How To Extend the Life of Your Loading Dock Equipment

by Alex Guzman, on Mar 20, 2024 4:20:47 PM

Sitting still is one of the most expensive things you can do in a warehouse. Unexpected downtime costs the average warehouse a whopping $10,000 per hour. You probably feel every cent of that statistic each time your forklift goes down, or your team turns up short-staffed, but we don't often associate it with the loading dock. Yet, your dock is perhaps your warehouse's most vulnerable spot.

Loading dock equipment is often taken for granted. It's pretty stalwart stuff that endures constant use. However, it's also a bottleneck for your facility. You might have contingencies when short-staffed or when one of your forklifts breaks down, but most facilities don't have backup loading docks. So when it fails, you're sunk until you repair your dock equipment. Luckily, there's a way to prevent all that expensive downtime for a fraction of the cost. Read on to learn how planned maintenance of your dock equipment pays for itself.

Loading Dock Maintenance and You

Improper maintenance is a recipe for disaster. Poorly maintained loading dock equipment fails faster and more often. To avoid this, some facilities designate an employee to maintain the dock equipment as a collateral duty. Unfortunately, this misguided attempt to save money usually backfires. Loading dock equipment repair conducted by inexpert warehouse staff is only marginally better than equipment that was never serviced at all.

Professional, planned maintenance is the solution. Certified technicians have the skills and experience to troubleshoot and repair loading dock equipment before it causes a catastrophic shutdown. Yet, there are still steps you can take in-house to save on service calls. Your loading dock is an intricate puzzle of intersecting parts. So, let’s look at one piece to illustrate this point.

Dock Leveler Maintenance

Dock levelers are a vital component of any busy loading dock. Yet, their moving parts make them especially susceptible to failure. Constant use puts them at risk of breakdown without consistent maintenance. However, you don’t want to call the service tech out every day. To help, here are the things your team can safely do in-house.

Daily inspections. Operators should inspect your dock leveler three times a day: first thing in the morning, halfway through the day during a convenient break, and after operations have finished for the day.
Test functionality. Periodically test the dock leveler's functionality, paying attention to cycling speed, leveling at rest, and stability when attached to a trailer.
Cleaning. Remove debris from the dock pit and around moving parts.
Lubrication. Lubricate all moving parts to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.

Safety Advisory: Working under the deck of your dock leveler can be dangerous. When engaging in any activity under the deck, you must wear a hard hat and set the maintenance strut to prevent unexpected collapse or accidental closure.

A qualified technician should address anything beyond those four dock leveler maintenance items. Dock leveler troubleshooting is best left to the professionals. However, here are a few things that present an immediate safety hazard.

Recent collision damage, such as from a truck
The deck is not level with the floor while in the resting position
The lip is deformed, cracked, or will not fully extend or retract
Rust around the loading dock
Damaged beam welds
Unusual sounds during operation

If you find any of these, cease use of the dock and contact a dock equipment repair technician immediately.

Maintain Your Loading Dock the Easy Way

Dock levelers are one piece of the intricate puzzle that makes up your loading dock, but there are many others. Each vital component requires maintenance and care. This can be a lot of work for anyone who isn’t an expert.

Investing in a professional service plan is the easiest and most cost-effective way to prevent unexpected downtime in your loading dock. Planned maintenance covers all the moving parts of your loading dock, ensuring everything works together and as designed. This professional service prevents expensive downtime and extends the functional life of all your loading dock equipment.

For example, a dock leveler may last five to seven years with minimal care. However, professional dock leveler maintenance can extend its useful life to ten years or more.

A Trusted Partner for All Loading Dock Equipment Repair

Planned maintenance on your loading dock equipment pays for itself through decreased downtime and extended equipment life. Southern States Toyotalift has the professional staff to install, maintain, service, and repair all makes and models of loading dock doors and equipment. This includes:

Dock levelers
Dock boards
Dock locks
Dock plate parts
Cold storage seals
Dock bumpers
Dock lights and signals
Dock shelters
Trailer restraints
Wheel guides

Your time is valuable, and we understand that. That's why we make maintenance easy with guaranteed, reliable results and service calls that fit your schedule. Our team has the expertise to keep your equipment up and running. If you're ready to protect your bottom line with planned maintenance for your loading dock equipment, contact us online or visit one of our locations throughout Georgia and Florida.

Florida
Jacksonville
Lakeland
Ocala
Orlando
Tampa
Winter Haven