unable to meet the guideline conditions, will be amended in line with the guidelines or cancelled.