Dock High Loading - Picture with Definition

A dock-high loading dock is used to provide a highly efficient method to move cargo between a semi-trailer and your warehouse.

How High Is a Loading Dock?

The dock height of such a dock is typically 4 feet - give-or-take a few inches. The intent of the dock high loading dock is to match the height of the floor of your warehouse with the floor of the shipping surface of a semi-trailer to facilitate this movement of cargo. These heights will normally only be close to 4 feet, which drives the use of a dock leveler to accommodate variation in the height of that trailer shipping surface relative to the dock height of your warehouse, which matches the height of your warehouse floor surface.

Many different types of trucks and containers can use high loading docks.

• A standard 53’ trailer has a bed height of 48”
• An overseas shipping container has a height of 52”
• Straight Trucks/Box Trucks have heights between 40” and 50”

What is a Dock Shroud?

If your warehouse requires even better protection from the elements, dock shrouds can be added to provide protection from external factors like rain up to a complete environmental seal - commonly used in refrigeration scenarios.

What Are Half Docks?

There are also 1/2 (half) dock facilities, as opposed to high loading docks. These shorter loading docks - normally about 2 feet above ground level - are used to accommodate smaller trucks often used for short-haul and more local shipping tasks.

If you have a grade level building and need a dock, read this.

See our discussion of Dock Wells here.

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