Docking and Loading Equipment
Know the different options in docking and loading equipment that is best for you.
When it comes to docking and loading equipment there is a wide range of products. Some dock sites may have a need for all of them, others only need a few. Here we will cover the basics of as many different equipment types to give you the knowledge to be comfortable to outfit your dock. Or know more about your equipment choices where no dock is available.If your facility has no raised dock door for unloading trucks you have a few options to make the job of unloading the trucks easier and more efficient. First is a dock scissor lift. This equipment is very useful and worth the investment if you are always going to be loading and unloading trucks from the same location. A scissor dock lift is the same as a scissor lift table that would be used in many industrial applications. The main difference is a dock lift will have larger standard platform options and heavier weight capacities. Standard size lifts can start at 48" x 96" and go up to as large as 96" x 120". The standard weight capacities are 5,000 - 12,000 pounds. These measurements apply to standard made lifts, custom manufacturing is available if you have a specific need beyond these options. But keep in mind anytime you put custom in the description it can greatly increase the price of the equipment.
Another type of equipment that can be used when no raised dock is available are ramps. There are large yard ramps used when loading and unloading with the use of a forklift or pallet trucks, as well as walk ramps used more when your loading and unloading is done with hand dollies. The larger yard ramps can be steel or aluminum. The aluminum ramps commonly have the option of all aluminum or you can get aluminum framing with a steel grating on the bed. Both of these style ramps have standard sizes of 30 and 36 feet long and 70 - 93 inches wide. The weight capacities range from 16,000 - 30,000 pounds. Walk ramps are another style of loading ramp that come in aluminum or fiberglass. These materials are lighter weight and easier for the user to put in place. The walk type ramps generally come in lengths of 8 - 16 feet and capacities of 1,000 - 3,000 pounds. Fiberglass ramps usually have a rough texture top surface for better traction, while the aluminum ramps have a serrated or grip-strut tread on the walk surface. The last type of ramp are auto loader ramps. This type of ramp is for loading and unloading vehicles. They also come in aluminum and fiberglass. With lengths of 8' - 16'. Capacities are 5,000 - 7,000 pounds.
Another common piece of dock equipment is a dock board. Dock boards can be used to span the area between the back of a truck or to create a smooth transition between the dock and the truck bed. Dock boards also known as dock plates come in standard sizes ranging from 30 - 72 inches wide and 24 - 78 inches long. Weight capacities can range from 1,400 - 20,000 pounds. Dock plates come in aluminum and steel options and with or without side curbs. Some dock boards can have pins or dock legs to keep the dock board in place while in use. Another feature that can be nice to have is lifting loops. These are placed in the bed of the dock and lay flat while in use or lift up so that it can be moved with a forklift when it is not in use. Dock levelers are used for the same purpose as a dock board, but the leveler is permanently attached to the edge of the dock. These dock levelers can be manual or electric. When it is installed to the edge of your dock they have a plate that is raised up then the truck backs under the plate and it is lowered to create the smooth transition from the truck bed to the dock. Dock levelers can be 48 - 84 inches wide and 27 - 124 inches long. Capacities for these levelers generally range from 6,000 - 30,000 pounds.
Most docks will have dock doors and an added option are dock seals. The dock door is pretty self explanatory. Dock seals are a padded area around the door the truck backs up against. This creates a tighter closing to keep out cold weather and elements while trucks are being loaded and unloaded. There are many different types of docks seals from padded to retracting material. Just keep in mind they are available and can help with climate efficiency. Which can make them pay for themselves with utility savings if you do a lot of dock work.
There are several things that can be considered dock accessories. These include dock mirrors, cargo bars, stabilizing jacks, and wheel chocks. Dock mirrors can be a very important safety item on the dock. Since often docks have pallets and boxes stacked around, it can be difficult for forklift drivers to see each other, or other people working on the floor. Dock mirrors put in the right positions around the dock help with worker safety. Cargo bars are used in a truck trailer when it is not carrying a full load. Cargo bars are placed at the end of the load from wall to wall. They keep the load from shifting around the trailer. Stabilizing jacks are used when the truck is separated from the trailer. They are placed to help keep the front of the trailer raised and in place. The last item I will cover are wheel chocks. These are an important safety item to keep vehicles from moving unexpectedly while they are being loaded and unloaded.
If you are setting up a new dock location or remodeling an existing one you have many choices in equipment. If you do not know exactly what you want or need, consult an industrial equipment specialist to help you equip your docks.
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