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the dock before the leveler is deployed, security seals on
the trailers are broken, and the trailer doors are opened.
This helps protect the integrity of the products, maintains
proper temperatures in the trailer, and reduces the chance
of theft. Vertical storing levelers require only a 12-inch pit,
compared with 20 to 24 inches for horizontal storing levelers, which makes them easier to install.
The vertical storing leveler also seals directly to the concrete floor and its two sides, closing the gaps between the
dock and the trailer. “It keeps the inside elements in and the
outside elements out,” says Troy Bergum, product manager
for Rite-Hite Co. At Sartori, the vertical levelers’ sealing
capabilities help maintain an internal dock temperature of
34 to 36 degrees, which is ideal for the company’s cheese
products.
On top of that, they allow overhead doors to close all
the way to the pit floor, preventing entry by unauthorized
people or animals.
SEAL THE DEAL
As an added measure of protection against temperature
fluctuations as well as dust and pests, Sartori also uses both
dock seals and soft-sided dock shelters.
Dock seals are designed to provide a tight seal around the
trailer sides and top. The devices are typically made of foam
with a covering material that allows them to compress into
the interior of the trailer for a tight fit that seals out dirt and
outside air. Seals are best suited for dock openings of 9 by
10 feet and operations where most of the trucks and trailers
entering or leaving the dock are of a consistent size.
Shelters are better suited for operations that need to
accommodate trucks and trailers of varying sizes and for
dock openings that are over 10 by 10 feet. Typically made
out of fabric, shelters extend out farther toward the trailer
or truck and are designed to cover any gaps between the
vehicle and the dock. They offer the flexibility to create
a seal along the entire width of the trailer, regardless of
what that width might be. While they’re designed to offer
protection against the elements, they do not have the same
climate-control capabilities that compressed seals do.
In addition to standard seals and shelters, equipment
makers offer hoods made out of fabric or metal that fit over
the tops of the seals to protect them from the buildup of
snow and ice. Many vendors will also provide customized
seals that fit dock leveler pits and trailer tops to further
protect them against rain, snow, and extreme temperatures.
While no single system can prevent all theft and con-
tamination, properly deploying the right dock equipment
can greatly reduce the chance of your facility’s being the
weakest link in the supply chain. N
