13 Yard Management Terms to Know

Ever found yourself needing a translation guide to understand all of the terms used in Yard Management? You are probably not alone. To cut through some of the confusion, browse the list below of common industry terms and definitions.
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Helpful Yard Management Terms

1. Dwell Time – The period of time that a trailer has spent in a yard or dock door.
2. Bobtail - A tractor that travels from one point to another without a trailer.
3. Integration – The combination of technical and business processes used to combine data from different sources into one that is meaningful for all systems.
4. Carrier – A company engaged in transporting goods for commercial use.
5. SCAC – Standard Carrier Alpha Code is a privately controlled US code used to identify road transport companies. It is typically two to four letters long. Developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association.
6. Container – Shipping box usually loaded onto a truck chassis from a rail car or ocean vessel to transport freight to its destination. Shipping containers can be 20′, 40′, 48′ or 53′. J.B. Hunt owns the largest fleet of 53′ shipping containers in North America.
7. Yard Check – A regularly scheduled, typically daily, inventory check of all trailers in the yard(s) that is validated in the YMS.
8. Dock – A platform for loading and unloading trucks or railway freight cars.
9. Reefer - A refrigerated container that keeps items in the shipment at a safe, proper temperature throughout the journey of the shipment.
10. Requestor – The YardView user that submits a move request in the system for the yard driver to complete.
11. Commitment – The number of trailers that a carrier has committed to maintain in your yard for their loads at all times.
12. Warehouse Management System (WMS) – A software application that supports the day-to-day operations in a warehouse. WMS programs enable centralized management of tasks of such as tracking inventory levels and stock locations.
13. Transportation Management System (TMS) – A software system that analyzes and automates transportation operations and decision-making, typically for large, enterprise customers. A TMS will usually also provide traceability of freight and reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs).
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These terms and definitions may be helpful, but if you have specific questions related to your yard, don’t hesitate to speak up. Our experts can answer questions about industry terminology and explain how to maximize your YardView solution.