5 Tips for Optimizing Loading and Unloading Freight
Loading and unloading freight plays a crucial function in transportation and logistics. Inefficient dock procedures can lead to higher transportation costs, slower pickup and delivery times, and overall customer dissatisfaction. No matter the volume of freight you ship, efficiency at your facility is essential. Here are five ways to optimize your loading and unloading procedures to ensure safety and speed.
Use a forklift
The trusty forklift is one of the most popular tools for making loading and unloading more efficient. A forklift is a small vehicle with two power-operated prongs at the front that can be slid under heavy loads and then raised for moving and stacking materials in warehouses, shipping depots, etc.
If either location has a forklift instead of a dock, you don’t have to specify that part while booking your shipment. Feel free to say you’re shipping dock to dock.
If a forklift is unavailable to you, but you need to receive a shipment as scheduled, they are available to rent in some places.
2. Use dunnage to create a level surface
Using dunnage (wooden boards or other material) can create a level surface and prevent items from shifting or absorbing the shock during transit. By knowing the nature of each product and the protection materials surrounding it, carriers and shippers can transport and deliver loads safely. This ultimately reduces the chances of returns or damaged goods, all of which speed up and improve supply chain processes.
3. Keep loading/unloading short in cold weather
Keep in mind how cold temperatures affect the cargo during loading and unloading. Minimize how long a trailer or container is exposed to the weather at a dock door. While loading trailers to maximize space may be acceptable for most of the year, you must be cautious during cold weather to minimize exposure associated with the increased handling time for floor loading vs. skidded materials. Even temperature-controlled equipment loses temperature stability during loading and unloading.
4. Implement advanced technology
Automation has become something that all logistics companies use to streamline their processes in various ways. For example, planning solutions allow you to quickly build a load based on information like packages in the dock and the depth of the trailer, ensuring the most efficient loading process based on available capacity. Some of these systems can also guarantee that loads won’t be damaged during transport due to how they were stored in the trailer.
Likewise, loading dock management systems, paired with the proper set up of cameras or automated sensors, can help managers keep track of multiple docks simultaneously. This can cut back on the walking back-and-forth that is often necessary to visually supervise each door and identify inefficient practices like unsafe lifting techniques.
5. Skip the hassle and use a 3PL (like Sparrow)
Perhaps the most efficient method to uphold loading and unloading standards is to partner with experienced, reliable, and dedicated professionals like those provided by Sparrow. Trying to handle logistics on your own can be overwhelming. Thankfully, working with a 3PL can help.
Let Sparrow lighten your load
No ramp? No dock? No problem! Sparrow’s team of experts can arrange with third-party companies or services to load and unload almost any large haul. For example, if you need to get a big generator off a trailer or a heavy pallet to be delivered to the ground, we can find and work with the proper service provider that has the equipment to get the job done.
The Sparrow way is being proactive, thinking through possible issues that could arise, and providing solutions on how best to handle them. We want to guarantee that we know what we are loading and unloading and how we will do it. Therefore, if we need to plan for a loading or unloading service, that is done in advance. This will result in on-time deliveries, happy carriers, and fewer headaches for shippers.
Want to learn more about how Sparrow Logistics can help you with your loading and unloading needs? Contact our team today.