What is yard dwell time in supply chain management?

Yard dwell time in supply chain management refers to the total amount of time a truck, trailer, or container spends within a facility’s yard — from the moment it checks in at the gate until it exits after unloading or loading.

It measures how long assets sit idle inside the yard and is a key indicator of yard efficiency. Longer dwell times often point to bottlenecks in dock scheduling, labor availability, or documentation processes, all of which can lead to higher costs and delayed shipments.

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How yard dwell time works in supply chain management

• Entry tracking: When a truck or container arrives at a facility, its entry time is logged at the gate — often via RFID, license plate recognition, or manual check-in.
• In-yard activity: The clock continues while the trailer waits for an available dock, is loaded or unloaded, and is staged before departure.
• Exit time: Once the truck leaves the yard, the total dwell time is calculated as the difference between entry and exit.
• Technology integration: Yard management systems (YMS) and visibility platforms can monitor dwell times in real time, alerting managers when delays exceed thresholds.
• Performance measurement: Dwell time data can be analyzed to identify congestion patterns, labor shortages, or process inefficiencies.

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Why it matters

• Cost management: Excessive dwell times can lead to detention and demurrage charges, driving up transportation costs.
• Operational efficiency: Reducing dwell times improves yard throughput, ensures faster trailer turns, and reduces congestion.
• Carrier relationships: Minimizing wait times supports driver satisfaction and encourages carriers to prioritize a shipper’s freight.
• Supply chain reliability: Faster yard processing reduces the risk of downstream delays, ensuring on-time deliveries.
• Sustainability: Lower dwell times reduce truck idling, which decreases emissions and fuel waste.

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Common questions about yard dwell time in supply chain management

How is yard dwell time different from detention?
Dwell time measures the total time a truck, trailer, or container spends in the yard. Detention refers specifically to the fees charged when a truck is held beyond the agreed-upon free time for loading or unloading.

What is considered a good yard dwell time?
There is no one-size-fits-all number, but best-in-class facilities aim to keep dwell times as short as possible — often just a few hours. Long dwell times (e.g., multiple days) usually signal operational inefficiencies.

How can companies measure yard dwell time?
By capturing check-in and check-out timestamps at yard gates and docks, typically using YMS, GPS, or RFID-enabled systems.

What causes long dwell times?
Common causes include poor dock scheduling, labor shortages, miscommunication with carriers, paperwork errors, and congestion in the yard.

How can yard dwell time be reduced?
Implementing digital gate check-in systems, using yard management software, optimizing dock scheduling, and improving coordination with carriers can all help.

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Putting it all together

Yard dwell time in supply chain management is a vital metric that measures how long trucks, trailers, or containers remain in a facility’s yard. High dwell times often signal inefficiencies that can lead to costly detention fees, slower throughput, and poor service levels.

By investing in yard visibility, automation, and better scheduling tools, companies can reduce dwell time, strengthen carrier relationships, and improve overall supply chain performance.

In short: yard dwell time in supply chain management is the total time freight assets spend in a yard, and minimizing it is essential for lowering costs, reducing delays, and improving logistics efficiency.