Tuesday 7 April 2015

Staging and moving portable loading docks

When buying portable loading docks, you need to plan for how you are going to get them from their storage point to their staging area. If you don't think this through, you will wind up leaving the docks staged. This not only can interfere with the staging process for phase work, but it can reduce the turn radius in yards. More importantly, portable docks aren't meant to be left in place as, this shortens their lifespan. Take the time to consider how you will move the docks from place to place, and how you will perform their needed maintenance. Sit down and look at your access and egress paths, and consider the schedule of your equipment when making your plans.

Planning out the access

You may know where you have space for the portable loading docks, and how they will be used, but you also have to consider the space around them too. Staging should take into account the approach of trucks and loaders so that adequate turn radius is allowed. Just because a driver can turn in a tight space doesn't mean you should leave it to them to do all of that work. The easier it is for them to get in and out, the better your service and efficiency will be.

Knowing when to move the staging areas

Projects lose money when even an hour delay occurs. A part of planning your staging areas is knowing when you need to move them. It is never as simple as just planning to move a dock when a phase has ended. You have to accommodate the staging-in plans of other contractors. If you are using the docks in a permanent yard, you need to make sure that you accommodate the loading schedule as docks will have to be moved to create viable turn radius.

Making sure you have the portable loading docks you need

When planning for your portable loading docks, take into account everything they can be used for. The most common mistake made is to buy a dock that is dedicated for one use, and not to take into account where the dock could be located to expand its potential. If you have a dock with a load bearing capacity and width to handle a pallet jack, chances are you will want to use it for a forklift as well. It is always best to look at your staging plan so you can really determine what activities will occur around the portable dock so you choose one that is flexible.

After the project is over

The old story goes that when it came time to take the portable loading docks away ...  the company didn't have a loading dock to load the loading docks. Believe it or not, this is a very real problem. Just as you planned the offloading of the docks in the beginning of the project, you need to plan out how you are going to get them off site. The easiest way is to use a lift and flat-bed, but if that is not an option for you make sure that your loading truck has the equipment it needs to lift and load the docks when they are collapsed or dismantled. Advanced planning will save you time and money.


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Article Source: http://bizcovering.com/business/staging-and-moving-portable-loading-docks/

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