If you lead the logistics, financial, or purchasing department of an importing or exporting company in Colombia, you already know that demurrages (demurrage) and land transport idle times directly impact your business’s bottom line. Inefficiencies in returning or retrieving empty units at ports and surrounding areas are a constant, hard-to-control headache.
To mitigate this problem, the Ministry of Transport has drafted a resolution that seeks to standardize and demand minimum operating conditions in these facilities. In this article, we will analyze what these structural changes consist of, what mandatory vehicle scheduling zones are, and how to prepare your international logistics in Colombia to turn these new rules into a competitive advantage.
What Is the Draft Resolution for Container Yards in Colombia About?
The Ministry of Transport is looking to strictly regulate the operation of container yards in Colombia and their associated vehicle scheduling zones (zonas de enturnamiento). The main goal of this proposal is to put an end to operational chaos, reduce extensive container waiting times on public roads, prevent traffic congestion near key logistics hubs, and strengthen cargo security.
Historically, many of these spaces have operated without a unified standard, creating bottleneck-driven inefficiencies that end up being paid for by the cargo owners. With this regulation, the Colombian government aims to level up operational standards across the board.
Key Points of the New Regulation: What Will Be Required?
Appointment Management Systems and Digital Traceability
The days of sending a truck blindly to a yard are coming to an end. Yard operators will be required to implement digital platforms for pre-scheduled appointments. Additionally, they must provide real-world, real-time traceability on the status and availability of containers, facilitating smoother planning for international logistics in Colombia.
Proper Infrastructure and Vehicle Scheduling Zones
Yards will no longer be allowed to operate on empty, unconditioned lots. The draft resolution mandates clear signage, proper physical infrastructure for heavy cargo handling, and the mandatory design of vehicle scheduling zones. These are designated parking and staging areas designed to prevent tractor-trailers from forming miles-long queues on national or urban roads.
Driver Services and Security Protocols
The regulation also carries a strong human and security component. It requires facilities to provide decent basic services (such as restrooms and rest areas) for drivers and to enforce strict access control protocols to prevent cargo contamination or theft within the yard’s perimeter.
How Will This Impact Importers, Exporters, and Investors?
For a company moving cargo, the impact is primarily financial and predictability-related. By optimizing the flow of vehicles entering and leaving, costs associated with standby times (transporters’ wait times) should drop significantly.
For foreign investors analyzing the Colombian market, this Ministry of Transport regulation represents a significant step toward logistical maturity. Less informality in the supply chain translates into greater legal security and lower operational risks when setting up distribution or production centers in the country.
Common Mistakes Companies Make in Yard Management
- Ignoring the gap between shipping line free time and yard reality: Assuming that returning an empty container will only take a couple of hours can cost thousands of dollars in penalties if the assigned yard is highly congested.
- Disconnection between purchasing and logistics: Closing international purchase agreements without validating the physical capacity and response times of the depots assigned by the shipping line in the destination country.
- Lacking a partner with 4PL visibility: Working with traditional intermediaries who do not consolidate information from transporters, customs, and yards into a single, unified control panel.
Expert Recommendations to Prepare Your Operations
Once this resolution officially takes effect, yard operators will have a 12-month grace period to fully comply with the new infrastructure and technology requirements. As a foreign trade user, we recommend taking the following steps:
- Audit your carriers: Ensure your land transport providers already use GPS monitoring systems and are ready to integrate with the yards’ upcoming digital appointment platforms.
- Demand alternative depots: Consult with your customs broker or logistics operator to evaluate which shipping lines operate with the most technologically advanced and prepared yards.
- Anticipate the transition: During the 12-month implementation phase, temporary operational friction is highly likely to occur. Plan additional buffer times in your logistics cost matrices for this adjustment period.
The standardization of container yards in Colombia is a necessary step to modernize the country’s foreign trade competitiveness. Operational efficiency will no longer depend on luck or the driver’s patience in a physical queue; it will become a regulated, digital, and measurable process. Companies that start demanding digital traceability and appointment-based processes from their supply chains today will mitigate economic risks long before the rule becomes mandatory.
Do you want to evaluate if your current supply chain is prepared to handle the upcoming regulatory transitions of the Ministry of Transport without generating extra costs? At Siacomex, as 4PL logistics and customs brokerage operators, we analyze your routes, depots, and times to secure your operation.
What is a vehicle scheduling zone (zona de enturnamiento) in logistics? It is a physical parking and infrastructure space designed to receive heavy cargo vehicles in an organized manner before they enter a port, terminal, or container yard. Its purpose is to prevent congestion on public roads and assign efficient service turns.
How much time do container yards have to comply with the new resolution? The draft resolution provides a period of up to 12 months from its official entry into force for operators and facilities to make the required technological, infrastructure, and security adjustments.
How does this regulation benefit an importer in Colombia? It directly benefits them by reducing operational costs. Implementing a mandatory appointment and traceability system decreases land transport idle times, reducing standby rates and the risk of incurring demurrage fines for late container returns to shipping lines.
