- Yard management systems compared
- Eleven YMS options, A to Z
- Which yard system to look at first
- Who's allowed to move equipment
- Dedicated YMS platforms versus supply chain suites
- Questions for a YMS vendor
- Signs your yard needs a system
- My plain advice on choosing a yard management system
- Frequently asked questions
The best yard management systems show where every trailer is, which door it's going to and how long it's been waiting, so gates, yards and docks run as one operation. Some are dedicated YMS platforms, while others are part of a wider supply chain suite or automate the trailer moves themselves. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
A busy yard can quietly waste hours every day. Drivers wait at the gate, yard jockeys hunt for trailers, and loads sit outside the dock while the warehouse wonders where they are.
The eleven yard management systems below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're also tightening up what happens inside the warehouse, my guide to inventory management software is a good companion.
Yard management systems compared
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3 Solutions | Dock scheduling and yard management software | Dock appointments and yard tasks together | Not stated |
| Exotrac | Yard management systems and software | Mid-size yards wanting modular tools | Not stated |
| FourKites | Supply chain visibility with yard operations | Shippers already tracking freight in transit | Not stated |
| ISEE | Autonomous yard trucks | Automating trailer moves in the yard | Not stated |
| Kaleris | Supply chain execution software | Cold chain and multi-site yards | Not stated |
| Manhattan Yard Management | Yard management within supply chain execution | Warehouses running Manhattan software | Not stated |
| Outpost | Truck terminals and gate automation | Gate automation and truck parking | Not stated |
| Outrider | Autonomous yard operations | Fully automated yard operations | Not stated |
| Terminal Industries | Yard operating system | Modernising yard operations with AI | Not stated |
| Velostics | AI-enabled yard management | Slot booking, dock and yard planning | Not stated |
| YardView | Yard management platform | Gate, yard and dock end to end | Not stated |
Eleven YMS options, A to Z
C3 Solutions
Best for: Distribution centres that want dock appointment scheduling and a yard management system from one vendor, plus a carrier collaboration portal.
Exotrac
Best for: Mid-size operations that want modular yard tools, from a lighter YardTrac Lite through to full gate, dock and kiosk modules.
FourKites
Best for: Shippers that want yard, dock and gate operations tracked in the same visibility platform they use for freight in transit.
ISEE
Best for: Large industrial sites that want autonomous yard trucks, with software and hardware built for real-world industrial environments.
Kaleris
Best for: Terminals and shippers that want yard management alongside transportation and terminal software, including cold chain custody tracking.
Manhattan Yard Management
Best for: Large warehouses already using Manhattan systems that want yard moves tied to receiving, putaway and transportation in the same suite.
Outpost
Best for: Carriers and logistics firms that want truck terminals, truck parking and gate automation as a service rather than running their own yard.
Outrider
Best for: Distribution yards that want autonomous yard operations and automation, so routine trailer moves no longer need a driver.
Terminal Industries
Best for: Operations and IT leaders who want a yard operating system pitched as a new industry standard for running yard operations.
Velostics
Best for: Shippers that want slot booking, dock and yard planning on one AI-enabled platform, with an ROI calculator to size the case.
YardView
Best for: Sites that want a proven end-to-end solution for gate, yard and dock, from a company running yard software since 1998.
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Which yard system to look at first
- Dock appointments and yard tasks together: C3 Solutions or YardView.
- Mid-size yards wanting modular tools: Exotrac.
- AI-led planning and slot booking: Velostics or Terminal Industries.
- Already using a big supply chain suite: Manhattan Yard Management, Kaleris or FourKites.
- Automating trailer moves: Outrider or ISEE.
- Gate automation without running a yard: Outpost.
Who's allowed to move equipment
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it's a violation of Federal law for anyone under 18 years of age to operate a forklift, or for anyone over 18 who hasn't been trained and certified to do so.
Yard and dock work mixes trucks, trailers and forklifts in a tight space, so training records matter as much as trailer locations. It's worth choosing a system, or a process alongside it, that shows who's certified to move what.
Dedicated YMS platforms versus supply chain suites
A dedicated YMS is usually quicker to roll out and focused on the gate, yard and dock. It's a good fit when your warehouse system already works and the yard is the bottleneck.
A suite module makes sense when you already run that vendor's warehouse or transport software. Yard moves can then link straight to receiving, putaway and shipping without extra integrations.
Questions for a YMS vendor
- How does it record trailers arriving at the gate?
- Can carriers book dock appointments themselves?
- How are yard jockey tasks assigned and tracked?
- Does it work with our warehouse management system?
- Can it monitor refrigerated trailers?
- How long does a typical site rollout take?
Signs your yard needs a system
- Drivers queue at the gate. Book appointments.
- Jockeys hunt for trailers. Track every location.
- Detention charges keep arriving. Measure dwell time.
- The dock doesn't know what's outside. Share one live view.
Do you make yard or dock management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a yard management system
Measure your current dwell time before you talk to anyone. If you don't know how long trucks wait today, you won't know whether the new system helped, and the vendor's case study isn't your yard.
Start with one site and get the gate process right first, because everything else depends on knowing what arrived. Maintenance matters too, and my piece on forklift maintenance and parts tracking shows how uptime feeds into fulfilment speed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a yard management system?
A yard management system, or YMS, tracks trailers and trucks across the gate, yard and dock so a site can plan moves and cut waiting time.
What's the difference between a YMS and a WMS?
A WMS manages stock inside the warehouse, while a YMS manages trailers and trucks outside it, up to the dock door.
Do yard management systems include dock scheduling?
Many do, or offer it as a linked module, so carriers can book appointments before they arrive.
Who can operate a forklift in the US?
OSHA says it's a violation of Federal law for anyone under 18, or anyone over 18 who isn't trained and certified, to operate a forklift.
Can yard trucks be autonomous?
Yes. Some companies in this list build autonomous yard trucks for industrial sites.
How do I measure yard performance?
Start with dwell time, gate processing time and how often trailers can't be found.
