RUNNING HEAD: RFID IN TRANSPORTATION

RFID in transportation
Gopi Krishna Potla
Wilmington University

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Abstract:
Radio Frequency Identification is the most prevailing technology in the current world.
RFID has many successful applications. Transportation is one among such applications. The use
of RFID in transportation made tracking to things easy. RFID increase the efficiency of
transportation, saves time and money. It is used in trucking, shipping, airports and also in
railways. In this paper, RFID technology is explained briefly at the beginning. Later,
implementation of RFID on different ways of transportation is illustrated. The standards of RFID
in transportation are also presented.
Introduction:
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. RFID technology is a type of wireless
communication in which radio waves are used to recognize people and objects. The purpose of
an RFID system is transmitting data from a portable device, called a tag, to an RFID reader to
execute a particular application based on the tag provided identification or location information
(Graafstra, 2006; O' Brien, 2006). This was initially developed for improving warfare
technologies. Now, it has been a part of everyones routine life. It consists of a tag with a chip
and an antenna for sending and receiving data. The technology consolidates with an interrogator
(reader), which has an antenna that communicates with the tag. This is an enhanced distinct
option for barcodes as it has read and write capabilities.
RFID in transportation:
In transportation, RFID has found its implementation like in trucking, airports, shipping
and also in railways. The use of RFID is growing continuously in transportation. They have also
been added to transportation devices like highway toll pass cards and subway passes. The RFID

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devices have an ability to store data proficiently. They can enumerate the cost of tolls and fares
and reduce the cost electronically from the amount of money that the user places on the card.
Instead of waiting at the tollbooth to pay a toll, passengers use RFID chip-embedded passes like
debit cards(Bonsor, 2007; Fenlon 2007). This technology is also used to enhance driving safety,
reduce vehicle collisions, and also used to reduce vehicle emissions. The Midland, Mich.-based
chemical and plastics producer already has implemented an RFID system combined with global
positioning system technology for its rail fleet and will begin another pilot program for
intermodal containers this year(Katz, 2006). The Dow Chemical Co. has affixed rail cars with
RFID tags that provide information about what is in the cars along with a GPS system that
informs the company about the cars location (Katz, 2006). With the help of intermodal pilot,
Dow is looking to gain improved visibility of cargo as it moves to international ports.
RFID has various applications in transportation. Its implementation has been widely
accepted where toll roads have been implemented. It is used in electronic payment system. E-Z
Pass and FasTrak systems that are used on highways in some parts of the United States are used
to collect tolls of highway and bridges. It increases the range and speed of reading which helps
the drivers not to slow down too much when they cross the tollbooths. Exxon/Mobil has
Speedpass transponder device which allows drivers to make credit gasoline purchases by waving
a key fob in front of the gas pump. In trucking, one of the earliest implementations of RFID was
the experimental CRESCENT program on the West Coast (Floyd, 2014). It was a trail
application that allows trucks to bypass weigh stations. When a truck approaches the weigh
station, it will be weighed using a weigh-in-motion system. Then, the RFID tag of the vehicle
will be read. If all the required standards are met by the vehicle, then a signal will be sent to the
vehicle allowing the station to be bypassed (Floyd, 2014). This process helps the truck

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companies, as there is no need of slowing down the vehicle and can accelerate to highway speeds
as soon as the weighing is done. A common RFID tag was developed which helps the vehicles by
not separating the tags on their windshield for every weigh systems.
RFID is now helping to ensure a smoother ride for both the persons and the luggage
through airplanes. McCarran airport is the only airport in the United States employs RFID to
track and trace the luggage. In 2005, McCarran introduced the technology on one the baggage
terminals (Wiegler, 2014). The RFID tag is inserted in the paper tag that is attached at curbside
or at the check-in counter. Ultra-high frequency radio waves are used in it which provides a
higher level of certainty than conventional RFID tags. In truck fleets, the use of RFID is
monitoring cargo location and condition. Opening or closing the cargo door on a truck can send
signal to a receiver that the units of cargo in the truck have been added to or subtracted from, and
a computer can keep track of the changes (Dexler, 2008). As there is data about the cargo of the
truck in a computer, the driver can be notified if a wrong piece of cargo was delivered at a given
stop.
RFID standards in transportation:
RFID standards are guidelines or specifications for all RFID products. The importance of
tracing the products throughout the supply chain has strongly increased for the reasons of safety
and reliability. The new ISO 17367:2009 will help manufacturers and distributors to track
products and to manage their traceability thanks to standardized RFID tags (Tranchard, 2010).
ISO 17367:2009, supply chain applications of RFID- Product tagging, defines the basic features
of RFID for use in the supply chain when applied to product tagging (Tranchard, 2010). It makes
recommendation for:

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Encoded identification of the product

Additional information about the product for inclusion on the RFID tag
Semantics and data syntax
The data protocol to be used to interface with business applications and the RFID

system
The air interface standards between the RFID interrogator and RFID tag.

According to Craig K. Harmon ISO 17367:2009 will provide higher level security of
products worldwide using RFID technology. It will enable easy and efficient exchange of
commodities in international trade and logistics (as cited by Tranchard, 2010, para 4).
This standard is applicable to various industries and it has been explained to ensure
similarity at the physical, command and data levels with four other International
Standards with a general title: Supply chain applications of RFID. International standards
within this suite are interoperable and non-interfering (Tranchard, 2010):

ISO 17363:2007, Supply chain applications of RFID Freight containers

ISO 17364:2009, Supply chain applications of RFID Returnable transport

items(RTIs)
ISO 17365:2009, Supply chain applications of RFID Transport units
ISO 17366:2009, Supply chain applications of RFID- Product packaging.

When fastened a cargo container, an RFID enabled seal, called an electronic seal allows
importers, port officials, to determine without a physical inspection, whether the seal has been
tampered with and the security of the container compromised (Barlas, 2005). ISO 18185 is a
draft of an e-seal standard. ISO 18185 describes how RFID can be used to track the movements
of freight containers. It has six components, 18185-1 through 18185-7 with no -5 (Bralas, 2005).
This standard specifies a read-only, nonreusable freight container seal identification system that

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provides a unique identification of the container seal, its status, and related information (Branks,
2007).
Conclusion:
Among all the technologies in this century, RFID is the major technology that has great
impact on all the fields including transportation. RFID can help in tracking and inventory. It can
hold more data when compared with bar codes. The implementation of RFID in trucking and
tolls plays a major role and they have been the success stories in this aspect. Thus RFID helps in
enhancing most aspects of the transportation.

References

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Barlas, S. (n.d.). ISO reconsidering E-seal specification. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from
http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/pdf?1696
Dexler, P. (2008, March 1). RFID Technology Can Help Manage Fleet Loads. Retrieved
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Floyd, R. (2014, March 18). RFID in Transportation ENGINEERING.com. Retrieved November
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http://www.engineering.com/ElectronicsDesign/ElectronicsDesignArticles/ArticleID/733
8/RFID-in-Transportation.aspx
Katz, J. (2006, December 28). Transportation Tracking: RFID Gains Credibility. Retrieved
November 15, 2015, from http://www.industryweek.com/companies-ampexecutives/transportation-tracking-rfid-gains-credibility
Rosencrance, L. (2003, November 6). Las Vegas airport to implement RFID baggage-tag system.
Retrieved November 15, 2015, from
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2573873/mobile-wireless/las-vegas-airport-toimplement-rfid-baggage-tag-system.html
Tranchard, S. (2010, February 12). Home. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from
http://www.iso.org/iso/home/news_index/news_archive/news.htm?refid=Ref1293