Saturday, December 15, 2007
TRUCK DOCK DESIGN FACTORS
Below are some illustrations of most common truck dock design:
(A) Flush Dock Design
Flush docks are in most common use today. Here the face of the dock (foundation) is flush with the outside wall of the building. To prevent wall damage and protect dock seals (if used) on a level approach it is recommended that the foundation/dock bumper extend 4" (101.6mm) beyond the outside wall.
(B) Open Dock
Open docks, although they may be necessary alternative in some cases, are not generally recommended because of their weather exposure and susceptibility to pilferage. In all cases these docks should be provided with a canopy. And in situations where canopies are planned over docks on sloped grades, the height of the canopy must be calculated to accommodate the height of the sloped trailer.
(C) Enclosed Dock
Enclosed docks are generally used when climate control, product protection, security, and overhead lift capabilities are required. They are not a common choice due to high construction costs and vehicle exhaust pollution considerations.
(D) Depressed Dock
Depressed docks with slope driveways are used where building construction eliminates basements and dock level floors. Caution must be exercised in planning the grade of the driveway. It should not exceed 10% in order that the top of the truck will not hit the wall of the building, cargo topple, or that pull-way traction problems result in ice or snow conditions.
Some other examples of non-common truck dock design:
(D) Side-Entrance Enclosed Dock
The first enclosed dock design is the side-entrance design; however, construction costs for this design are high. In this design there are two sets of doors (one at each side of the building) and the truck –loading and maneuvering areas are inside the building. This feature dictates one-way delivery vehicular traffic flow through the building (“in one door on the right-hand side of the building and out the second door on the left-hand side of the building”). The side-entrance enclosed dock design accommodates the staggered (sawtooth) dock design.
(E) Straight-in-Entrance Enclosed Dock
In the straight-in enclosed dock design, there is one exterior door per truck dock position or one extra large wide exterior door for two truck dock positions. The delivery truck maneuvering area is outside the building. Since the delivery truck loading area is inside the building, the delivery truck backs straight up in the loading area to the dock edge. The straight-in enclosed dock design provides a shorter truck-loading lane that permits the trailer to be dropped inside the enclosed area or with a long truck-loading lane to accommodate both tractor and trailer.
(F) Side-Loading or Finger Dock
The side-loading dock or finger dock design is used primarily for flatbed trucks and open-sided vans (side-opening vans with side door open for loading and unloading). This dock design is a cutout in the building interior floor. The cutout is directed inward from the building exterior wall into the dock staging area. The finger length and width is sufficient in size to permit a flatbed trailer open-sided van to back into the opening. Concrete platforms on both sides of the cutout permits lift trucks to unload and load the trailer. To improve dock safety, yellow-coated posts and chains surround the cutout.
(G) Drive-through-the Facility Design
This drive-through design is used for flatbed trucks or open-sided vans. The flatbed truck or open-sided van drives into the building, and lift trucks or an overhead crane unloads or loads the product from or onto the flatbed trailer. This dock design requires a one-way flow of vehicles through the facility, or the trucks are backed up into the facility. It is very common truck uploading design in certain countries such as Australia or in the beverage distribution industry.
(H) Pier Dock Design
If the dock side of the building does not have sufficient wall space for the required number of dock positions or the building interior layout does not permit construction of a dock area, then the pier dock design has the potential to provide the necessary dock positions. In this design a section of the building extends outward from the building. Dock positions are located on each side of the extension. The width of the extension permits a lift truck turning aisle for turning onto the dock levelers and two-way lift truck traffic on the dock. With the pier dock design, there is a tractor-trailer maneuvering area on both sides of the pier dock.
(I) Freestanding Dock (Dock House) Design
To increase dock positions in a low or small volume operation with limited interior space inside the building, a freestanding dock or dock house extension is construction on the building wall. The freestanding dock is a platform with a dock leveler that extends outward from the building and is enclosed with metal or plastic panels. If the dock extension is an open platform, then to improve safety, chains and posts are on the dock perimeter.
(J) Mobile Yard Ramp Design
The mobile ramp design is used outside the building. This dock operation uses a mobile ramp that permits a lift truck to unload or load a trailer and to have the mobile warehouse equipment transport the product into the warehouse. If the warehouse is not at ground level, then a ramp is required for lift truck entrance into the building.
Below are some illustrations of most common truck dock design:
(A) Flush Dock Design
Flush docks are in most common use today. Here the face of the dock (foundation) is flush with the outside wall of the building. To prevent wall damage and protect dock seals (if used) on a level approach it is recommended that the foundation/dock bumper extend 4" (101.6mm) beyond the outside wall. (B) Open Dock
Open docks, although they may be necessary alternative in some cases, are not generally recommended because of their weather exposure and susceptibility to pilferage. In all cases these docks should be provided with a canopy. And in situations where canopies are planned over docks on sloped grades, the height of the canopy must be calculated to accommodate the height of the sloped trailer. (C) Enclosed Dock
Enclosed docks are generally used when climate control, product protection, security, and overhead lift capabilities are required. They are not a common choice due to high construction costs and vehicle exhaust pollution considerations. (D) Depressed Dock
Depressed docks with slope driveways are used where building construction eliminates basements and dock level floors. Caution must be exercised in planning the grade of the driveway. It should not exceed 10% in order that the top of the truck will not hit the wall of the building, cargo topple, or that pull-way traction problems result in ice or snow conditions.(E) Saw Tooth Dock
Saw tooth docks present a design solution to situations where apron space is limited, however they reduce useable dock space.
Saw tooth docks present a design solution to situations where apron space is limited, however they reduce useable dock space. Some other examples of non-common truck dock design:
(D) Side-Entrance Enclosed Dock
The first enclosed dock design is the side-entrance design; however, construction costs for this design are high. In this design there are two sets of doors (one at each side of the building) and the truck –loading and maneuvering areas are inside the building. This feature dictates one-way delivery vehicular traffic flow through the building (“in one door on the right-hand side of the building and out the second door on the left-hand side of the building”). The side-entrance enclosed dock design accommodates the staggered (sawtooth) dock design.
(E) Straight-in-Entrance Enclosed Dock
In the straight-in enclosed dock design, there is one exterior door per truck dock position or one extra large wide exterior door for two truck dock positions. The delivery truck maneuvering area is outside the building. Since the delivery truck loading area is inside the building, the delivery truck backs straight up in the loading area to the dock edge. The straight-in enclosed dock design provides a shorter truck-loading lane that permits the trailer to be dropped inside the enclosed area or with a long truck-loading lane to accommodate both tractor and trailer.
(F) Side-Loading or Finger Dock
The side-loading dock or finger dock design is used primarily for flatbed trucks and open-sided vans (side-opening vans with side door open for loading and unloading). This dock design is a cutout in the building interior floor. The cutout is directed inward from the building exterior wall into the dock staging area. The finger length and width is sufficient in size to permit a flatbed trailer open-sided van to back into the opening. Concrete platforms on both sides of the cutout permits lift trucks to unload and load the trailer. To improve dock safety, yellow-coated posts and chains surround the cutout.
(G) Drive-through-the Facility Design
This drive-through design is used for flatbed trucks or open-sided vans. The flatbed truck or open-sided van drives into the building, and lift trucks or an overhead crane unloads or loads the product from or onto the flatbed trailer. This dock design requires a one-way flow of vehicles through the facility, or the trucks are backed up into the facility. It is very common truck uploading design in certain countries such as Australia or in the beverage distribution industry.
(H) Pier Dock Design
If the dock side of the building does not have sufficient wall space for the required number of dock positions or the building interior layout does not permit construction of a dock area, then the pier dock design has the potential to provide the necessary dock positions. In this design a section of the building extends outward from the building. Dock positions are located on each side of the extension. The width of the extension permits a lift truck turning aisle for turning onto the dock levelers and two-way lift truck traffic on the dock. With the pier dock design, there is a tractor-trailer maneuvering area on both sides of the pier dock.
(I) Freestanding Dock (Dock House) Design
To increase dock positions in a low or small volume operation with limited interior space inside the building, a freestanding dock or dock house extension is construction on the building wall. The freestanding dock is a platform with a dock leveler that extends outward from the building and is enclosed with metal or plastic panels. If the dock extension is an open platform, then to improve safety, chains and posts are on the dock perimeter.
(J) Mobile Yard Ramp Design
The mobile ramp design is used outside the building. This dock operation uses a mobile ramp that permits a lift truck to unload or load a trailer and to have the mobile warehouse equipment transport the product into the warehouse. If the warehouse is not at ground level, then a ramp is required for lift truck entrance into the building.
:)
11:24 PM