Press Releases

(LOS ANGELES) — Inside the Mechanized Warehouse in Commerce, radio frequency (RF) equipment on fork lifts tells drivers where to place products for storage and where certain items are located for pick-up.

A new yard management system, implemented recently by the Commerce Transportation and Distribution Teams, functions in a similar fashion for all of the tractors and trailers moving into, through or out of the Mech Warehouse, as well as the Randolph Warehouse and the Dairy and Bakery in Los Angeles.  Whenever vehicles enter the facility, their status — empty or loaded — is assigned and the trailer is directed electronically to a designated parking location.  Loaded trailers are "attached" to an open purchase order and are assigned to the Warehouse Receiving Team, which schedules and performs all "unloadings" by priority.

Additionally, all yard tractors are equipped with RF equipment and receive their open tasks in priority order, based on zone assignments in the Shipping and Receiving Departments.  The system also supports mapping graphics to visually monitor the location of trailers, as well as historical summaries of each trailer's movements through the various facilities.

Prior to the implementation of the RF system, vehicle movement and load status of trailers was tracked manually with a handwritten system that was far less accurate and timely.

"This system provides us with real-time visibility of the location and load status of everything that moves into or out of these facilities," said Greg Wright, manager, Commerce Transportation.  "That enables us to become much more efficient and productive because we have eliminated virtually all guesswork from the system."

According to Wright, the yard system is now in the final phases of its roll-out and is expected to be implemented at other Unified distribution centers later this year.