Carrier Appointments
Carrier scheduling that actually matches what's happening in the yard
Let carriers self-book, slot appointments dynamically against real arrival times, and tie every appointment to the gate and the dock, so your doors stop sitting idle and then getting slammed.
The Problem
Yard scheduling still runs on phone calls, emails, and a shared spreadsheet
Carriers can't book their own slots, so they show up whenever, and appointments bunch, doors sit empty for an hour and then four trucks arrive at once, and no-shows blow up the plan. Worst of all, the appointment lives in one system while the gate and the dock live in another, so what was scheduled and what's actually arriving have nothing to do with each other.
The Solution
Seamless yard scheduling starts with Terminal
Carrier Appointments is a centralized system that simplifies facility management by automating truck arrival booking, document scanning, and ID capture via computer vision and mobile devices to improve operational predictability and real-time volume visibility.
FIELD GUIDE
A practical playbook for managing yard schedules.
How carrier scheduling works
02The schedule flexes with reality
03The appointment actually means something
04Doors stop sitting idle, then slammed
05It connects the gate, the yard, and the dock
FAQs
Here are the most common questions teams have before getting started with Terminal Carrier Appointments
Can carriers book their own slots?
Yes, through a self-service portal, against the availability you control.
What happens when a truck is early or late?
The schedule reflows dynamically against real ETAs.
Does the appointment connect to the gate?
Yes. Check-in is tied to the appointment and the dock assignment automatically.
Do I need the full platform to use scheduling?
No. Start with scheduling and add modules when you're ready.
Other Terminal solutions that pair well with Carrier Appointments
I can't see what's in my yard.
YARD VISIBILITY - Know where every trailer is, in real time without tagging a single one. Terminal's Yard Visibility and Asset Inventory keeps track of where all of your material is in your yard and gives you single pane of glass reporting of all tasks from gate to dock.
Learn More0Manual Yard ChecksMy gate is a bottleneck.
GATE MANAGEMENT - Digitize gate check-in and check-out. With Terminal Gate Management, our computer vision system captures key data on trucks, chassis, trailers, and containers and uploads them before the truck stops at the gate. Check-in/out in under two minutes, no clipboard required.
Read More85%↓in Gate Processing TimeStop dispatching spotters by radio and guesswork.
DISPATCH AND SPOTTER ORCHESTRATION - Terminal assigns the next best move automatically, by priority and proximity, so your spotters stop deadheading and your supervisors stop guessing what's urgent.
I can't prove what I shipped.
LOAD VERIFICATION documents what actually leaves the yard. With Terminal Load Verification capture seal numbers, container condition, load configuration, and BOL defeating retail chargeback fraud and producing the ISO 17712 seal record CTPAT and modern cargo insurers expect.
Read More100%Load CapturePerimeter security and cargo fraud keep me up at night.
YARD SECURITY - Verify every driver and load before it moves. Terminal Yard Security checks the driver's identity and the carrier's legitimacy against the appointment automatically, so a fraudulent pickup is stopped before it leaves.
Read MoreMaxAsset Protection
Your yard automation journey
starts your way
Let's discuss how Terminal can help you with your yard of the future. Start with one application and only pay for what you need. Contact us today to schedule one of the following:
30-minute demo
Needs discovery call
Yard ROI assessment
Anything else...
Powering the yards for brands large and small.
Resources
Learn more about Terminal Yard Visibility
blog
Why Terminal Industries Built a Carrier-Ready Appointments Module
Yard operations don’t usually fail because of one big system outage. They fail because of small, manual breakdowns that stack up over the course of a day. The launch of Terminal’s Appointments Module is about fixing that reality in a practical way, while laying the groundwork for a more automated yard in the future.
blog
Yard Dock Management: Boost Efficiency with AI and YMS Solutions
Yard dock management is a crucial link between highway transportation and warehouse activities. It involves coordinating the movement of trailers, drivers, and cargo in the often-neglected area outside your facility. You can think of it as the logistics version of air traffic control – ensuring smooth flow, precise timing, and strategic positioning of assets to avoid delays and optimize efficiency.