BULK TERMINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEM

A bulk terminal automation system for automating and coordinating delivery operations of bulk shipping terminals. Data entry relating to customer transport requests, and driver and vehicle access data are entered at the central office, and then transmitted from the central office, through a global computer network, and to a local database located in a bulk shipping terminal, which is located remotely form the central office. Local data is collected at the bulk shipping terminal through a local network. The local data includes information relating to driver access inputs, loads collected, bills of lading, storage levels and metered units of bulk materials which are dispensed. The locally collected data is periodically transmitted to the central office and stored in a central office database which is configured in a relational database arrangement. Inventory and load shipment reconciliation reports are complied at the central office, rather than requiring redundant processing capability at separate bulk shipping terminals. The data stored in the relational database is accessed through various service modules which process the data to provide specialized reports according to various customer data requests. Customers may request standardized reports, or specialized data reports may be selectively customized by the customer. The reports generated from the central database are transmitted from the central office to the customer through the global computer network. The data reports may combine data from several terminals to provide regional data relating to consumer use and customer load shipment distribution.