Sterling Commerce has created Sterling Yard Management, an on-demand application which manages the activities associated with a user's yard. The tool, which provides visibility into trailers from arrival through departure, is fully integrated with Sterling's Transportation Management System. Delivered via a software-as-a-service model, Sterling Yard Management offers a dynamic graphical view of the yard. Users can drill down into trailer details and contents while using a click-and-drag "move tasks" function between dock doors, weighbridges, washers and parking slots. The software offers flexible rules which allow for automatic creation of move tasks, such as guided putaway and divert-to-dock tasks when an appointment is due. Companies can improve their operations by assigning trailers to shipments, switching carriers based on available equipment, and allowing carriers to drop trailers and leave with an empty unit. Integration with Sterling TMS lets users coordinate trailer and dock appointments, manage trailer inventory in conjunction with order-fulfillment requirements and manage carrier detention charges. The application makes the yard visible to the rest of the organization, Sterling said.
