DC Velocity - December 2017

BY BEN AMES, SENIOR EDITOR

YARD MANAGEMENT

Technology

WAREHOUSE OPERATORS HAVE TURNED MATERIAL handling into an art form, developing intricately choreographed systems for whisking goods and materials through their DCs. But all that efficiency inside the building won’t count for much if the trucks outside face delays navigating a bustling yard. That’s led many to look at what they can do to make operations more efficient outside the four walls of the DC.

We talked to industry experts about the best ways to tackle the yard management challenges facing busy DC operations. What follows are their top five tips for easing the congestion.

Tip 1: Have drivers check in with a smartphone app when they arrive on site. One way to speed up the flow of trucks through a yard is to take advantage of the powerful computer most drivers now carry in their pockets—the smartphone. And these days—perhaps not surprisingly— there are apps for that. For example, as part of its software platform, Montreal-based yard management system (YMS) developer C3 Solutions offers a free smartphone app for drivers that lets them swiftly check in when they arrive for an appointment.

“When he shows up, he can just scan his smartphone,
verify his load, and allow the facility to track him within
the yard,” said Greg Braun, senior vice president of sales
and marketing and a partner at C3 Solutions. “Then the
facility can say, ‘Drop your trailer in this area and pick up
another,’ or ‘We’re not ready for you yet.’ It’s faster than
in the old days, when the gate guard would say, ‘Tune your
CB to channel 15, and we’ll let you know when the door is
ready.’ Now, you can just send a message via the app saying,
‘You’re up next!’”
When drivers check in with their smartphones, they can
also activate their global positioning systems so that yard
personnel can track their whereabouts. That information
gives warehouse managers the ability to plot the location
of every truck on their lot, avoid the time-intensive process
of searching for vehicles that may be parked in the wrong
spots, and fit more dropoffs and pickups into each day.

“It’s a visibility play; the problem is not so much the yard as the scheduling,” Braun said. “If you could do more live unloads instead of drops, you wouldn’t need a bigger yard or more doors. You just need better organization.”

Tip 2: Encourage drivers to show up on time by tracking their performance. Many DCs rely on a carefully orchestrated schedule of truck arrivals and departures to keep goods moving smoothly through their facilities. When drivers show up late for appointments, it can throw a wrench into that machinery. Yet many warehouses lack the precise records they need to hold specific fleets or drivers accountable.