For example, if a truck is taller than the loading dock enclosure, it may not be able to approach the dock or unload freight. Door size and width matter for both the truck and the enclosure, which means that not all trucks and loading docks are compatible with one another.If an incline is at too high of an angle ( often defined as any angle over 10%), many trucks will not be able to approach the enclosure without it causing damage. Dock approach refers to the fact that the incline leading up to a dock is not always perfectly flat.Dock height can vary, and this can have an impact on the types of trucks that can be loaded and unloaded at a particular facility.‍ There are additional factors that can determine the success of loading docks: While they provide extra space outside a facility, they often waste space inside a warehouse or freight terminal. However, sawtooth docks are not always the best solution. The allow trucks to approach docks at an angle, saving space outside the warehouse. Sawtooth docks are used in situations where outdoor maneuvering space is limited. Open loading docks are fairly rare and unpopular. Often, they are covered by a roof or canopy, but are not enclosed on the sides. They are subject to weather conditions, which can make them unsafe.

Open docks do not create an enclosure that surrounds the back of a truck. In addition, enclosed docks require their own ventilation systems to get rid of the exhaust and pollution produced by the trucks in an enclosed setting. It also comes with disadvantages:īecause an enclosed dock allows an entire truck to park inside, it tends to take up a great deal of space. This tends to be great for the preservation of temperature controlled freight. It allows the entire truck to park indoors, protected from the elements. Flush docks save space because they neither jut out nor require an enclosure for the vehicle.Īn enclosed dock is one of the least common types of loading docks. In this case, the dock just acts as an opening flush with the warehouse wall, which allows the back of the truck to attach seamlessly to the dock. Let’s run through all of the major ones:Ī flush dock is the most common type of loading dock.

There are multiple types of loading docks, all with their own advantages. They can be especially useful in refrigerated transportation, where large quantities of temperature controlled freight need to be transferred in a time-sensitive manner. While people often think of loading docks as a way to load and unload freight, associating them with long haul delivery, that is absolutely not always the case.ĭock trucks can be used for the swift, efficient delivery of larger items within cities. If product is being moved in and out of a facility, there’s a good chance it’s happening by means of a loading dock. Let’s explore how loading docks are used, their key components, and the various types.Ī loading dock is a recessed bay in a freight terminal or warehouse that allows for safe and efficient loading and unloading of trucks. Loading docks facilitate the successful use of most freight vehicles, providing a safe and fast way to transfer goods into and out of a warehouse or freight terminal. Here’s a great image from Loading Dock Supply showing the types of trucks that most commonly use loading docks: Sprinters typically use van doors, a different opening within a warehouse, but can also be raised and modified to fit a loading dock enclosure. Slightly smaller loads can be shipped with sprinters, which are large cargo vans. This often requires pallet shipping, which often requires the use of a larger truck and a loading dock. Therefore, they need to be transported as freight instead.

Some shipments are simply too bulky or come in too large a quantity to be shipped by standard methods. In this post, you will learn about the purpose of loading docks, the factors that contribute to their design and their overall impact on logistics. Loading docks are a vital part of the logistics and goods transportation industry as a whole. The garage door-like enclosure at the back of the warehouse is called a loading dock, and it’s an effective way to ensure that large freight trucks get loaded and unloaded efficiently.Ĭhances are, you’ve heard of a loading dock before, but you may not know just how important they are to shippers, warehouses and logistics companies. Have you ever seen a large truck backing into a warehouse and wondered what goes on behind the scenes?