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Servicing vans from a truck dock

CharlesD

CharlesD

Expert Expediter
We cross docked some freight yesterday from a Sprinter to a truck. Only problem is we only have a truck dock, so unloading the Sprinter was loads of fun. I've been looking around the internet for options for handling vans from a truck dock and I came across this interesting item. It looks like it could be used to load vans, but that it would be a little harder to unload a van with it. I've got some other ideas for a type of ramp that would wedge between the back bumper of a van and the dock so pallets could be pulled up as well. Thoughts?

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M

mjmsprt40

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
If the load can be done by hand--- I'll do it. Otherwise--- dagnabit, Scotty, how much longer until you get that transporter fixed?
 
Slo-Ride

Slo-Ride

Veteran Expediter
How many doors at the Xdock? You said a door, Seems a little short on doors for a Xdock..
If more then one can you dedicate one door with a ramp?
Sweet talk the landlord into letting you knock a opening in the wall for a ramp and garage door?
 
FlyingVan

FlyingVan

Moderator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
I delivered once to a place that didnt have a ramp, but they had a pair of z shaped forks that they just hooked to the regular fork lift. These forks came down about 2 feet lower than the regular forks if I remember correctly. So, they picked up the pallet from my Sprinter from a regular dock. After they picked it up I had to pull forward so they can lift the pallet up on the dock. Probably the cheapest way to do it in your situation.
 
Slo-Ride

Slo-Ride

Veteran Expediter
Proplem with fork lifts working on a incline is the chance of lost traction. How many times have ya seen a fork lift have trouble getting in and out of a truck just due to a wet floor. Add snow and ice to a ramp and our asking for proplems. Best to let Van come to the fork lift if possible.
What ever his solution is, it needs to be done right or loss/damage of vehicle and or freight due to damage can be costly.
 
G

geo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Retired Expediter
US Navy
what i have done is back up to a truck with a left gate and moved the load with a pallet jack
i have ply wood put on the rollers so pallet jacket is able to pick up pallet and move it to left gate
and up to truck and to the dock
works great
 
M

mjmsprt40

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
When the outfit I used to drive for got a new building, they spent a considerable amount of money refitting the building. 4 truck docks and a fleet of vans-----. Well, they put several van doors in the building. You might only need one, but if you can do it one door that you can easily load and unload a van could be priceless.

One thing that occurs to me is that some of these make-do methods for unloading pallets from a van are bad accidents waiting to happen. Pulling a forklift to the edge of the dock with a fixture on it for unloading the pallet--- sooner or later somebody is going to mis-judge the distance from the edge of the dock to the forklift's wheels, and I don't have to tell you what happens next. By comparison with a forklift accident, a van-level door will be CHEAP to install. A good ramp would be next-best, it has problems in icy conditions with wheel-slip but you might be able to work around that. Adding a van-level loading door might actually improve the building by making it more capable of handling all types of freight.
 
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