Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) the Future of Yard Management? Current Use Case and Limitations in Today’s Supply Chain and Logistics Operations
Updated: July 17, 2025
In today’s fast-paced logistics landscape, efficiency isn't just a goal. It’s a necessity. That’s why many companies are turning to technology to streamline yard management operations, reduce manual tasks, and improve throughput.
At YardView, we’ve seen firsthand how emerging technologies, including automation, real-time integrations, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are being applied to yard operations with promising results. But we’ve also observed real-world limitations.
What Is Yard Management and How Is AI Used?
Yard management is the process of controlling the flow of trailers, vehicles, and goods in a logistics or warehouse yard. Traditionally, a manual or semi-automated process, modern systems now use software to optimize trailer check-ins, dock assignments, and yard driver movement.
Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being integrated into systems to enhance efficiency and responsiveness. This includes capabilities like predictive insights and automation. While AI hold promise, we have also identified some shortcomings that will be explored in this article.
Common AI Use Cases in Yard Management
AI for Access & Gate Control
Access and gate control refers to technologies that manage entry and exit points to secure premises.
AI cameras use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to read and analyze visual data — such as trailer numbers or license plates — that is crucial for identifying and tracking assets
YardView integrates with partners like Eagle AI and Macondo Vision to bring advanced AI gate control to our platform. While successful, real-world challenges like damaged trailers or inconsistent ID placements have revealed the need for fallback processes and improved exception handling.
Predictive Analytics for Scheduling
AI can analyze historical traffic and operational data to predict peak times, optimize scheduling, and manage resources dynamically.
Our platform uses predictive insights to help supply chain and logistics teams make real-time decisions to maximize efficiency and reduce idle times within their yards.
Automated Decision-Making
AI can automate routine tasks like trailer dispatching and allocating yard resources.
YardView’s "Next Best Move" feature significantly enhances efficiency and productivity by utilizing advanced algorithms to analyze real-time data and optimize yard operations. This intelligent system valuates various factors such as asset location, operational priorities, and resource availability to recommend the most effective actions. By providing clear, actionable insights, it helps reduce idle time, minimize delays, and streamline workflows. This proactive approach ensures that yard activities are carried out with maximum efficiency, thereby boosting overall productivity and enabling better resource management. Through this innovative feature, YardView continues to deliver superior yard management solutions tailored to the dynamic needs of our clients. While this is not technically Artificial Intelligence, most companies would say that it is. We consider it a different sort of AI... Automation and Integration.
Real-Time Monitoring
AI systems help monitor yard activities in real time, identifying issues like congestion or potential bottlenecks before they escalate. This allows logistics managers to make informed decisions quickly and maintain smooth yard operations.
Our successful integration with Thermo King offers real-time monitoring and alert solutions that enhance operational visibility and efficiency. This collaboration leverages Thermo King’s advanced temperature control technology to provide comprehensive insights into the condition and location of assets within the yard. By utilizing real-time data, YardView ensures that users can make informed decisions promptly, thereby reducing downtime and optimizing resource allocation. This seamless integration underscores YardView’s commitment to delivering reliable yard management solutions that meet the highest standards of performance and accuracy.
What Are the Limitations of AI in Yard Management?
While AI brings major benefits, it is not a silver bullet. Based on our experience, here are the top limitations to consider:
Exception Handling -While AI excels in processing standard scenarios and predictable patterns, it can struggle with unexpected events or anomalies that deviate from established algorithms. This inability to manage outlier situations may lead to errors in decision-making or operational inefficiencies, potentially impacting service delivery and employee performance. Organizations must ensure that human oversight remains integral to the process, particularly in situations with complex judgements are required or where empathy and nuanced understanding are essential.
High Implementation Costs - Implementing AI solutions in yard management can require significant financial investment. Costs associated with advanced hardware, software licensing, and installation can be substantial, which may pose challenges for smaller businesses or those with limited budgets. Companies need to weigh the long-term benefits of AI against the initial setup costs to ensure a positive return on investment.
Data Quality - AI systems rely heavily on quality data to function effectively. Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to erroneous predictions and decisions. Therefore, companies need to invest in data management practices to ensure consistency, reliability, and accuracy in the information being fed into AI systems.
When YardView first started to look into integrating with data collected from AI cameras, we have to admit that the team was excited. The potential to have a driver schedule an appointment and then just show up, let the cameras identify the trailer, and then the driver gets assigned a space or dock. But there was a problem. Because of the inconsistencies on a trailer (trailer number location and format, SCAC number location and format, or covered or damaged identifiers), we found that AI cameras did work WELL… Most of the time. But we did have to ask ourselves some hard questions, like will there ever be enough data collected to fill in the gaps presented with the challenges of a realistic operation? What accuracy percentage is “acceptable” to our customers when identifying trailers? How are we going to handle when there are missing or covered characters?
These challenges highlighted the importance of data accuracy and the need to meet customer expectations. We understand that even minor inaccuracies could lead to significant operational disruptions. Therefore, our team delved deeper into exploring potential solutions and improvements. We considered advanced machine learning models that could adapt and learn from the vast amounts of data continuously being collected, thereby enhancing the AI’s ability to recognize trailers despite inconsistencies. We also investigated integrating additional sensors and manual verification processes as fallbacks to ensure consistent performance.
Our commitment to overcoming these and any obstacles is unwavering. Engaged in rigorous testing and refinement, working closely with our customers to understand their pain points and incorporate their feedback into our system. By setting stringent performance benchmarks and developing comprehensive error-handling protocols we aimed to ensure that our AI camera integration not only meets but exceeds industry standards. YardView’s dedication to innovation and reliability drives us to continually enhance our technology, ensuring that our customers experience seamless and efficient operations every time.
Environmental Challenges - AI systems can struggle with the unpredictable nature of outdoor environments, such as varying lighting conditions, weather, connectivity, and physical obstructions. Additionally, many logistics yards may have outdated infrastructure that is incompatible with modern AI technologies, hindering seamless implementation with the substantial computational power required for machine learning and data processing.
Data Privacy and Security - Integration with AI often involves extensive data collection and processing, raising concerns about data privacy and security. Organizations must ensure that they comply with regulations and guidelines regarding personal and operational data, which necessitates the establishment of robust cyber security measures.
Navigating the Future of Yard Management
Despite these limitations, AI remains a valuable component of modern logistics and supply chain strategies. However, it’s essential to approach AI integration pragmatically:
- Invest in Data Quality: Prioritize high-quality data collection and management practices to maximize AI effectiveness.
- Combine Human and AI Efforts: Use AI to handle routine tasks and free up human resources for more complex decision-making processes.
- Secure Your Systems: Implement robust security measures to protect AI systems and the data they handle from cyber threats.
- Evaluate Long-Term ROI: Continuously assess the return on investment for AI implementations to ensure alignment with business goals.
While the term "AI" is exciting, what most logistics teams truly need is automation that works and systems that integrate easily.
Conclusion: Automation and Integration Are the Real Game Changers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making meaningful inroads into yard management. However, at YardView, we’ve learned that most logistics and supply chain teams aren’t just looking for AI in name. They’re looking for real-world improvements they can count on.
While YardView seamlessly integrates with a variety of AI solutions providers, we also take an approach utilizing a different kind of “AI” … Automation and Integration. This practical, flexible foundation allows us to meet customers where they are and scale alongside their operational needs.
So, is AI the future of yard management? The answer is yes — and maybe. The real future lies in how well your yard management system can integrate with other technologies and as they continue to evolve rather than AI specifically.
With a comprehensive integration model that focuses continuous innovation, YardView ensures your yard is ready for whatever comes next — no matter what direction technology goes.
Ready to learn more?
