What is yard dwell time?

Yard dwell time is the amount of time a trailer, container, or truck spends parked within a facility’s yard — from the moment it enters through the gate until it exits. It measures how long equipment sits idle before being moved to a dock, unloaded, reloaded, or dispatched.

In supply chain management, yard dwell time is a key performance metric. High dwell times can signal inefficiencies, congestion, or poor scheduling, while lower dwell times indicate streamlined yard operations and faster freight flow.

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How yard dwell time works in the supply chain

• Entry to exit measurement: Dwell time is tracked from check-in at the yard gate to check-out at departure.
• Data capture: Yards may use manual logs, RFID tags, GPS, or yard management systems (YMS) to measure dwell time.
• Dock operations: Delays in unloading, staging, or dock scheduling often increase dwell time.
• Carrier perspective: For carriers, high dwell time means reduced equipment utilization and increased costs.
• Visibility: Yard dwell time data feeds into broader supply chain visibility and helps identify bottlenecks.

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Why it matters

• Operational efficiency: Reducing dwell time speeds up trailer turns and prevents yard congestion.
• Carrier relationships: Lower dwell time improves carrier satisfaction and availability, while excessive dwell may lead to detention fees or strained partnerships.
• Cost reduction: Avoiding prolonged trailer storage reduces detention charges, labor costs, and wasted capacity.
• Customer service: Faster yard flow leads to more reliable outbound deliveries and on-time arrivals.
• Resource planning: Tracking dwell time helps facilities better allocate labor, dock space, and yard equipment.

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Common questions about yard dwell time

How is yard dwell time different from detention time?
Dwell time refers to how long a trailer spends inside the yard. Detention time is when a carrier charges fees for delays that exceed agreed-upon loading or unloading windows.

What is considered a good yard dwell time?
It varies by facility and shipment type, but the goal is to keep dwell time as low as possible — often measured in hours, not days.

How can technology reduce yard dwell time?
Yard management systems (YMS), real-time visibility platforms, RFID tags, and automated scheduling tools can streamline operations and reduce bottlenecks.

What factors increase dwell time?
Common causes include poor dock scheduling, lack of labor, inefficient communication, unexpected surges in volume, or yard congestion.

Who tracks yard dwell time?
Shippers, carriers, 3PLs, and facility operators all monitor dwell time as a KPI to measure efficiency and reduce costs.

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Putting it all together

Yard dwell time is a critical metric that reflects the efficiency of yard operations and their impact on broader supply chain performance. By monitoring and minimizing dwell time, businesses can reduce costs, improve carrier relationships, and ensure smoother freight flows.

As yards adopt more technology — from yard management systems to IoT sensors and predictive analytics — organizations are gaining better control over dwell time and using it as a lever for efficiency, reliability, and cost savings.

In short: yard dwell time measures how long trailers sit idle in a facility’s yard, and reducing it is key to cutting costs, improving efficiency, and keeping supply chains moving.