Why you should use a Yard Management System

A user can choose to manage, plan, execute, and optimize the inbound and outbound movement of goods. The Yard Management System (YMS) module will help in selecting the locations in the yard, the timings of the expected trailers and the equipment that is to arrive.

Common Yard Management Challenges:

• Lack of Trailer Visibility
  • Yard teams do not have enough insight into available trailer assets in the yard (and possibly inventory), leading to inefficient movement of trailers, increased cost and decreased jockey efficiency.
• Lack of Shipment Visibility
  • Yard teams do not have advanced insight into when trucks will enter the yard for loading or unloading, resulting in inefficient use of the yard and its resources. Additionally, gate congestion and demurrage/detention charges skyrocket.
• Process Misalignment
  • Transportation, warehouse and yard processes are either managed via different yard management companies or tools that do not dynamically update or are not digitally maintained at all, leading to reactive operations. This means stakeholders do not have insights into what’s happening in real time, leading to inefficient use of warehouse dock doors, labor and equipment, as well as increased costs. Moreover, inefficient use of transportation resources leads to higher wait times, costs and delays, which can negatively impact customer relationships.
• Yard Jockey Inefficiency
  • Lack of insight into yard operations results in inefficient use of yard jockeys and an inability to monitor operations for safety and compliance. This leads to increased violations and charges, as well as wasted jockey labor and poor planning.

Benefits of a YMS

1. Yard Asset Management Visibility
   • Visibility into yard operations and assets enables effective performance measurement and inventory management. Eliminate time wasted searching for “lost” trailers in the yard. When yard management software integrates with other systems (TMS, WMS, in-transit visibility platform, etc.) organizations have increased line of sight into performance and assets.
2. Yard Management Process Flow Improvement
   • Modern yard management systems assist in the automation of traditionally manual processes in the yard, like gate-in, gate-out and appointment scheduling. This leads to increased accuracy of inputs and outputs for better benchmarking. A modern YMS provides shippers and 3PLs with reports and analytics for effective KPI setting and measurement. When performance expectations aren’t satisfactorily met, managers can quickly pinpoint which functions of the supply chain need intervention. With optimized process management, organizations can expect an improvement in the flow of materials through a facility, maximizing utilization of yard and warehouse labor.
3. Cost Reduction
   • One of the most important roles of a yard management solution is the reduction of costs across an organization’s yard operations. An effective YMS will lead to a reduction in demurrage and detention expenses by automating and digitizing processes, and managing appointments to ensure smooth carrier operations. Organizations can also expect a reduction in labor costs, as yard workers will waste less time making calls, searching for inventory, completing manual tasks and waiting idly.
4. Carrier Analysis
   • For continual improvement, it’s critical to have visibility into the performance of every aspect of the supply chain. By tracking carrier commitments, on-time performance, wait time and unload time, it’s easier to make pivotal decisions about carrier choice and how best to optimize dock labor for speedy loading and unloading.
5. Velocity
   • A yard management system provides real-time visibility into asset locations and their operational status, including dwell times in various states. By monitoring all the delays in the visit lifecycle, it becomes possible to streamline operations, for instance by rapidly identifying available empty trailers for outbound loads.
6. Process Conformity
   • An effective YMS can ensure that every trailer, tractor and driver entering the facility is checked in and out in a consistent manner. Seals are checked, damage is recorded and shipment information is associated with the trailer number.
7. Continual Process Improvement
   • A modern YMS provides shippers and 3PLs with reports and analytics for effective KPI setting and measurement. When performance expectations aren’t satisfactorily met, managers can quickly pinpoint which functions of the supply chain need intervention.
8. Spotter/Yard Jockey Efficiency
   • YMS greatly improves spotter move times and enables shuttle drivers to electronically receive, accept and confirm completion of move requests, eliminating radio communication.
9. Carrier Collaboration
   • Top shippers and 3PLs collaborate with their carriers. This collaboration includes providing carriers with access to the YMS, so real-time shipment notifications can be sent.
10. Safety/Security
    • A YMS can improve safety by eliminating the need to have people walking around the yard performing manual checks. Instrumentation on yard trucks monitors speed, safe practices and hours of service for yard truck drivers. The YMS also helps secure the yard by tracking all moves from check-in to check-out.
11. Yard of Yards
    • Companies with multiple yards do not have access to a single view of all their facilities without a YMS. The network view allows organizations to pool assets, including empty trailers and yard trucks, and to compare operational effectiveness across all locations.
12. Cross-dock Efficiency
    • The combination of YMS with dock-door scheduling, WMS and workforce management can significantly aid in the ability to efficiently cross-dock high volumes of products and materials through facilities.
13. Yard Appointment Scheduling
    • The next-generation YMS provides shippers and carriers with an integrated appointment scheduling portal to replace time-consuming communication methods, like email and phone calls.