When you review the efficiency of your business, you might see some red flags and bottlenecks where the work suddenly drags down. This will prompt you to evaluate if there would be more efficient methods so you can save time.
Loading and unloading cargo sounds mundane but is actually heavy and tedious. You need cranes and forklifts to transport containers and the contents will require separate equipment and manpower. However, there are loading systems and methods to make the job faster and easier. Systems like truck loading conveyors or roller tracks will help reduce the time and manpower needed for loading and unloading.
Automated Loading Systems for Trucks
The basic component of an automated loading system is any loading plate or platform that can be slid inside the containers, allowing just a single entry and exit point. Platforms can carry as much as 5000 loads and it is controlled by electric or hydraulic motors, which have clamps that will keep the structure fixed during the loading or unloading process
When these are in place, you can put adjustable legs that can move vertically and horizontally and can operate via remote control. These measures will make sure that the entire process runs smoothly.
These automated loading and unloading systems will yield the following benefits:
Improved product Safety
When the merchandise is organized on the loading platform, there will no longer be any more movement of the goods and this reduces the chances of damage. With the entire system already in place, the path from the truck to the storage area is entirely automated, and any time you reduce the possibility of human error, the results are more consistent.
Product safety is very important to ensure that there will not be any customer complaint or replacement of damaged or defective products.
Lower Labor Cost
The entire loading and unloading process will be automated. The employees that were supposed to be involved in this process can then be designated for different tasks in the warehouse. This can increase the overall efficiency of the labor force.
Reduced Safety Issues
Since the loading of heavy packages is taken off actual human hands, the safety of the workers will be protected. It also protects workers from the other option of loading and unloading—which is the forklift. Forklift accidents have increased in recent years, and part of that can be associated with human error, as well as defects in the machinery. Either way, these accidents can be avoided using this system.
Shorter Truck Docking Time
If the loading and unloading time is reduced, the trucks do not need to stay long. If you are renting trucks for delivery, you need to pay extra for every minute that the trucks stay out. Some rental companies charge an hourly rate, so time literally means money. If you have your own trucks, the longer docking time will prevent them from proceeding to the next delivery, so it will also result in financial losses.
Automating your business operations usually result in a more efficient and consistent output, which is what every entrepreneur would like to achieve. Any method or system that saves time and money will be good for the company.
