Companies sometimes overlook how important the yard is to their success. Without proper management, facilitated by a yard management system (YMS), pile ups can lead to delays, fees, and a full shipment of stress.
Fifteen trucks are stuck in line at a company's yard gate, waiting for the gate operator to manually instruct them where to go. Warehouse forklifts idle impatiently in each of the five loading docks, all completely empty of trailers. While truckers honk in vain to avoid detention fees, foremen explain to superiors that their priority shipments will be late, despite the cargo being right outside the building.
Improper yard management is an all-too-common issue that leads to costly delays and at worst, a loss of customer trust. Companies can solve many of these issues, and may even profit further, with the help of a dedicated yard management system.
WHAT IS A YMS?
A yard management system (YMS) is a software or application that orchestrates the efficient movement of yard equipment (trucks, trailers, employees, materials) through the area around a facility. Most warehouse management systems (WMS) have basic YMS functionality, but more demanding work calls for more robust solutions. A dedicated YMS acts as a bridge between transportation and warehousing, and it tracks asset locations, collects performance data, and optimizes workflow across a yard.
HOW DOES A YMS WORK?
A YMS works between the transportation management system (TMS) and the WMS to manage inbound and outbound events through the yard. A YMS offers key features such as asset visibility, task optimization, dock scheduling, gatehouse management, TMS/WMS integration, demand planning, real-time communication, and data collection. These features decrease latency and increase smooth operation of assets, and provide users with real-time feedback on shipping schedules, truck locations, and other information to streamline yard management.
WHY A YMS?
Manufacturers, distributors, and/or warehousers may consider a YMS for a few reasons:
- Yards span multiple locations, where it is impossible to manually collect real-time information.
- Inefficiencies like miscommunication or bottlenecking detract from the bottom line.
- Third-party logistics (3PL) providers and other supply chain parties request shipping updates and other real-time information related to the yard.
THE YMS ADVANTAGE
A YMS generates value in the following five areas:
1. Self-check-in at gate.Drivers know the headache of arriving to a yard, only to find a long line. Poorly managed gate systems bottleneck both receivers and carriers, causing unnecessary delays and detention charges. A YMS automates the gate process, where drivers self-check-in using their smartphone. After passing a set geo-fence, drivers are guided by their device to exactly where they need to be and are given site-specific information for dropping off their trailer.
2. Automated dock scheduling system.Multiple shipments arriving at once cause gate congestion and warehouse throughput issues. An automated schedule for drivers, where carriers choose when to arrive at their convenience based on the master schedule, can minimize these problems. Automated scheduling not only smooths inbound and outbound traffic, but also provides a set time for drivers to arrive and leave without worrying about unforeseen delays.
3. System-direct trailer moves.Trailer moving is a sore spot in dock operations—a lack of strategy leads to congestion and delays in priority shipments. A YMS solves this issue with a process-driven trailer moving order, where trailer moves are optimized based on loading location and deadline. In complex operations where there are multiple loading locations for trailers, a yard management system also ensures partially loaded trucks are not lost in the move.
4. Real-time notifications.Trailer detention fees occur when a trailer dwells for too long in/around the yard beyond its grace period; these fees pile up once delays accrue. Carriers must be quickly notified of their available equipment, otherwise these fees apply and create an unproductive and time-wasting situation. A yard management system not only organizes received trailers to minimize detention time, but it also provides real-time notifications to carriers and other interested parties when equipment is available.
5. Optimized task managment.Yard truck operations are the most costly expense in yard management. A haphazard yard truck operation has significant downstream effects and results in missed service commitments, or even a loss of valued partners. Automating task-management processes using self-learning algorithms and data collection allows a YMS to eliminate unnecessary moves, and can assign moves to specific drivers based on previous performance. The enhanced efficiency enables the yard to serve the business at a lower cost and reduces time investment, all without active input from users.
The return on investment for yard management technology tools is often more than justifiable. A company investing in yard operation technology not only optimizes current capabilities, but also future-proofs the business for growth and expansion. n
C3 Solutions
WWW.C3SOLUTIONS.COM | 514-315-3139
PRODUCT: C3 YardDESCRIPTION: Empowers yard managers by providing visibility to both yard assets and shipments, increasing gate throughput, reducing dock congestion, optimizing door utilization, and automating yard driver task assignment.
Cypress Inland Corporation
WWW.YARDVIEW.COM | 303-781-3430
PRODUCT: YardViewPro yard management softwareDESCRIPTION: Augments yard management by taking into account specific industry, cataloging container contents and locations, assigning dock scheduling and yard driver tasks, performing recorded gate control, and enhancing visibility for all users.
Descartes Systems Group
WWW.DESCARTES.COM | 519-746-8110
PRODUCT: Descartes YMSDESCRIPTION: Yard management and trailer tracking software that offers real-time visibility into trailer content and locations, enables effective planning, tracks asset movements, maintains an audit trail, and collects data for improvements.
Exotrac
WWW.EXOTRAC.COM | 212-989-0171
PRODUCT: YardTrac Pro and LiteDESCRIPTION: Real-time YMS delivers comprehensive functionality and speed while minimizing detention costs. Web and mobile applications suited to any vertical in the supply chain.
FourKites
WWW.FOURKITES.COM | 888-466-6958
PRODUCT: Dynamic YardDESCRIPTION: Enables businesses to use artificial intelligence to manage daily operations throughout the yard, including gate operations, task assignment, trailer inventory management and more.
IntelliTrans
WWW.INTELLITRANS.COM | 800-603-9175
PRODUCT: YardRunnerDESCRIPTION: Manages rail yards with increased levels of integration and visibility. Users find information they need with querying, reporting, and interactive map features.
Koërber
WWW.KOERBER-SUPPLYCHAIN.COM | 800-328-3271
PRODUCT: K.Motion YMSDESCRIPTION: Enables users to track yard inventory and trailers to increase visibility of assets. Addresses dock door scheduling for faster trailer turns and strategic staging by trailer type.
Made4net
WWW.MADE4NET.COM | 201-645-4345
PRODUCT:: Made4net YardExpertDESCRIPTION: Uses rule-based automation to track pertinent information for trailers, manages yard on where to move assets and who should be assigned to handle them. Facilitates check in and wait times, schedules and prioritizes dock assignments.
One Network Enterprises
WWW.ONENETWORK.COM | 866-302-1936
PRODUCT: One Network Yard Management SystemDESCRIPTION: Provides real-time, gate-dock-gate visibility of equipment and inventory. Schedules, executes, and audits loads synchronized to warehouse, dock-door scheduling and demand priorities.
Overhaul
WWW.OVER-HAUL.COM | 800-203-1649
PRODUCT: Asset ManagerDESCRIPTION: Provides real-time asset and in-yard visibility, giving yard and fleet management teams greater control over their assets, whether in-transit or stationary.
Sentier Systems
WWW.YARDCOMMANDER.COM | 866-503-4823
PRODUCT: Yard CommanderDESCRIPTION: An affordable, fully functional, easy-to-use YMS that offers full visibility to assets in the yard and at docks, reports, history of transactions, and alerts.
Yard Management Solutions
WWW.YARDMANAGEMENTSOFTWARE.COM | 800-766-6197
PRODUCT: Yard Management SolutionsDESCRIPTION: Easy to learn, simple to use scalable YMS that replaces manual tracking methods. Includes real-time map, dock scheduling, reefer management, live analytics, integrations, and more.
Zebra Technologies
WWW.ZEBRA.COM | 262-960-6108
PRODUCT: MotionWorks YardDESCRIPTION: Tracks and monitors assets through the yard to synchronize yard operations, loading docks, and gate check-in and check-out. Uses automation along with barcoding and RFID to ensure a safe, secure and efficient yard.
