To allow operators to track individual assets/containers within multimodal freight operations
and to access further information on cargo, such as the temperature and humidity for frozen or
liquid goods or a vehicle’s mechanical condition, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags
with embedded microchips, are used (Wang and Potter 2007; ENABLE 2010a; 2010b; Ferrer
et al. 2010). Yuan and Huang (2008) discuss a new integrated solution that integrates passive
RFID and GPS container tracking of long distance cargo to enhance supply chain visibility
and security. Recent emergence of near field communication (NFC), which is based on RFID
technology, is perceived to be the next step in the way companies operate. NFC enables quick
and easy wireless data transfer within close proximity using smart phone technology and
already includes applications for making payments using mobile phones.