THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARMY
1775
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARMY
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
12 November 2024
Effective 12 December 2024

Surface Transportation

Distribution of Materiel, Distribution Platform Management, and In-Transit Visibility

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

RANDY A. GEORGE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is a major revision. The portions affected by this major revision are listed in the summary of change.

Authorities. This regulation implements provisions of DoDM 4140.01, Volume 1 and DTR 4500.9-R.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25-30 for specific requirements.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11-2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see app B).

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) via email directly to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-4.mbx.publications@army.mil.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 56-4, dated 17 September 2014 and AR 700-80, dated 30 September 2015.

AR 56-4 • 12 November 2024

UNCLASSIFIED

Active radio frequency identification tag An RF tag device that has the ability to produce its own radio signal not derived from an external radio source. Active RFID tags may hold relatively large amounts of data, are continuously powered, and are normally used when a longer tag read distance is desired (see DoDM 4140.01, Vol. 7).

Area of responsibility The geographical area associated with a COCOMCOCOMCombatant commander within which a CCDRCCDRCombatant commanders has authority to plan and conduct operations (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Army command The highest level of command, designated by the Secretary of the Army, primarily responsible for gener- ating Army forces and planning and executing 10 USCUSCUnited States Code functions (see AR 10 – 87).

Army service component command An operational command, responsible for recommendations to the Joint force commander on the alloca- tion and employment of Army forces within a combatant command (see AR 10 – 87).

Asset visibility Provides users with information on the location, movement, status, and identity of units, personnel, equip- ment, and supplies (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Automatic identification technology A suite of technologies enabling the automatic capture of data, thereby enhancing the ability to identify, track, document, and control assets (for example, materiel), and deploying and redeploying forces, equip- ment, personnel, and sustainment cargo (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Centrally managed fleet ISO containers and distribution platforms owned, managed, and controlled by the AIDPMO.

Combined operation An operation conducted by forces of two or more Allied nations acting together for the accomplishment of a single mission.

Consignee The entity financially responsible for a shipment when it is received and accepted. Normally, the con- signee is the entity requisitioning and receiving the materiel being shipped. However, the consignee can also order materiel and direct that it shipped to another entity, which will receive it (see DoDM 4140.01, Vol. 11).

Container (or intermodal container) An article of transport equipment that meets American National Standards Institute/ISO standards that is designed to facilitate and optimize the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transportation without intermediate handling of the contents (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Container control officer A designated official (E – 6 or above or civilian equivalent) within a command, installation, or activity who is responsible for control, reporting, use, and maintenance of all DoD-owned and -controlled intermodal con- tainers and equipment from the time received until dispatched (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Mili- tary and Associated Terms).

Container control officer network A designated and appointed set of contacts within an ACOMACOMArmy service component command, ASCCASCCArmy service component commander, DRUDRUDirect reporting unit, or Army activity with whom an individual would expect to interact regarding container matters.

Container handling equipment Items of MHE required specifically to receive, maneuver, and dispatch ISO containers (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Container management executing agent At the Army COCOMCOCOMCombatant commander level, the designated official responsible for executing the container management mission and tracking and monitoring container needs and usage throughout the theater AOR.

Containerization A system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers (also called shipping containers and ISO containers) made of weathering steel (see DoDM 4140.25, Vol. 7).

Country container authority The appointed staff element that is responsible for enforcement of theater container management policy and procedures established by the CCDRCCDRCombatant commanders (definition from ATPATPArmy Techniques Publications 4 – 12).

Defense Transportation System That portion of the worldwide transportation infrastructure that supports DoD transportation needs (defini- tion from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Department of Defense container inventory A capability of the Asset Information Management System, DoD’s container inventory is the sum of all of the USTRANSCOM and Service-owned container inventories and is the ISO intermodal container registry for the DoD.

Deployment The movement of forces into and out of an operational area (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Destination The place to which a shipment is consigned or where the carrier delivers cargo to the consignee or agent (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Direct reporting unit An Army organization comprised of one or more units with institutional or operational functions; desig- nated by the Secretary of the Army; normally to provide broad general support to the Army in a single, unique discipline not otherwise available elsewhere in the Army. DRUs report directly to HQDA principal officials and/or ACOMs and operate under authorities established by the Secretary of the Army (see AR 10 – 87).

Distribution The operational process of synchronizing all elements of the logistics system to deliver the right things to the right place at the right time (see DoDM 4140.01, Vol. 5). Distribution is the movement of materiel us- ing a consistent and reliable process by a partnership of internal Army, Joint, Service, and commercial assets from the source of supply to the point of use or disposal, to include the last tactical mile and retro- grade. Distribution includes the two-way flow of materiel and information, process and financial manage- ment, transportation and transportation mode selection, node operations, visibility to the required level of detail, AITAITAutomated identification technology and/or AIS-enabled information systems, materiel handling, and protective packaging. It also includes the capability to meet surge requirements and to redirect materiel enroute, as well as full syn- chronization with the force deployment process. As a component of the supply chain, distribution begins when a product is made available for shipment and ends with receipt at the warfighter or other designated end user location.

Distribution management center The DMC representative fully coordinates distribution requirements and executes the commander’s priori- ties for distribution and develops, validates, maintains, and updates the theater distribution plan. The DMC coordinates the efforts of the MCA and additionally coordinates and manages all aspects of con- tainer use. Determines where and to whom routing and diversion information for in-transit cargo will be forwarded or directed. Makes recommendations to the distribution activities to hold, divert, or redirect ma- teriel.

Distribution of materiel The process of providing materiel from the source of supply to its point of consumption or use on a world- wide basis.

Distribution platforms Includes ISO containers (all configurations) and flatracks, PLS flatracks (M1, M1077), 40-foot trailers, In- ternational airlift or helicopter slingable container units, CROPs, and 463L pallets.

Distribution system That complex of facilities, installations, methods, and procedures designed to receive, store, maintain, distribute, and control the flow of military materiel between the point of receipt into the military system and the point of issue to using activities and units (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associ- ated Terms).

Double container Also known as a BICON, the container measures 117 3/4 (L) X 96 (W) X 96 (H) inches. It is a lockable, weatherproof, reusable prefabricated freight container with a cargo capacity of up to 23,555 lbs. It has ISO corner fittings for lifting and restraint and for coupling two BICONs together to have the same dimen- sions as a standard 20-foot ISO container (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Flatrack Portable, open-topped, open-sided units that fit into existing below-deck container cell guides and provide a capability for container ships to carry oversized cargo and wheeled and tracked vehicles (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Force An aggregation of military personnel, weapon systems, equipment, capabilities, and necessary support, or combination thereof (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Force tracking The process of gathering and maintaining information on the location, status, and predicted movement of each element of a unit including the unit’s command element, personnel, and unit-related supplies and equipment while in transit to the specified operational area (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Force visibility The current and accurate status of forces, their current mission, future missions, location, mission priority, and readiness status (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Free time Time allowed by tender, tariff, or contract to load and/or unload carrier’s equipment before detention or demurrage is charged (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Global Network Enterprise Construct An Armywide strategy that will transform LWN to an enterprise activity. GNEC is the focused, timed- phased, prioritized, resource sensitive Armywide strategy to transition LWN from many loosely-affiliated independent networks into a truly global capability that is designed, deployed, and managed as a single integrated enterprise.

Integrated Data Environment/Global Transportation Network Convergence The in-transit visibility system of record providing expanded common integrated data and application ser- vices enabling a common logistics picture, distribution visibility, and materiel asset/ITV for distribution so- lutions (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms). An automated program providing supply chain, distribution, and logistics information fusion through common integrated data ap- plication services enabling development of cohesive business solutions both by and for the supported COCOMs, components, Services, Joint Staff, agencies, and other Federal organizations. The Integrated Data Environment/Global Transportation Network creates an environment where logistics and distribution data and information from both the USTRANSCOM and DLADLADefense Logistics Agency are accessible from a single place, leverag- ing work already being done by DLADLADefense Logistics Agency Integrated Data Environment and the USTRANSCOM's Global Transportation Network programs. The Integrated Data Environment/Global Transportation Network en- hances capability to interoperate, unifies IT development across the Domain, and eliminates legacy/re- dundant data stores and interfaces. The USTRANSCOM J3 declared the Integrated Data Environ- ment/Global Transportation Network the ITV system of record (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Integrated logistics aerial resupply ILAR is the holistic approach to aerial resupply. It includes airland, airdrop, and slingload distribution oper- ations. The ILAR concept is designed to ensure that aerial resupply capabilities are implemented and used in balance and in synchronization with surface distribution-based logistics operations. The goal of ILAR is to ensure that the Joint CCDRCCDRCombatant commanders has the aerial resupply capabilities and enablers needed to meet operational requirements. ILAR provides the full range of Joint aerial delivery support and services; takes advantage of Joint intermodal enablers; and is transparent to the CCDRCCDRCombatant commanders.

Intermodal Type of international freight system that permits transshipping among sea, highway, rail, and air modes of transportation through use of American National Standards Institute and ISO containers, line haul assets, and handling equipment (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Intermodal systems Specialized transportation facilities, assets, and handling procedures designed to create a seamless, transportation system by combining multimodal operations and facilities during the shipment of cargo (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

International Convention for Safe Containers A convention held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 2 December 1972, which resulted in setting standard safety requirements for containers moving in international transport. The convention includes regulations for the testing, inspection, approval, and maintenance of containers and covers structural safety requirements and tests, including details of test procedures. It also decrees that every container travelling internation- ally be fitted with a CSC safety approval plate. This holds essential information about the container, in- cluding age, registration number, dimensions and weights, as well as its strength and maximum stacking capability. These requirements were ratified by the United States on 3 January 1978.

International Maritime Dangerous Goods code The IMDG code regulates transport of HAZMAT by sea to prevent injury to persons, or damage to ships. The IMDG code lays down basic principles intended to prevent the negligent or accidental release of ma- rine pollutants carried by sea. It contains detailed recommendations for individual substances and a num- ber of recommendations for good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. Alt- hough the information contained in the IMDG code is primarily directed at mariners, the provisions may affect industries and services from the manufacturer to the consumer (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

International Organization for Standardization A worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 100 countries, one from each country. The ISO is a nongovernment organization, established to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world, with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and ser- vices, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological, and economic activity. The ISO’s work results in international agreements, which are published as international stand- ards (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

In-transit visibility The ability to track the identity, status, and location of DoD units, and non-unit cargo (excluding bulk pe- troleum, oils, and lubricants) and passengers, patients, and personal property from origin to consignee or destination (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Large-scale combat operations Extensive joint combat operations in terms of scope and size of forces committed, conducted as a cam- paign aimed at achieving operational and strategic objective (see ADP 3 – 0).

M1 flatrack The M1 is an ISO-compatible bed cargo demountable flatrack with inward folding end walls designed to support intermodal transport by allowing stacking in a ship’s container cells. The M1 meets the CSC certi- fication requirements for sea and land movement as an intermodal container and is designed in accord- ance with ISO specifications and requirements for stacking in container cells, as well as fitting standard 20-foot lock down provisions.

M1077 flatrack The M1077 A-frame bed cargo demountable flatrack is the original flatrack fielded from 1994 to 1996. It has one fixed end wall and is designed to distribute payloads, to include containers, forward of the Corps rear boundary.

M3/M3A1 container roll-in/roll-out platform The CROP is a PLS and/or HEMTT LHS bed cargo demountable flatrack, which serves as the internal blocking and bracing system for a 20-foot end-opening container and can be quickly extracted or inserted by a LHS for movement to the customer. The CROP has an inward folding A-frame that allows loaded flatracks to be inserted into a container and empty flatracks to be stacked two to six high during retro- grade in or out of containers.

Materials handling equipment Mechanical devices for handling of supplies with greater ease and economy (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command An operational-level Army force designated by the Secretary of the Army as the ASCCASCCArmy service component commander of USTRANSCOM and a major subordinate command of AMCAMCU.S. Army Materiel Command. The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command is responsible for providing global deployment and distribution planning, operations, and systems capabil- ities, and for facilitating global traffic management support to all Joint, multinational, and interagency ele- ments (see AR 10 – 87).

Movement control activity Coordinates movement management service for all transportation modes, including allied and/or host na- tion assets when they are committed to support theater logistics or transportation plans. The MCA plans and monitors daily transportation movement requirements and capabilities. The MCA supervises the echelon above corps MCBs.

Movement control battalion coordinates and synchronizes the execution of movements and transportation operation to ensure effec- tive and efficient movements to support military operations. The span of control for the MCB is up to ten MCTs. The MCB oversees committed Army theater common user transportation and is responsible for regulating Army movement on theater controlled main and alternate supply routes. The MCB is attached to an ESC or a sustainment brigade and assists with the planning and execution of deployment, redeploy- ment, and distribution operations (see FM 4 – 0).

Movement control team An Army team used to decentralize the execution of movement responsibilities on an area basis or at key transportation nodes (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Node A location in a mobility system where a movement requirement is originated, processed for onward move- ment, or terminated (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Non-unit cargo All equipment and supplies requiring transportation to an operational area, other than those identified as the equipment or accompanying supplies of a specific unit (for example, resupply, military support for al- lies, and support for nonmilitary programs, such as civil relief) (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Origin Beginning point of a deployment where unit or non-unit-related cargo or personnel are located.

Pallet A flat base for combining stores or carrying a single item to form a unit load for handling, transporting, and storing by MHE. For DoD only: 463L pallet, an 88 inches by 108 inches aluminum flat base used to facili- tate the upload and download of aircraft (see DTR 450.9 – R).

Palletized load system A truck with hydraulic load handling mechanism, trailer, and flatrack system capable of self-loading and unloading. Truck and companion trailer each have a 16.5 ton payload capacity (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Passive radio frequency identification tag An RF tag that reflects energy supplied to the tag by a reader or interrogator, or that receives and tempo- rarily stores a small amount of energy from the reader or interrogator signal to generate the tag response. A passive RFID tag has no active transmitter that can create a response signal (see DoDM 4140.01, Vol. 7).

Pipeline A term used to represent the DoD supply chain as a continuum with measurable segments, generally be- ginning with the origination of a requirement and ending with physical receipt (see DoDM 4140.26, Vol. 2).

Positive pipeline control Ability to view, control, and redirect materiel and/or forces in the transportation and distribution systems to meet the warfighting commander’s priorities.

Quadruple container A 57.5 inches x 96 inches x 96 inches container box with a metal frame, pallet base, and ISO corner fit- tings; four of these boxes can be lashed together to form a 20-foot American National Standards Institute or ISO intermodal container (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Radio frequency identification A family of technologies that enables hands-off processing of material transactions for cargo deploying through the DTS. RFID provides operators a means to remotely identify, categorize, and locate material automatically within relatively short distances. Data is digitally stored on RFID transponder devices, such as tags or labels. Remote interrogators (located a few inches to 300 feet from the transponder device) electronically retrieve the data via electromagnetic energy (radio or microwave frequency) and send the data to the automated information services. The technology is divided into two categories of data storage and retrieval systems, passive and active. Active RFID systems are omni-directional and require moder- ately expensive high-capacity transponder devices. Active devices are effective portable databases and facilitate the rapid transfer of data to AIS with standoff capability. Passive systems generally require line- of-site interrogation of powerless, inexpensive, low-capacity transponder devices. Passive devices are adaptable for use at the item, case, and pallet level (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Redeployment The transfer or rotation of forces and materiel to support another commander’s operational requirements, or to return personnel, equipment, and materiel to the home and/or demobilization stations for reintegra- tion and/or out-processing (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Retrograde The process for the movement of non-unit equipment and materiel from a forward location to a reset (re- plenish, repair, or recapitalization) program or to another directed AO to replenish unit stocks, or to satisfy stock requirements (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Shipping container An exterior container that meets carrier regulations and is of sufficient strength, by reason of material, de- sign, and construction, to be shipped safely without further packing (for example, wooden boxes or crates, fiber and metal drums, and corrugated and solid fiberboard boxes) (see DoDM 4140.01, Vol. 3).

Stuffing Packing of cargo into a container (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Supply The procurement, distribution, maintenance while in storage, and salvage of supplies, including the deter- mination of the kind and quantity of supplies (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Sustainment The provision of logistics and personnel services required to maintain and prolong operations until suc- cessful mission accomplishment (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

System 463L Aircraft pallets and nets, tie-down and coupling devices, facilities,- handling equipment, procedures, and other components designed to interface with military and civilian aircraft cargo restraint systems. Though designed for airlift, system components may have to move intermodally via surface to support geographic CCDRCCDRCombatant commanders objectives (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

Theater of operations An operational area defined by the CCDRCCDRCombatant commanders for the conduct or support of specific military operations (defini- tion from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Time-phased force and deployment data The time-phased force, non-unit cargo, and personnel data combined with movement data for the opera- tion plan, operation order, or ongoing rotation of forces (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Transportation system All the land, water, and air routes and transportation assets conducting movement of U.S. forces and their supplies during military operations (definition from the DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms).

Triple container The container measures 77.5(1) x 96(w) x 96(h) inches. It is a lockable, weatherproof, reusable, prefabri- cated freight container with a cargo capacity of 12,300 pounds. It has ISO corner fittings for lifting and re- straint and for coupling three TRICONs together to have the same dimensions as a standard 20-foot ISO container (see DTR 4500.9 – R).

U.S. Army Cyber Command An operational-level Army force designated by the Secretary of the Army as the ASCCASCCArmy service component commander to the U.S. Cyber Command for cyberspace operations. ARCYBER plans, coordinates, synchronizes, directs, and conducts integrated cyberspace operations, information operations, and electronic warfare to ensure freedom of action in and through cyberspace and the information environment and to deny the same to our adver- saries.

U.S. Transportation Command The unified functional COCOMCOCOMCombatant commander that develops and directs the joint deployment and distribution enterprise to support global force projection; provides E2E visibility of the joint distribution process; identifies oppor- tunities for performance improvement; and provides responsive transportation support of joint United States Government and SECDEF-approved multinational and nongovernmental logistical requirements.