How to improve the management of loading docks in warehouses

The management of warehouse docks and logistics platforms is a critical point in the supply chain.

The efficiency and reliability of this work depends on the chains functioning as perfect gears to place products in their destination markets in a timely manner.

However, the participation of different actors in these tasks causes frictions that, in many cases, require technological tools to grease the processes.

In addition, the various legislative changes have modified the traditional scheme for loading and unloading trucks in warehouses and logistics platforms.

In a scenario of lack of transportation supply and driver shortage, transportation plays a critical role in the chain. Keeping trucks running at peak performance and with as much cargo as possible is crucial.

Loading and unloading docks, focus of conflict

Loading and unloading was a task that had been customarily assigned to drivers. However, these professionals considered that these jobs should not be their responsibility.

Since September 2022, professional drivers are prohibited from loading and unloading, except for certain exceptions.

Legal changes in loading and unloading in warehouses

Specifically, omitting the prohibition of loading and unloading by drivers constitutes a very serious infraction typified in the Land Transport Law (LOTT).

As a result, responsibility for these tasks now falls to the companies that manage the warehouses and logistics centers where the trucks are loaded and unloaded.

Specifically, the LOTT makes the company under whose direction the driver of the vehicle is acting, as well as the loader, shipper, intermediary and consignee involved in the transport, responsible for the infringements in the performance of loading and unloading operations.

The situation forces these companies to take control to organize the flow of goods in and out of their facilities in order to ensure that flows within the warehouses are adequate and that trucks are guaranteed to move smoothly to avoid any risk of collapse and vehicle stoppages that generate costs and logistical inefficiencies.

Penalties for stoppages in loading and unloading in warehouses

In this same sense, another of the main problems that exist in the management of docks and fields in warehouses and logistics platforms has to do with the waiting time that trucks are obliged to wait.

These moments mean downtime in which neither vehicles nor drivers are generating revenue and in which, in addition, delays accumulate to cover other services.

For these reasons, carriers have been demanding measures to reduce these lost times.

At the same time, waiting times also create problems for transport customers, as they generate accumulations of vehicles that clog the docks and force the management of parking spaces in the fields and, in addition, slow down the movement of assemblies at exits and entrances.

The authorities consider that stoppages have a very significant impact on the functioning of the logistics chain, so they have sought to encourage their reduction in order to reduce transport times, workers’ non-productive hours and, ultimately, costs.

Thus, the LOTT provides that when the vehicle has to wait for a period of more than one hour until loading or unloading is completed, the carrier may demand compensation from the shipper for stoppage, which will give rise to compensation.

However, this situation is of no interest either to shippers, because of the increased costs involved, or to the carriers themselves, who are focused on keeping trucks and drivers on the road for as long as possible to generate revenue.

 

Technology to improve the management of warehouse docks

This complex landscape is well suited for the application of technological tools that take into account multiple variables to provide solutions to complex problems and also drive collaboration in the logistics chain.

Specifically, the use of new technologies to manage loading and unloading operations at warehouse docks and logistics platforms allows:

• More dynamic supply chains, by streamlining loading and unloading tasks, establishing the best possible order and taking advantage of spaces to make vehicle exits and entrances more fluid.
• Improve relations between shipper and carrier, thanks to the use of tools that allow tangible gains in efficiency and agility for all parties involved.
• Reducing possible incidents by facilitating the exchange of information with greater agility.
• Greater fluidity in invoicing because, by streamlining operations, the process of collecting payment for services is activated immediately from a digital environment.
• Less bureaucratic document management thanks to the use of IT tools that allow the exchange of transport documentation with all the guarantees, eliminating the use of paper.
• Cost reduction. Implementing advanced technology and optimizing processes may require a considerable initial investment, but the long-term benefits, such as reduced downtime, fewer errors, and improved customer satisfaction, usually justify these costs.

Other benefits of digitalizing dock management

In addition to bringing multiple benefits to the company itself, digitizing warehouse dock management brings a series of benefits to the entire supply chain and all the agents that make it up, and represents a significant improvement in other areas of the company and the sector.

Boosting collaboration

Efficiency in dock management depends heavily on coordination with suppliers and carriers. Implementing advanced communication systems, such as collaborative cloud platforms, enables real-time information sharing on dock availability, estimated arrival times, and potential delays, which reduces lead times and improves planning. This collaborative approach can minimize errors and improve synchronization throughout the supply chain.

Strengthening the supply chain

Efficient loading dock management not only affects local operations, but also has a significant impact on the global supply chain. Optimizing these processes helps reduce total product cycle time, improves responsiveness to market demand and minimizes supply chain disruptions. In addition, effective dock management can help reduce logistics costs and improve competitiveness in international markets.

Improving occupational health and safety

Poor management of loading docks can generate significant risks for the safety and health of workers. Therefore, digitizing warehouse dock management is essential to implement preventive measures, standardize procedures, optimize spaces and have greater control of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sustainability

More efficient loading dock management can contribute significantly to a company’s sustainability goals. Optimizing operations reduces truck fuel consumption by minimizing waiting times and unnecessary maneuvering, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, adopting practices such as the use of electric vehicles or the implementation of renewable energy on the docks can further enhance sustainability.

 

FIELDEAS helps you to optimize the management of your springs

FIELDEAS has developed a specific module to manage loading docks and unloading docks in warehouses and logistics platforms within its FIELDEAS Track and Trace supply chain visibility tool.

This tool directly connects all actors in the chain in real time. This generates optimization scenarios that benefit from faster procedures, greater efficiency and a better capacity to react to any possible incident, facilitating collaboration among all the actors in the chain.

The system offers advanced capabilities including:

• Dock requests by each carrier based on previous planning.
• Approval flows for each operation in each warehouse or logistics platform.
• Real-time planning follow-up.
• Automatic alerts that warn of any situation that deviates from the plan.
• Visual monitoring of waiting areas and downtime.
• Dynamic reallocation of loading and unloading docks, as well as of waiting spaces in the yard.

It is also essential to establish and monitor specific KPIs, which the FIELDEAS Track and Trace platform will extract and analyze.

• Waiting time.
• Utilization rate.
• Error rate in loading/unloading.
• Vehicle rotation
• Others

On the other hand, FIELDEAS Track and Trace allows integration with ERP/WMS systems, enabling smoother coordination between warehouse operations and loading/unloading activities.

This integration facilitates real-time visibility of dock availability, shift scheduling, resource allocation and synchronization with production and distribution demand. It also helps automate processes, reduce manual errors and optimize the flow of goods.

Optimize the management of loading and unloading docks and boost the productivity of your transport operations.

Give extra reliability to your transport operations.