The Problem
A major grocery retailer processes over 1,000 trucks daily through their high-volume distribution center. Manual yard operations and outdated yard management processes created expensive bottlenecks that threatened both profits and product quality.
Without proper yard management software, their logistics yard management suffered from critical gaps.
Annual losses reached $1 million:
- $800,000 from shipping errors that passed gate inspections
- $200,000 in 24/7 staffing costs
What Was Breaking Down
The problems started with overwhelmed gate staff who couldn't keep up with 1,000+ daily truck arrivals. Under constant pressure to move trucks quickly, they made critical verification errors that sent shipments to wrong destinations. Each mistake cost $30,000 to $50,000 to fix.
This created a vicious cycle. High turnover from the stressful work environment meant constantly training new staff who were even more prone to errors. Meanwhile, the same overworked team had to handle both security screenings and complex logistics coordination, splitting their attention when precision mattered most.
The final blow came during peak hours when staff rushed through temperature and fuel checks on refrigerated trailers. Inconsistent monitoring put millions of dollars worth of cold products at risk. What started as a staffing problem had become a threat to the entire cold chain operation.
The Solution
To solve these issues, the retailer deployed Nova Control yard management software to transform their yard operations. As a connected yard management system, Nova Control integrates cameras and sensors to automatically verify truck details, assign dock locations, and monitor temperature conditions without manual intervention.
The deployed solution included:
- AI-powered cameras for automatic yard visibility
- Temperature and fuel sensors for trailer yard management
- Digital kiosks for yard task management
- Seamless integration with existing yard management systems
How the Yard Management Platform Works
Inbound Yard Management
Pre-Arrival: Drivers submit paperwork online
Nova Control connects to your transportation management system to pre-validate shipment details. The YMS system checks driver credentials, load information, and appointment times before trucks reach your facility.
Gate Access: Cameras verify truck details
The yard management platform uses image recognition to read license plates, trailer numbers, and DOT numbers in real time. This then compares against expected shipments and flags mismatches instantly.
Dock Assignment: System assigns dock locations
The system then evaluates available dock doors based on shipment type, truck size, and current facility capacity, and automatically routes trucks to the best location and sends directions to driver mobile devices.
Outbound Yard Management
Dock Departure: Drivers confirm loads
Drivers are prompted to verify their cargo through a mobile interface before approaching the exit gate. Nova Control then cross-references load confirmations with warehouse management data to ensure shipment accuracy.
Exit Gate: Cameras check load details
The system then performs final verification of license plates, trailer IDs, seal numbers, and reefer conditions at the exit gate, automatically documenting all checks and creates a complete audit trail for each shipment.
The Results
Yard Management Performance Improvement
By integrating Nova Control software into everyday operations, the retailer eliminated $1 million in annual losses by achieving 99% accuracy, and reducing the time needed to process each truck from 90 seconds to 15 seconds through automation.
Yard Operations Problems Eliminated
- Zero misdirected shipments (previously 1-3 monthly incidents)
- Daily prevention of reefer fuel shortage incidents
- Zero temperature control failures
Yard Management System Benefits
- Yard visibility: Improved from 80% to 99%
- Yard automation: Gate clearance reduced to 15 seconds
- Cost Savings: $1 million annually in prevented errors and reduced staffing needs
"Our team felt the improvement immediately. Within the first week, Nova Control enhanced gate accuracy and simplified operations, without disrupting our workflows."
— Tyler, Director of Gate Operations
Why This Yard Management Approach Works
Our yard management platform handles routine verification automatically while staff focus on real problems that require human judgment. The YMS system maintains consistent temperature monitoring that never rushes or skips checks.
Our yard management software integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure. You don't need to replace current systems or completely retrain your team.
Most importantly: This yard management solution scales with your operation. Whether you process 500 trucks daily or 2,000, our yard automation maintains the same accuracy and speed.
Your Yard Management Software Solution
Yard management automation eliminates costly errors and protects product quality across your entire cold storage operation. What is yard management? It's the critical system that connects every part of your supply chain.
Yard operations connect to every part of your supply chain. Smart yard management systems evaluate how current processes affect warehouse efficiency, inventory accuracy, and transportation performance. The right yard management solution identifies where yard automation eliminates bottlenecks and protects product quality across entire cold storage networks.
Our yard management companies specialize in delivering comprehensive YMS solutions that transform logistics operations. Whether you need container yard management software, trailer yard management, or complete yard logistics automation, we provide the yard management tools your operation needs.
Ready to stop losing money on preventable yard management errors?
Contact Prism Solutions to discuss how our yard management system can transform your cold storage operations. Learn why we're among the best yard management systems providers in the industry.
