Method for tracking a shipping container in a freight yard

Abstract

A method for tracking a shipping container in a freight yard that includes the steps of: (a) assigning a specific temporary storage position to the container; (b) confirming, upon arrival of the container at a temporary storage position, that the position is the assigned specific temporary storage position; (c) recording a container serial number and an identification number for the specific temporary storage position once the container is placed in the specific temporary storage position; and (d) recording a date and a time that the container was placed in the specific temporary storage position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A distribution method, comprising the steps of:
 transporting a container to a loading dock;   providing a buffer having a support structure;   positioning the container on the support structure; and   recording a date and time the container was positioned in the buffer.   
     
     
         2 . The distribution method of  claim 2  further comprising the steps of:
 emptying the container of its contents; 
 sorting the contents of the container; 
 loading at least a portion of the container's contents into a second container; 
 transporting the second container to a rail track side location; and 
 loading the second container onto a railroad car. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method for tracking a shipping container in a freight yard, the method comprised of:
 assigning a specific temporary storage position to the container;   confirming, upon arrival of the container at a temporary storage position, that the position is the assigned specific temporary storage position;   recording a container serial number and an identification number for the specific temporary storage position once the container is placed in the specific temporary storage position; and   recording a date and a time that the container was placed in the specific temporary storage position.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of transmitting the date and the time the container was placed in storage to a terminal manager. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the specific temporary storage position is adjacent to a rail road track. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of providing container storage location information to a truck operator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the specific temporary storage position is a buffer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific temporary storage position is comprised of:
 a plurality of vertical support structures defining a containment cavity; and   each of said vertical support structures having an elevation device and a latch for engaging the container.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the container is positioned in the containment cavity.