Yard management software built around your gate, yard and docks
We build custom yard management software that fits the way your site already runs: driver check-in at the gate, trailer tracking in the yard, dock scheduling, and a live link to your WMS, TMS and ERP.
What is a yard management system, and how does it work?
A yard management system (YMS) is software that tracks every truck and trailer between your gate and your dock doors. It checks drivers in, assigns parking spots and dock doors, tells yard drivers which trailer to move next, and records how long each trailer waits. It sits between your transportation system and your warehouse system, which is the stretch most sites still run on radios and spreadsheets. We build it as separate modules. Most sites start at the gate and add the rest in phases.
Book. The carrier books a dock appointment against real capacity.
Arrive. The LPR camera reads the plate and matches the truck to its appointment.
Check in. The driver confirms the trailer and seal numbers on a phone or a kiosk.
Park. The software assigns a yard spot and the map updates.
Dock. When a door frees up, a yard driver gets the move on a tablet.
Depart. The gate logs the exit, and the wait time is recorded for every stage.
What slows a yard down today
Without a yard system, the same six problems show up.
Trailers nobody can find. Yard drivers walk the rows looking for a trailer while a dock door sits empty.
Lines at the gate. Every driver stops while the guard types in the plate, trailer and seal numbers.
Detention you can't dispute. When a carrier bills for waiting time, you have no timestamp to check it against.
Calls to book a dock slot. Carriers call and email the dock office to book, move or confirm appointments.
Moves on the radio. Nobody knows which yard moves are done and which are still waiting.
Typing the same load twice. Arrivals are keyed into the WMS by hand after the truck is already at the door.
How we solve these bottlenecks
We build each fix as a separate module, so you start with the bottleneck that costs you most. Most sites begin at the gate and add the yard, dock and reporting modules in phases.
Appointment and dock scheduling
Carriers book a slot against real dock capacity.
Carrier booking: carriers pick a slot online, with no phone calls or emails
Arrival rules: you decide in advance what happens to early and late trucks (take, hold or rebook)
Door assignment: each load gets a dock door based on what is free and what the load needs
Recurring slots: regular carriers keep a standing weekly booking
Capacity limits: each door and time window takes only the loads it can handle, so bookings never overrun the dock
License plate recognition at the gate
LPR cameras read the plate as the truck arrives.
No typing: known trucks are matched to their appointment automatically
Unreadable plates: the guard gets the photo and the likely appointment, and clears the truck in one step
Existing cameras: we reuse the cameras you own where they are good enough
Unknown trucks: a plate with no appointment is flagged to the guard before the barrier opens
Gate log: every read is saved with the photo and the time
Gate check-in and check-out
Drivers check in before they reach the guard.
Self check-in: from a phone link, a QR code or a kiosk
Appointment match: the truck is matched to its appointment, and the trailer and seal numbers are recorded
Directions: the driver is told which spot or door to go to
Document check: the driver uploads the BOL and paperwork at check-in, so the guard doesn't handle paper
Check-out: the seal number and departure time are recorded as the truck leaves, which closes the visit
Truck scale integration
Weights are captured from the scale and stored against the load.
Tare and gross weights: read directly from the scale, with no retyping
Weight tickets: created automatically for each load
Mismatch alerts: a weight outside the expected range holds the truck for review
Unattended weighing: lights and barrier gates guide the driver on and off the scale
Scale history: every weighing is stored with the plate, the load and the time, for audits
Yard map and trailer tracking
Every trailer has a spot, a status and a timer.
Live map: anyone can find a trailer without walking the yard
Status: loaded, empty, ready or on hold
Timers: the wait time is shown for every trailer, so nothing sits forgotten
Search: find any trailer by its number, carrier or load
Zones: you set areas for empties, loaded trailers, holds and live loads, and the map follows those rules
Yard checks
A yard driver confirms what is really in the yard, row by row.
Guided check: the tablet lists each spot and the trailer that should be in it
Exceptions: missing, extra or misplaced trailers are flagged for follow-up
Audit record: every check is saved with the driver, the time and the result
Scheduled checks: set them per shift or per day, and the yard driver gets them as tasks
Map correction: a confirmed check updates the yard map, so the system matches the ground
Yard driver tasks
Move requests go to a named yard driver on a tablet in the cab.
Assigned moves: each move names the trailer, the spot and the priority
Confirmation: the driver accepts and confirms the move, and the map updates itself
Record: every move is logged with the driver and the time
Priority queue: urgent moves for a waiting dock door go to the top of the list
Workload view: supervisors see open, active and completed moves for each driver
Carrier and driver alerts
The right people hear about a change without a phone call.
Drivers: a text message with the assigned spot or door, and any change to it
Carriers: notice of holds and rebookings, and wait time before detention starts
Your team: an alert when a trailer waits past a limit you set
Your choice of channel: text, email or app notification, set per carrier
Message templates: you write the wording once, and the system fills in the spot, the door and the time
Dwell and detention reporting
You see how long every carrier waits, and where.
Stage timers: time at the gate, in the yard and at the door
Detention evidence: timestamps you can use when a charge is disputed
Carrier scorecards: on-time arrival and wait time by carrier
Trends: dwell by day, shift, door and carrier, so you can see where waits build up
Exports: reports as CSV or PDF for carrier reviews and finance
WMS, TMS and ERP integration
The yard shares data with the systems you already run.
Two-way data: appointments, arrivals and departures flow through APIs or EDI
One entry: nobody enters the same load twice
Your stack: we confirm what each system can exchange during the site review
Status sync: when a trailer docks or leaves, your WMS and TMS know at once
Error queue: a failed message is held and flagged for retry
Multi-site yard view
See every yard you run on one screen.
One view: gate lines, trailers on hand and dock door status for each site
Drill down: open any site to see its yard map and the day's appointments
Shared rules: set appointment and arrival rules once and apply them to every site
Site comparison: dwell, detention and on-time arrival side by side for each site
Access by role: site teams see their own yard, and regional managers see all of them
Built for
Yard and gate control across industries
Distribution centers
3PL warehouses
Container yards and depots
Ports and terminals
Cold storage
Food and beverage plants
Retail fulfillment centers
When to build custom, and when to buy a product
A product is the right answer for many yards. These are the signs that yours needs a custom build.
Buy a product when: | Build custom when: |
Your yard runs on standard appointments. | Your gate rules are specific to you (customs holds, hazmat checks, bonded cargo, several tenants in one yard) and products force a workaround. |
You have one site. | You want the yard inside a system you already own, with one login and one database. |
You have no unusual gate rules. | License fees per site or per user are growing faster than your operation. |
It will be faster and cheaper. | You want to own the code and the data. |
If a product fits you better, we will say so on the first call.
Tell us how your gate, yard and docks run today, and we will tell you which fits.
What it costs and how long it takes
The only figures you need before the first call.
Software
Scoped to your gates, dock doors and modules. You get a written scope and a fixed quote before the build starts.
Hardware and installation
LPR cameras, kiosks, barrier gates and scale links, installed by a security integrator of your choice.
Minimum time to go-live
Covers hardware procurement, installation and software integration.
Working with 7Span
The terms that apply to every yard management project.
Ownership
You own the code, the data and the documentation. Everything is handed over at the end of the project.
Hours
Your project manager is online during US morning and early afternoon hours, Eastern Time. The site review runs over video with your gate data, in those same hours.
Process
7Span is appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 3 and certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 42001:2023. Delivery follows a documented, audited process from kickoff to handover.
Pilot first
The software runs beside your current process at one gate first. Your other gates and sites follow once the logs match.
After launch
One month of bug fixes is included after delivery. You also get the code and documentation, so your team or any vendor can support it after that.
How we deliver it
From a site review to a working gate.
Site review
Over video and with your gate data, we map your gate flow, dock doors, daily truck volume and the systems in use.
Scope, quote and hardware specification
You get a written scope, a fixed quote and a dated plan. We specify the LPR cameras, kiosks, barrier gates and scale links your site needs, using NDAA-compliant brands.
Build and integration
We build the modules you chose and connect them to your WMS, TMS and ERP. In parallel, the hardware is procured and installed by a security integrator of your choice.
Pilot at one gate
The software runs beside your current process. The pilot ends when the system log and your manual log match for a number of days agreed before it starts.
Rollout
We extend to the remaining gates and sites, train your team, and hand over the code and documentation.
See it mapped to your yard
Tell us your gates, dock doors and daily truck volume, and we will base the demo on your site.
FAQs
Common questions
How much does custom yard management software cost?
How much does custom yard management software cost?
Software starts at $50,000. The final figure depends on the number of gates and dock doors, the modules you need and the systems to integrate. Hardware and installation are billed at actual cost. Send us those details and we will return a scope and a budget range in two working days.
How long does it take to go live?
How long does it take to go live?
Plan for at least 3 to 4 months from signed scope to go-live. That covers hardware procurement, installation and software integration. A pilot at one gate comes first, and the other gates and sites follow.
Can it integrate with our WMS, TMS or ERP?
Can it integrate with our WMS, TMS or ERP?
Yes. Integration is part of the build. We connect through the APIs or EDI your systems already expose, and we confirm what is possible during the site review.
Do you supply and install the hardware?
Do you supply and install the hardware?
We write the hardware specification and reuse the cameras and scales you already own where they are good enough. Installation is done by a security integrator of your choice, and hardware and installation are billed at actual cost.
Who owns the software?
Who owns the software?
You do. The code, the data and the documentation are handed over at the end of the project.
For Sales
Looking For Jobs
