By James Murphy, freelance writer.
Starting a logistics company or managing an existing one requires a lot of planning especially about vehicles and structures to be used. In addition to the warehouse where the goods are held or stored, you also need loading bays, which have numerous benefits. You have options for the loading bays that you can use, and this is often determined by the types of goods you have or preferences.
The best thing to do if you are not sure is to talk to experts about temporary structures such as the maxi-space offered by Smart-Space in the UK. Temporary loading bays are the way to go, and there is no doubt about it as we are going to see.
How Temporary Loading Bays Are Made
For stability, many temporary loading bays are made of aluminum or steel frames and PVC walls and roofs. However, tents with metal frames and canvas are also common especially if you load goods packed in small boxes into delivery vans.
Some people might decide to use large temporary structures as their loading bays. In this case, the maxi-space offered by the Smart-Space company might do the trick. Since they are very spacious and offer protection to goods, they are convenient for loading any type of goods. Actually, they can even fit large trucks for the protection and privacy of your logistics operations.
Together with other loading bays, maxi-space structures have amazing features such as PVC roofs and walls, windows, roller doors, and other access doors. So, when choosing loading bays for your logistics company, make the following considerations, and you will not regret it.
The Type of Goods
Some goods are packaged in large boxes while others in small ones. There are also those goods that are extremely big such as vehicles that must be delivered to customers from a showroom. In this case, you need to build your temporary loading bays to accommodate the goods appropriately.
As mentioned, these bays are made of metal frames and PVC or canvas walls, and they can be fabricated in different sizes and designs. For instance, if loading and off-loading require a forklift, you need to have loading bays that are big enough.
The Types of Vehicles
When buying or leasing loading bays, you need to know the types of vehicles that will be accessing them. Trucks require structures that are high enough for ease of loading. But smaller loading bays can be used by vans and pickups.
Apart from the size, the types of vehicles used will also determine the design. Some allow the entire vehicle to enter while others only allow the back part inside for loading. As an entrepreneur, plan your structures well to avoid any inconveniences during operations.
How Goods Are Loaded
If you are loading small goods, you only need levelers, trolleys, or ramps to load them onto the vans and other smaller vehicles. But large and heavy goods require a forklift or other machinery to load. This will in turn necessitate large and spacious temporary structures to be put in place.
Fortunately, experts are always ready to customize the temporary structures to meet your needs. If you are seeking to hire custom designs, reputable service providers have a variety of designs, and it is up to you to choose one that suits your needs. The maxi-space structures are about 2,500 sq m (40 m by 60 m) and are very convenient if you need to load numerous trucks at the same time using forklifts.
Available Space
If you are fixing the loading bays on the existing warehouse, the available space might determine the size and design to install. This is why experts need to assess the situation on the ground and come up with the appropriate design.
When hiring the maxi-space offered by Smart-Space, make sure that you have enough space since they are large boxy structures. According to their technicians, they are not convenient for congested warehouses with little expansion space.
Custom-made designs are the best for warehouses with small spaces, and these are best bought rather than hired. Choose well for your warehouse.
Type of Material Desired
Temporary loading bays are made of different materials as mentioned in the beginning. You have the option of choosing between canvas walls and roofs or PVC panels. All options are relatively affordable compared to semi-permanent and permanent brick-and-mortar structures.
Some materials are only good for specific designs and sizes of loading bays. For instance, if you desire to use canvas, you are limited to a certain size of the loading bay. Large bays are better constructed using reinforced PVC panels and hardened steel frames to hold them in place.
Duration of Use
If you have a busy warehouse that has been in operation for years, you need to think about a permanent loading bay even if it is made of temporary materials. According to experts, many of these materials, such as PVC and steel frames, are as good as those used in permanent structures. They can last for many years without the need for repair and maintenance.
How to Choose Loading Bays
From the above insights, you have all the determining factors involved in choosing a loading bay. When the time comes to choose, consider all of them. But the biggest secret is about to be unveiled; choose a professional expert to walk you through this journey. They will tell you whether you need small loading bays that only allow part of the truck to enter or whether you need a large space such as the maxi-space.
Also, the cost of these structures is an important consideration. If you want them for a short time, hiring is more economical than purchasing. But for warehouses that want a long-term solution, invite affordable experts to discuss the options they have available.
Reputable experts provide a guarantee for their work especially if they are focused on quality. So, check this as well.
Final Word
By now, you are conversant in how to go about making the right decision when choosing a loading bay for your warehouse. It might sound like a small process, but it can be tiresome and overwhelming. Hence, it is highly preferable that you hire a professional from the start to walk you through this process.
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