The new dual recessed loading dock is taking shape, and it’s designed with the scale of modern freight in mind. Capable of handling two full-size 18-wheeled Freightliners at once, the dock can easily accommodate trucks stretching over 80 feet long from cab to trailer. To support that capacity, the ramp has been cut and compacted to a footprint of 60 feet in length and 40 feet in width, giving ample room for maneuvering and staging.
At the heart of the dock is its reinforced deck. The surface will consist of six inches of poured, steel-reinforced concrete laid over a heavily compacted stone base. This gives the dock floor the structural strength to endure repeated forklift traffic, pallet jacks, and heavy freight loads without cracking or settling. The lip edges will be equipped with rubber bumpers to protect both building and trailers from impact, while folding articulating dock plates will be mounted at each bay. These plates extend outward to bridge the gap between warehouse floor and trailer bed, creating a smooth, level transition for forklifts to move in and out of shipping containers safely. When not in use, the plates fold back neatly into the dock edge, flush with the floor, keeping the work area clear and safe.
The retaining block walls on each side, shown in the photos, will later be coated with a concrete stucco finish for durability and appearance, while a steel safety railing will run along the top edge to protect workers at grade.
Drainage is another critical piece of the design. As seen in the photo with the stake at the ramp’s base, a channel drain will be installed at the lowest point of the slope. Rainwater will collect here and flow into an underground chamber equipped with a sump pump (seen in the photo with the water collecting at the bottom).
This system will allow water to settle before being pumped into the detention basin at the rear of the property — the same basin detailed in an earlier blog entry. An access hatch will provide maintenance crews the ability to clean and service the chamber, ensuring the drainage system operates reliably in all weather conditions.
Altogether, the dock is engineered not only for strength and efficiency but also for safety and longevity. From its reinforced deck and retaining walls to the drainage and dock plate systems, every detail has been designed to streamline freight handling and protect both people and equipment during day-to-day operations.
Before long, the new facility at boardsort.com will be fully equipped to ship and receive two entire truckloads of material at once, with 18-wheelers backing directly into our new dual dock to keep the flow of electronics recycling moving faster and more efficiently than ever.
