If you're in the freight industry, chances are you know the importance of a well-designed loading dock and dock door. These two elements are imperative to the productivity of the trucking industry because they're used continuously to complete daily operations. That's why we've outlined 3 things every freight terminal needs to keep productivity booming and to maximize operational efficiency!
Top 3 Needs for Every Freight Terminal:
- Convenience
- Proper Equipment
- Safety
CONVENIENCE
The trucking industry accounts for 70% of all freight in the United States, employees millions of drivers and generates over $700 billion every year. In an industry of this scale, truckers need easy access to their terminals so they can make transitions as efficient as possible.
Choosing optimal locations for freight terminals in relation to the road and positioning loading docks away from congested traffic will boost the logistics of this operation. How you ask? By streamlining the process of transitioning goods with a strategic site plan, moving freight to-and-from the truck can be completed quick, easy and hassle-free.
PROPER EQUIPMENT
It's no secret that efficiency is the key to moving freight, and loading docks and dock doors need to be equipped to accommodate the various trucks and vehicles that are responsible for transporting these goods. By making accommodations and preparing your docks for diverse transportation vehicles you can ensure you're freight is moving efficiently. Not only will accommodating your freight terminal with the proper equipment boost productivity, but it will also reduce the threat of damage to the building, equipment, transportation vehicles and freight itself.
Top accommodations to consider:
- Rolling Steel Doors are a great solution for minimizing labor costs and maximizing space for operational efficiency. When you purchase doors that come standard with pre-greased springs enclosed in a tube inside the barrel assembly, the need for routinely greasing springs to provide smoother operations and longevity is eliminated. Think about the time and money this can save for a freight terminal with hundreds of dock doors!
- Bollards protect your equipment and building from damage often cause by forklifts and trucks.
- Dock Levelers allow a safer loading and unloading process by preparing your dock door for various delivery truck sizes.
- Dock Seals provide protection from environmental elements.
SAFETY
When you're dealing with an industry this high in volume, accidents are bound to happen. After all, 25% of all industrial accidents happen at the loading dock. To promote safety throughout your terminal, there are several precautionary measures you can take.
Ways to improve safety:
- With the right overhead door you can eliminate bulky tracks from running across your ceiling and interfering with elements critical to the safety of your operation; When you purchase doors that coil above the opening, you have the opportunity to improve lighting, enhance HVAC components and un-block those emergency fire sprinklers.
- Make all working parties aware of your safety-steps by posting them around the terminal.
- Incorporating bumpers on dock edges can prevent damage to the freight terminal.
- Areas should be kept clean at all times, so be sure to perform regular inspections and maintenance as needed.
- Vehicle restraints are a great addition to secure vehicles when transition freight from terminal to truck.
For quite some time, freight terminals have been known as high-risk areas due to their heavy volume of traffic and frequency of incident reports, but they don't have to be. By focusing on the three needs listed above, you can increase the safety and optimize your freight terminal's operational efficiency!
