Putting the Yard First
YARD VISIBILITY: Full yard visibility into all inbound and outbound processes unifies warehouse and transportation management functions and goals. WAREHOUSETOTRAILER CONTROL: Optimized control featuring trailer prioritization and dock door assignments. REALTIME INSIGHTS: Active data flow with the ability to track the location and status of all assets in the yard. UNIFIED WMS/TMS: Sync transportation and warehouse activities and appointment management for seamless moves. AUTOMATION EFFICIENCY: Automated processes for maximum yard eciency. SAFETY NOTIFICATIONS: Enhance safety with real-time notifications for yard hazards and eectively manage yard personnel for optimal labor utilization. REPORTING AND ANALYTICS: Reporting and analytics that highlight areas where the yard is performing well and areas that need improvement. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: User-specific applications for dierent roles (dock workers, spotters, gate guards) and computer vision capabilities that eliminate the need for expensive RFID infrastructure. Best-In- Class YMS Capabilities
discovered its sites were completely unaware of the problem—ocean containers were parked everywhere, including on streets outside facilities, while site teams focused solely on their individual metrics rather than total supply chain cost. The solution connected real-time visibility to appointment scheduling and yard management, enabling Trane to match inbound container arrivals with dray carrier plans and dock appointments in advance. This proactive approach enabled them to maintain a consistent ow across their network and relocate containers from high-cost port storage to no-cost alternatives during demand spikes. The results exceeded expectations: Trane eliminated nearly all of its $2.69 million in detention costs, achieving payback in months, what Tom France, VP of Logistics and Distribution, called “the highest payback we’ve had on any type of visibility-related solution.” The success led to enterprise- wide deployment across their entire distribution network.
YARDVIEW YMS: REALTIME VISIBILITY, FULL CONTROL, AND LASTING EFFICIENCY YardView COO Heather Giordano views an effective YMS as the most effective long-term solution. Modern platforms go well beyond scheduling or gate control, offering real-time visibility, data accuracy, and seamless integrations with warehouse and transportation systems. “Companies need exible, data-driven operations for faster decision making, real-time visibility for full control, and robust scheduling to stay ahead of disruptions,” she says. She emphasizes that some of the most impactful YMS capabilities are also the most overlooked. Movement data tracking and automated exception alerts can reduce errors, optimize labor, and improve trailer turnaround times. Labor- intensive tasks such as trailer searches and appointment scheduling can be automated entirely. YardView YMS also captures data transactionally, recording every change to ensure accuracy. “When work ows are automated and integrated across systems, teams can make faster, more reliable decisions,” Giordano explains. Technology, however, should not dictate the process. The most successful implementations are those where technology adapts to real-world yard work ows, she says. “The most rewarding feedback is measurable ef ciency improvements. The most constructive comes from customers asking for enhancements that help us innovate,” Giordano notes. LEVERAGING AI Arti cial intelligence and automation are increasingly transforming yard management. YardView incorporates AI to automate move assignments, optimize dock scheduling, and recommend the next best move. These advances point to a shift toward predictive logistics, where bottlenecks are anticipated and resolved before they occur.
“The yard is no longer a hidden bottleneck. It is where eciency
starts and where the supply chain proves its reliability.” -Heather Giordano, COO, YardView
82 Inbound Logistics • September 2025
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