Yard
Also known as: Container Yard, Truck Yard, Terminal Yard
Definition
A yard is the outdoor storage and staging area where containers, trailers, and cargo wait between transport legs. Container yards at ports, truck yards at warehouses, and terminal yards at rail facilities all serve this function.
Types of Yards
| Type | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Container yard (CY) | Ports | Store import/export containers |
| Truck yard | Warehouses | Stage trailers for loading |
| Rail yard | Terminals | Intermodal transfers |
| Drop yard | Various | Trailer storage for carriers |
Container Yard Operations
- Receive containers from vessels
- Stack and organize by destination
- Stage for pickup
- Track container location
- Manage chassis pool
- Handle empty returns
Yard Management Challenges
- Space optimization
- Container/trailer location tracking
- Turn time (in and out)
- Equipment availability
- Congestion during peak times
- Security
Yard Management System (YMS)
Software that:
- Tracks asset locations in yard
- Directs drivers to spots
- Manages appointments
- Monitors dwell time
- Integrates with TMS/WMS
Key Yard Metrics
- Turn time: How long trucks spend in yard
- Dwell time: How long cargo sits
- Utilization: % of yard capacity used
- Moves per hour: Efficiency measure
Yard Fees
- Container storage charges
- Chassis rental
- Lift charges
- Demurrage for excess time
- Gate fees
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