It is very common to have a declining approach at the loading dock and it’s important to know to how to protect the building walls from damage. Incoming vehicles backing down the driveway into position at an angle risk the top of the trailer impacting the building wall before the bed of the trailer contacts the dock bumpers. The main objective is to stop the truck backing into position well ahead of contacting the building wall. The most common and effective method to address this situation is to project the dock leveler pit and dock bumpers forward at time of initial construction. The recommended minimum pit projection is determined by the percentage of driveway decline. For example a 4 percent decline should result in projecting the pit forward a minimum of 4”, a 6 percent decline should result in projecting the pit forward a minimum of 6” etc. It is very important to project the pit and the foundation surface that the dock bumpers are to be installed on the same amount of projection.
Apr 15, 2020