The strategic role of the yard in supply chains

Warehouse and distribution center yards sit between busy fulfillment hubs and complex transportation networks, and they can either enable smooth flows or become major chokepoints. When yards run with structured processes and the right tools, freight keeps moving and downstream operations stay on schedule. When yards rely heavily on manual work, guesswork or frequent human intervention, they introduce friction into an already pressured logistics environment.

Despite their importance, yards often receive the least attention when it comes to digital investment. Over the past decade many companies prioritized warehouse software, automation and robotics, while transport received improvements through tools such as electronic logging devices (ELDs) and routing systems. Yards, however, frequently lag behind.

Visibility gaps and operational consequences

For many organizations the yard remains a "black hole" in the supply chain where visibility fades. Trailers can sit unused for extended periods, generating demurrage and detention costs, and dock schedules can rapidly fall out of sync. Without real-time information on trailer status, gate activity and yard asset locations, even well-planned warehouse and transportation strategies can fail.

Rising interest in yard management systems

Market observers and vendors report growing demand for yard management systems (YMS). Simon Tunstall, senior research director on Gartner, Inc.'s logistics and customer fulfillment team, says interest is increasing across industries including retail, consumer goods and manufacturing, with more inquiries this year after a dip a couple of years ago. Greg Braun, chief revenue officer at C3 Solutions, notes a similar awakening among companies that now recognize the yard's central role in their supply chains.

C3 Solutions' report, "The State of Dock and Yard Management 2025," highlights the top yard and dock pain points and the capabilities organizations are prioritizing. The biggest challenges reported were

• inefficient manual processes for 39% of respondents
• yard congestion for 36%
• labor shortages for 35%
• a lack of real-time visibility for 31%

When evaluating solutions, respondents most often sought

• real-time yard visibility from 63% of organizations
• platforms that integrate with existing systems (WMS, TMS) from 45%
• automated dock scheduling and related capabilities from 44%

Customer success stories with YMS

C3 Solutions cites multiple implementations that demonstrate practical yard improvements. One battery manufacturer that moved materials between several production buildings and distribution centers struggled with complex internal logistics, long hauls and manual procedures. After adopting C3 Yard, the company automated tracking and optimized movements across its campus—from raw-material handling in silos to dispatch of finished goods.

Another example involved a U.K. health and beauty retailer modernizing yard operations across 23 sites in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The retailer sought better control of inbound and outbound truck flows for its DCs and direct-to-store deliveries. With a YMS deployed, the company gained clearer inventory and replenishment visibility, streamlined yard and dock workflows across sites, and consolidated operations onto a single interface.

Advances in YMS capabilities and partnerships

YMS platforms have advanced beyond basic trailer tracking and check-in/check-out to include features such as AI-enabled computer vision, dock appointment scheduling, real-time asset tracking and tighter WMS/TMS integration. Vendors and technology partners are combining expertise to create more complete solutions that address long-standing yard gaps.

Examples of this partnering trend include camera-agnostic vision providers like EAIGLE working with YMS vendors to leverage existing security infrastructure, and Loadsmart's expansion after acquiring computer vision startup NavTrac in 2023 to add dock scheduling and yard automation capabilities. These collaborations let users choose either full YMS suites or targeted enhancements such as improved gate visibility or appointment scheduling.

Point solutions, specialists and a competitive market

Alongside integrated suites, an increasing number of point solution providers now offer focused YMS tools. These vendors allow companies to adopt a single capability—like dock scheduling or gate visibility—and scale later. Simon Tunstall observes a competitive dynamic between specialized providers and broader supply chain execution suites, noting that specialists often hold an advantage managing complex yard networks.

Implementation, adoption and common pitfalls

Industry practitioners caution that software alone will not fix a poorly run yard. Matt Yearling, founder and CEO of YMX Logistics, says most operations could benefit from a YMS but many sites still lack one. He has also seen large shippers build bespoke systems rather than buy off-the-shelf solutions, which he interprets as evidence of unmet expectations in the YMS market.

Yearling emphasizes that the value of a YMS depends on how it is deployed and used: the platform must support transparency, accountability and decision-making. Without those elements, employees can revert to manual workarounds and conflicting data, undermining efficiency. He recommends that buyers be explicit about their needs and evaluate vendors on transparency, pricing and long-term value—not just feature lists.

Practical advice and the path forward

For shippers considering a new YMS or an upgrade, analysts recommend taking advantage of modular options. Tunstall suggests starting with targeted capabilities such as dock appointment scheduling, gate check-in or trailer visibility and expanding over time rather than committing to a full-scale rollout on day one.

Vendors are also broadening the functional scope of YMS to cover related workflows like visitor management and personnel coordination, which increases the systems' utility across yard operations. As yards gain better visibility and control, they are poised to become more strategic components of the overall supply chain.

Industry leaders stress the same practical point: organizations do not need to solve every yard challenge at once—what matters is getting started and aligning technology with operational practices to deliver consistent network-wide results.