Last Updated: July 30, 2025
Dock management and scheduling is the process of coordinating when trucks arrive, load, and unload at a facility’s docks to reduce delays, avoid congestion, and keep yard operations running smoothly.
Why Dock Management Matters
Dock scheduling has a direct impact on your yard's efficiency and throughput. Manual processes, disconnected systems, and poor visibility in the yard lead to backups, long dwell times, and unnecessary detention fees.
YardView has been helping logistics and operations teams solve these challenges
since 1998. Our dock management software combines flexible scheduling, real-time visibility, and automation to keep your yard running efficiently.
Appointment Scheduling Module
Powerful, flexible scheduling for real-world operations.
YardView’s appointment scheduling module supports open dock scheduling, giving your team full control over shipping and receiving appointments and dock capacity planning. Designed for ease of use
on any device and seamless system integration, it helps eliminate bottlenecks before they begin.
Features of the Appointment Scheduling Module
Below are the key features designed to simplify appointment management and improve planning accuracy:
- Flexible Scheduling for Inbound and Outbound Loads - Manage shipping and receiving appointments with customizable time slots and capacity controls.
- Quick Schedule Adjustments - Add, modify, or remove schedules, change operating days, and adjust capacity as needed.
- Real-Time API Integration - Keep schedules synced across your TMS, WMS, or ERP for up-to-date visibility.
- Third-Party and Carrier Self-Scheduling - Enable open dock scheduling functions by empowering partners to book appointments based on predefined rules and real-time availability, receive automatic email confirmations, and log in to schedule or edit their slots.
- Appointment Compliance Tracking - Monitor on-time performance and adjust workflows accordingly.
- QR Code Access for Secure Check-In - Accelerate gate entry and improve security with unique scannable codes.
- Post-Arrival Tracking – Go beyond check-in to track trailers and containers after check-in, so you can monitor dwell time and milestones, and calculate live driver detention.
Key Areas of Impact
In addition to flexible scheduling, YardView drives improvements across other critical areas of dock and yard operations.
Arrival and Departure Management
Simplify trailer flow from gate to dock and back out again. With YardView, you can reduce congestion, speed up gate check-ins and check-outs, and maintain a clear audit trail of every move. QR code check-in, real-time updates, and integration with your existing systems help teams stay ahead of schedule.
Dock Visibility and Automation
Go from reactive to proactive with real-time dock visibility and automated workflows. YardView provides live dashboards, trailer tracking, and automated status updates, giving teams the insights they need to make better decisions and improve dock utilization. Smart scheduling and automation reduce bottlenecks and help boost throughput without adding labor.
Why Choose YardView
Trusted by leading manufacturers, retailers, and 3PLs across North America, YardView has been in business since 1998. Our flexible and user-friendly yard management platform is designed to handle complex dock and yard operations, delivering measurable results such as reduced dwell time, improved dock utilization, and enhanced communication. Discover why today’s best companies choose YardView to optimize yard efficiency through automated workflows and open dock scheduling functions that simplify appointment booking.
Book a Personalized Demo
See how YardView can help your team eliminate dock delays, improve communication, and optimize scheduling.
Talk to a YardView specialistFAQs
How is dock scheduling different from yard management?
A. Dock scheduling manages appointments and dock utilization. Yard management covers all yard activities — from gate entry to trailer tracking and dock moves. With YardView’s yard management system (YMS), scheduling and yard operations work together in one platform to keep yard and dock operations aligned.
Can the system support multiple facilities or high-volume yards?
Yes. YardView scales from single warehouses to enterprise networks with multiple distribution centers.
What happens if trucks arrive late or early?
YardView allows teams to quickly adjust schedules, reassign docks, and notify drivers — keeping operations on track without disruption.
Is the system easy for carriers and third parties to use?
Yes. Carriers can quickly book, adjust, and confirm appointments through an intuitive interface, reducing phone calls and emails.
What reporting is available?
Dashboards and detailed reports cover dock utilization, appointment compliance, dwell times, throughput, and more — giving teams the data to drive improvements.
How does YardView help reduce detention and demurrage costs?
By tracking dwell times, monitoring appointment compliance, and issuing proactive alerts before issues occur.
What does implementation look like?
Most YardView YMS implementations take six weeks or less, with the ability to accelerate if needed.
What ROI can I expect?
Customers typically see reduced dwell times and detention fees, faster turn times, and better communication across logistics teams, drivers, and carriers.
Does YardView integrate with my TMS, WMS, or ERP systems?
Yes. YardView’s YMS unifies information from multiple supply chain systems, so teams can see the full picture and act quickly.
