Being the manager of a warehouse or distribution centre and keeping everything running smoothly and efficiently is a busy job. A crucial task on your to-do list is taking care of the dock equipment that your workers use daily, such as dock levelers and dock lifts. Regular maintenance of this equipment can be hugely beneficial to your operation.

In this article, we’ll go over the top reasons why you should schedule regular service from an experienced professional for your dock equipment, plus some maintenance advice and tips to keep your equipment in good working condition. 

Enhance Safety

The loading dock is one of the busiest areas in any commercial warehouse or distribution centre. Forklifts and employees are constantly moving in and out of the dock area with heavy loads and trucks constantly pulling in and out to load and unload their cargo. 

Regular service on your commercial dock equipment from a qualified and experienced professional plays a crucial role in keeping everyone safe. By spotting minor hiccups in time to repair them before they cause problems, you protect your workers and ensure smooth operation day-in, day-out.

Reduce Your Facility’s Downtime

Avoiding downtime is essential for any busy commercial operation to meet quotas, deadlines, and satisfy your customers. If your dock leveler malfunctions at a critical moment, it can lead to delays and costly repairs, impacting operations all the way down the supply chain. Instead of dealing with last-minute delays that impact your operations, keep on top of your maintenance to ensure your equipment works properly every day. 

Improve Your Employees’ Productivity

With improved safety in your equipment also comes a boost in productivity; your workers will feel more confident when they know that the equipment they’re using has been well-maintained and is safe to use. That reliability will help them improve their productivity as they realize they don’t have to worry about equipment breaking as they perform their tasks. You’ll notice a marked improvement in your bottom line when your equipment is a constant your employees can count on.

Catch Issues Before They Escalate

Not only does regular maintenance reduce downtime and improve productivity, but it also helps to prevent breakdowns. Over time, minor issues can grow into large repair bills if not addressed quickly. It might seem like skipping maintenance and service can save you some money in the short term, but in the long term, investing in regular service rather than paying for repairs or replacements is much more cost-efficient. 

Extend Your Equipment’s Lifespan

Dock levelers and lifts are big investments, and you want to get as much out of them as possible before you need to replace them entirely. The constant wear and tear of daily usage can take a toll if you don’t conduct regular service. Your equipment may end up with significantly shortened lifespans without a professional to keep an eye on every component periodically.

Think of it as the same as getting an oil change for your car—if you keep up with the small stuff, you’ll get the most out of your investment without facing premature replacement costs. 

How Often Should You Have Your Dock Equipment Serviced?

The frequency of dock equipment maintenance depends on several factors, including the size of your facility and how often the equipment is used.A smaller facility that only uses dock levelers in the morning to load trucks for distribution won’t need to schedule maintenance as often as a large warehouse that’s constantly sending and receiving shipments.

Some general guidelines:

• Small to medium businesses should conduct annual preventative maintenance and service.
• Medium to large businesses should schedule service every six months.
• Large businesses should be conducting maintenance on a quarterly basis. 

Keep in mind that these are just guidelines. You can and should adjust as necessary for your specific needs. Talk to a professional dock equipment maintenance technician for more information if you’re unsure about the best frequency for you.

Dock Equipment Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your dock equipment doesn’t have to be a difficult task. While you should still call a professional for regular maintenance, there are a few daily maintenance tasks you can do yourself to help keep everything working well, such as:

• Inspect your dock equipment regularly for visible signs of wear and tear so you can catch any issues before they escalate.
• Keep the dock area clean and clear as debris can pose a safety hazard for employees and cause damage to dock equipment.
• Make sure all equipment is properly lubricated, including hinges, levelers, rollers, and more, to help ensure smooth operation.
• Test safety features often to ensure they are fully operational should you ever need them.
• Check for worn parts and replace any that you find. Wear and tear on components compromise the safety and operation of your dock equipment.
• Train your staff on proper equipment usage and emergency procedures to help prevent accidents and improve efficiency.

Creative Door Services™ Has the Expertise You Can Rely On

At Creative Door Services™, we provide service for a wide range of brands of dock levelers and lifts, keeping your dock equipment in good shape and ensuring you are efficient and productive. Additionally, we offer high-quality DaltonDock levelers, including the Wayne Dalton Edge-of-Dock Leveler and the Wayne Dalton Mechanical Pit Leveler. 

You can trust the pros at Creative Door Services™ for all your dock leveler and lift service needs. Whether you need quarterly maintenance or a one-time repair, our technicians are highly experienced with all makes and models of dock equipment. We’ll make sure your facility doesn’t suffer any unnecessary downtime. With more than five decades of experience, we are the trusted professionals for commercial facilities throughout Western Canada. 

For more information on preventative maintenance for dock levelers and dock lifts, you can contact us today. We have eight locations in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.