In today’s fast-paced warehouse, efficiency is the name of the game. Trucks need to be loaded or unloaded as quickly as possible in order to meet demands, and your loading dock equipment plays a big part in how efficient your workers can be. From increasing the weight capacity of your dock to improving your overall safety, there are many ways in which upgrading your dock equipment can boost your overall efficiency. 

Increase the Weight Capacity of Your Loading Dock Levelers

One of the most crucial specifications of any loading dock is the weight capacity. Most loading dock levelers and pit levelers have a weight capacity ranging between 35,000 lbs and 80,000 lbs, but knowing what your specific equipment’s weight capacity is vital. Exceeding the weight limit presents a risk of damage to valuable equipment and goods, while also putting drivers and warehouse workers at risk of injuries. Too much weight on a loading dock can cause the mechanics to break during operation and may even lead to the equipment collapsing while it’s being used. 

Upgrading your loading dock equipment can also help you grow your business by installing more modern dock levelers and mechanical pit levelers with a higher weight capacity. Designed with your productivity in mind, these products are made to be safe and durable, holding up to the daily rigours of your loading dock. When selecting your equipment, it’s best to err on the side of caution and choose a much greater weight capacity than you think you’ll need. Having excess capacity is preferable to having insufficient capacity. 

Increase Height and Distance Ranges

In North America, loading dock heights are between 48 and 52 inches on average, whereas the average height of a trailer backing into your loading dock can vary wildly depending on the type of truck pulling it. The more products you handle at your location, the more likely it is that you’ll be accommodating different sizes of trucks and will need expanded height and distance ranges with your loading dock equipment. 

A dock leveler’s function is to account for the difference in height between the loading dock and the trailer. To accommodate the greatest number of trailers possible, it’s important to have dock levelers that provide a wide range of heights. Modern technology allows dock levelers and mechanical pit levelers to reach greater heights than ever before, giving you the flexibility to grow your operations as you please. 

Better Protection from the Elements

Keeping the elements out of your facility is crucial for maintaining a safe and comfortable work environment. Inadequate dock seals can allow water and air to seep through, affecting the temperature of your facility and creating wet surfaces that can easily become safety concerns. Water infiltration can also help accelerate the corrosion of hinges, screws, and other crucial parts of your dock equipment, leading to increased repair costs down the line.

Modern dock seals and shelters are manufactured to meet much stricter codes and requirements than those of the past. Taking advantage of new materials and fabrication techniques, modern seals are more effective around docked trucks and trailers than their predecessors, helping you keep your docks clean and sealed. 

They also allow you to save on operating costs; by reducing the air coming through, you can reduce the strain on your HVAC system and watch your energy bill go down as your temperature-controlled facility becomes easier to heat or cool evenly

Safety Features

Safety should always be a priority in high-traffic loading areas. Key features to evaluate and upgrade include:

• Lights and signals: Loading dock signals are a key part of managing traffic flow, improving efficiency, and communication. With a simple red and green signal, workers can easily know whether a trailer is safe or unsafe to enter, eliminating unnecessary back and forth between dock employees and truck drivers.
• Bumpers: Your docks can take a beating from trailers and trucks, causing damage to your property and valuable equipment and reducing productivity. Rubber loading dock bumpers absorb the kinetic energy from the impact of trailers backing into your dock, dispersing it harmlessly and protecting your equipment.
• Trailer restraints: Trailers separating from the loading dock while employees are still working in it presents a major hazard. Upgrading to modern trailer restraints ensures full safety for all workers and helps to prevent damage to valuable equipment and goods. There are a variety of different types of restraints that work in different ways: some will lock up the wheels of a truck, others hook onto the back and prevent it from moving. Trailer restraints also mitigate the risk of cargo theft by ensuring the trailer stays locked in place until it’s been fully unloaded.  

Dock Equipment Maintenance is Vital

Operating at your greatest efficiency requires regular planned maintenance to keep your dock equipment in good working order. Even the simplest pieces of equipment can wear out over time and fail in crucial moments, causing disruptions and leaving workers frustrated. When you regularly maintain and service all your equipment, from complex pit levelers down to dock bumpers, you’re safeguarding your operations and ensuring you maintain productive uptime. Scheduling professional maintenance is the smart choice for commercial facilities of all sizes.

Creative Door Services is Your Source for the Most Efficient Loading Dock Upgrades

Upgrade your loading dock with Creative Door Services, and your efficiency will greatly improve. We offer a wide selection of loading dock equipment that is designed for the high-traffic workload of modern warehouses. Whether you need new pit levelers or you want to upgrade the safety features, you can count on us to have exactly what you’re looking for. 

When you’re ready to give your loading dock efficiency a boost, call us at our locations in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; or Winnipeg, Manitoba and request a quote.