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Platform

Platform tourConnected yard platform — one visit from booking to gate-out.IntegrationsWMS, TMS, ERP connectors, and webhooks.SecurityAccess control, data handling, and deployment.YMS overviewYard management system scope — gate through closeout.
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Solutions

Yard operations

Gate managementLane capture, check-in, and gate-out on one visit.Yard mapLive zones, spots, occupancy, and assignments.Dock schedulingDoor assignment and dock readiness on the visit.Dwell & yard intelligencePredictive dwell and AI-assisted exception alerts.

Partners & closeout

Flodock PartnersSelf-service booking and automated visit status.Freight & documentsFreight lines, BOL, and proof at closeout.Yard management suiteFull suite — gate, yard, dock, and ERP closeout.

By industry

Distribution centersManufacturing3PLPort & intermodal
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Who we serve

On the same visit

For yardsRun gate, staging, dock, and gate-out on one platform.For carriersBook the yard and follow the visit — freight movers using Flodock.
How it works
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Evaluate

Learn hubGuides, comparisons, and evaluation resources.YMS buyer's guideRFP questions, checklist, and demo agenda.FAQAnswers for ops, IT, and procurement teams.GlossaryGate, yard, dock, and carrier terms defined.

Topics

AI yard managementAI-assisted yard management inside a YMS — predictive dwell, exception dete…Dock and yard managementIntegrated orchestration of yard staging and dock door assignment on one vi…Trailer dwell timeStage-level trailer dwell on site — gate-in through staging and dock — with…Container yard managementYard management for container, intermodal, and port-adjacent operations — v…Yard gate check-inStructured gate-in and gate-out capture — driver, trailer, container, docum…
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Company

floDock the team

AboutWho we are and how we work with yards.Open positionsWe are hiring — see current roles and apply below on the careers page.
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ContactEmailhi@flodock.com

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Yard management FAQ

Answers for operations, IT, and procurement evaluating a yard management system, yard management suite, and connected yard platform — with flows where configuration clarifies the answer.

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FAQ

All questions

What is yard management?

Yard management is the operational discipline of tracking truck visits from gate-in through staging, the dock, and gate-out — with gate, yard, dock, and carrier teams working from one record.

Visit scope

What is a yard management system (YMS)?

A YMS is software that holds the visit record — gate capture, yard map, dock scheduling, dwell, carrier booking, and ERP closeout connected on one timeline.

YMS modules
Closeout & ERPOutputs
Dock & dwellDoors + alerts
Yard mapSpots + moves
Gate + bookingCapture + requests

How is yard management different from warehouse management?

Warehouse management (WMS) handles inventory inside the building. Yard management handles truck visits outside it. They integrate at the dock door.

Do I need a YMS if I already have a WMS?

If gate capture, yard staging, dwell, and carrier status live outside your WMS, yes. Most WMS platforms were not built to run gate teams or yard maps.

System split

What is dwell time in the yard?

Dwell is time on site, measured by stage — since gate-in, since staged, since at the door. Stage-level dwell shows where delays happen.

Dwell by stage

What is gate capture?

Gate capture is the structured check-in at arrival — trailer, driver, lane, PO, freight, and documents configured as required fields for your site.

Gate-in
Check in

What is a yard map in yard management software?

A yard map shows zones, spots, and live occupancy — which trailer is in which location, conflicts, and move instructions for jockeys.

How does dock scheduling relate to yard management?

Dock scheduling assigns doors and manages appointment queues. In a YMS it shares the visit record with gate capture and the yard map — not a separate calendar.

Connected dock

Can carriers book yard appointments through a YMS?

Yes. Carrier portals submit requests against site rules — auto confirm or review first — and follow the same status updates the yard uses.

Site configuration

Incoming requests

  • Auto confirmImmediate
  • Review firstYard approves

What is auto confirm vs review first?

Auto confirm immediately operationalizes valid carrier requests. Review first holds requests until yard staff approve — a per-site configuration, not a platform limitation.

What ERPs integrate with yard management software?

Flodock sends closeout to SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, and custom endpoints via webhooks and APIs.

ERP connectors

Compatible ERP and TMS systems

  • Dynamics 365
  • NetSuite
  • APIs & TMS

What is gate-out?

Gate-out is departure — final timestamp, documents, and audit history when finance or carriers ask what happened on site.

How does yard management reduce carrier phone calls?

Carriers follow live visit status in the partner portal — requested, confirmed, on site, at door, completed — on the same update the yard uses.

Carrier visibility
  1. Book online
  2. Status updates
  3. Fewer gate calls

What industries use yard management systems?

Distribution centers, manufacturing plants, cold chain, retail DCs, ports and intermodal yards, and 3PLs with dedicated gate and yard teams.

Is yard management the same as dock scheduling?

No. Dock scheduling is one module. Yard management includes gate, yard map, dwell, freight, carrier booking, and closeout — all on one visit.

Scope comparison
Full YMSGate + yard + dock + closeout
Dock scheduling onlyAppointments + doors

What metrics does yard management improve?

Trailer dwell by stage, gate throughput, spot utilization, door turn time, demurrage exposure, and audit-ready gate-out history.

How long does YMS implementation take?

Depends on site count, ERP integration depth, and yard map complexity. Flodock starts with gate capture and visit flow, then expands to map, dock rules, and closeout.

Typical rollout
  1. Gate + visits
  2. Yard map
  3. Dock + carriers
  4. ERP closeout

What is the difference between a visit and an appointment?

An appointment is a scheduled arrival window. A visit is the operational record from booking through gate-out — it may start as an appointment and accumulate gate facts, spot assignments, and dock progress.

Does Flodock replace our TMS?

No. Flodock is yard management software. Your TMS plans freight between facilities; Flodock runs gate, yard, dock, and closeout on site.

How do I get started with yard management software?

Request a demo to walk through gate capture, yard map, dock rules, and closeout on your workflow. Start with the visit lifecycle on the connected yard platform — everything else orchestrates from it.

Next step
  1. Request demo
  2. Map your visit flow
  3. Pilot gate + yard

What should I ask in a YMS RFP?

Confirm one visit record connects gate, yard map, dock, dwell, and closeout. Ask for a live gate-out and ERP demo — fragmented systems fail at closeout first. See the buyer's guide for a full scorecard.

RFP essentials
  1. Single visit record
  2. Stage-level dwell
  3. Gate-out + ERP demo

How do multi-site yards work on one platform?

Each site runs with site-scoped configuration — gate fields, booking rules, yard map, and roles. Access control separates sites so gate teams see only their yard while enterprise admins can span locations during evaluation.

What is visit orchestration?

Visit orchestration is automated handoffs between gate, yard map, dock, and closeout on one record — rules engine and yard intelligence support exceptions while operators approve actions.

Can we run peak season without adding gate staff?

Carrier self-service, required-field gate capture, and dwell alerts reduce phone calls and rework — peak volume still needs staffing, but visibility and automation cut the chaos that manual yards hit at surge.

Does Flodock use AI in yard management?

Yes — AI-assisted intelligence runs underneath visit decisions: exception detection, dwell risk, document readiness, and matching suggestions. Operators stay in control and approve every action on the yard management system.

Yard intelligence
Operators in controlApprove actions
AI-assisted layerExceptions · dwell · docs
Connected yard platformGate · map · dock · ERP

What is a yard management suite vs a YMS?

A yard management system (YMS) is the category. A yard management suite is the full module set — gate, yard map, dock, partners, dwell intelligence, and closeout — orchestrated on a connected yard platform.

What APIs and webhooks does Flodock provide?

Event-driven closeout at gate-in, dock milestones, and gate-out — webhooks and REST APIs send structured payloads to SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics, TMS, or custom endpoints.

API closeout

How is yard data secured?

Encryption in transit and at rest, role-based access, and authenticated integration keys. Production security details are documented during evaluation — start with sandbox on live software.

What is predictive dwell?

Dwell tracked by stage — gate, staging, door — with thresholds and AI-assisted risk surfacing before detention or carrier disputes. Part of dwell intelligence on the connected yard platform.

Predictive dwell