(* Disclaimer: Okay, okay - Real Estate does tend to throw a few knucklers, but we'll get you through them.)
This page contains the following:
There are 2 main loading types - dock-high and grade level - with a few variations of these. Grade-level buildings basically mean you can drive a vehicle into the building, normally for loading and unloading using a fort lift. Buildings often have a mix of grade-level and dock-high loading, normally with an emphasis (read more of...) on one or the other. Dock-High loading generally means that you back a semi-truck trailer up to a loading dock to load and unload those things you need loaded/unloaded. There are dock-high docks - normally 4 feet high. There are semi-docks - normally 2 feet high - normally for shorter haul trucking and delivery. Buildings with rail access would likely have a side-load dock built next to the rail. Grade-level buildings are generally built as ground-level, whereas dock-high buildings are often elevated by a few feet - up to 4 feet in many cases because that is the approximate height of most long-haul semi-trailers.
Dock-high loading is all about the efficiency of moving cargo to and from trucks for transportation purposes. In addition to this, it can be about extending the environment of the warehouse facility into the semi-trailer - where the trailer incorporates environmental controls as required by the product being transported - say, for cold storage, humidity control, cleanliness, etc. In these cases, the docking mechanism also involves an environmental seal.
We have a number of articles outlining many of the things involved. Again, these articles are summarized below, and include several definitional articles on Dock-High Loading, Dock Wells, Dock Levelers, etc. We encourage you to review these articles and visit the ones you believe would be useful to you:
Owning and operating a cold storage-equipped warehouse is generally complex and relatively expensive. We’ve generated a lot of content and done a lot of work with clients acquiring cooler and freezer-equipped space…
Work with us to locate and obtain the best dock-high warehouse in the Houston area. We provide personalized search results at no obligation to you, and help you complete your purchase or lease.
Why can’t this landlord just divide up the space in this warehouse to lease me exactly the amount and type of space I need? I know - it seems like a simple thing to do. And sometimes, it can be fairly simple. BUT, there are complications. This article is intended to discuss a fair subset of the issues complicating the divisibility of warehouses with various resources to share - or not to share.
In a ‘perfect world,’ one would be able to back a trailer up to a 4’ dock-high dock, or a 2’ semi-dock, open the doors and start loading or unloading. Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world (with or without quotes), so you may need a dock-leveler…
A side load dock well allows for dock-high loading access to containers in a truck court with very limited depth and is feasible to add to an existing grade-level building…
Our Houston Affiliate has the following property for lease in the Houston, TX area. The table and photo need a minor update - Suite 330 has been leased. Otherwise things are current as of 6Nov2020…
A dock well, or truck well is commonly used to provide dock-high truck loading for a grade-level warehouse. This photo illustrates one of the major advantages for dock wells - the straightforward ability to have both dock-high loading/unloading and grade level entry to the building…
This article attempts to answer the question “Can I achieve dock-high loading/unloading using a grade-level building?” The fundamental problem addressed by warehouse loading areas - or docks in this article - is how facility team members get materials from the shipping surface of trucks, trains, etc., onto the facility floor for further handling…
If you are considering renting, leasing or purchasing a warehouse facility and would like to get off to the best start possible, I advise taking ample time to define your needs in a facility. Here are some specific criteria to consider…
A dock-high loading dock provides a highly efficient method to move
cargo between a semi-trailer and your warehouse. The efficiency comes
primarily from matching the height of the dock high truck shipping surface
to the height of the warehouse floor…
A covered exterior elevated dock is a concrete structure that facilitates loading and unloading of containers at or near the 48” level without obstructing warehouse access. This type of dock is implemented for various reasons, including the need for more loading and unloading slots for trucks or adding dock-high capability to a site.
Need More Details?
Want more information about something on this page? Need industrial, office or warehouse space? Use our Free Property Search form to provide your information to let our Broker Affiliate Network know about your needs including help assessing an existing lease. You may also call us at (800) 814 - 4214 to begin the discussion.
Please contact us at our Info Email address or use our Contact Us form if you have questions or concerns.
As Seen On
Need more details?
We are here to assist. Contact us by phone, email or via our social media channels.
