Federated Future of Freight: Deploying Hermes Assistant for Scalable Supply Chain Visibility

Discover how federated data infrastructure can transform logistics into a more connected, resilient, and intelligent system. Join us for an exploration of “Hermes Assistant”, a data-sharing technology platform designed to enhance freight visibility across multimodal supply chains. Spearheaded by Virginia Tech’s Dock to Door (D2D) Coalition and built in collaboration with over 90 partners, Hermes Assistant will enable secure, scalable data exchange between shippers, carriers, cities, and technology provider. When built to scale, this platform can support and strengthen supply chain ecosystems with real-time tracking, load optimization, and informed decision-making. This session will also feature an interactive activity, where attendees take on supply chain roles and navigate the journey of a package from the dock to the door. Through live scenario-based decision-making, participants will experience firsthand the operational challenges Hermes is designed to solve—such as infrastructure and environment tradeoffs, cost efficiency, and disparate coordination across stakeholders.

Kaitlyn Bedwell is a multi-disciplinary transportation safety researcher and coalition leader focused on advancing supply chain resiliency through data-driven innovation. As Program Manager of the Dock to Door (D2D) Coalition at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, she oversees a multi-statewide partnership of over 90 organizations spanning industry, academia, government, and non-profit organizations.

Kaitlyn’s background includes research on transportation safety, automated vehicle policy, and human-centered design. She brings deep experience in managing interdisciplinary teams and translating complex research into actionable insights that serve both industry and community needs. Her current work centers on the four core program areas of the coalition: Data Sharing Platform; Automated & Connected Vehicles; Carbon Neutral & Sustainable Freight; Workforce Development & Community Engagement.  Recent critical initiatives include  the development and deployment of the D2D Data Sharing Platform—a groundbreaking technology designed to enhance freight flow visibility across Virginia’s multimodal transportation network. This platform enables real-time data exchange between stakeholders, supporting predictive analytics, operational efficiency, and strategic planning for resilient and equitable freight systems.