Recommendations for Dock-height truck or trailer?

[cockeyedMFer]

I run a small resale company in my spare time and buy from a number of local auctions. I'm at the point I could cut out the middleman from one company that I've had some negative experiences with, and buy directly from their supplier.
Problem is, it will require a 4h round trip drive and the warehouse will only load dock-height trucks. Fortunately, having a larger dedicated truck and perhaps moving into a small commercial space will open up more buying opportunities.
Long term I would like to build a company that can replace my FT job, but I can't completely quit for the time being due to commitments.

Sooo...I've been playing with the numbers on various combinations that will get me to dock height without a lot of expense. Problem I don't have experience on anything larger than my old F600 dump which the BMV, insurance co, etc treat as a pickup. And I'm currently in a sweet spot since its a one-person company. Running a dually and flatbed trailer, or an old Uhaul E350 is pretty much under the radar. No one seems to notice whether I have a CDL or am hauling "items for personal use". But if I go bigger, I'm going to draw attention.

Would really like to hear input about running costs, insurance, etc for larger trucks. I don't need 26,000lbs capacity, an F450 box truck or flatbed with tarps would do if its the right height. But a class 6 freightliner or Kodiak can be had for the same or less around here ($5,000-7,000). Even a rollback might fit the bill, and would be multipurpose. Would even consider a vintage truck.


Odds are it won't be cost effective to grow the business this way, but I'd like to run the numbers. If money was no object, I'd kill several birds with one stone and buy a vintage cabover KW or Pete and a pup trailer.

 

[Stimw]

I've seen trucking companies that had wood spacer blocks that a straight truck could back up on to get to dock height. If you could make up your own spacers that you could put down when you got there and take with you when you leave.

I used to drive Casual for Roadway Express. One day they had me run a straight truck, when empty I called in for pick ups. I caught he// for picking up a pallet with the straight truck because it didn't meet dock height. They had to remove the pallet in the lot with a forklift and take it to the dock. Nobody told me??????

 

[Harold_J]

You really have to define what you mean by dock-height. Like Stimw said you will run into trouble with a straight truck if they are expecting typical semi-trailer height.

So I don't see how you can even be considering an F450 or a trailer pulled by a dually pickup. Even heavier rollbacks are often built on lo-pro chassis. If the specific supplier you'll be dealing with can accomodate the smaller truck or trailer you should be OK, but it may limit your options with other suppliers in the future.

If you go ahead with this I think you should plan on meeting DOT requirements for your state if they have them. The 4 hour trip doesn't involve any interstate travel, does it?

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Stay away from the roll back if costs are an issue. My neighbor wanted to open a small used car lot by using a roll back to go get fixer uppers (he was a former mechanic) and fix them in his shop, drive them out front and sell them. His insurance for that truck was going to be astronomical! ($5k+ per year) He quickly dropped that idea and I haul them in for him now on a gooseneck. :thumbsup: AS far as dock height trucks, maybe you could specify what your dock height would be. As was already mentioned, a 450 or something won't even be close in height. A semi trailer is around 42"??? in height i think???

 

[aczlan]

AS far as dock height trucks, maybe you could specify what your dock height would be. As was already mentioned, a 450 or something won't even be close in height. A semi trailer is around 42"??? in height i think???

An F450 with a dump box is pretty close to that height...
There is a place near me which has a tall flatbed bumper pull trailer (8x16-18 bed?) which has got to be pretty close to dock height. I'll see if I can snag a picture of it next time I am out that way.

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[RedNeckRacin]

An F450 with a dump box is pretty close to that height...
There is a place near me which has a tall flatbed bumper pull trailer (8x16-18 bed?) which has got to be pretty close to dock height. I'll see if I can snag a picture of it next time I am out that way.

Thanks

Aaron Z

Ah, I wasn't thinking dump trucks. I was thinking a box truck. I apoligize.

 

[paulharvey]

I built the loading docks at "Whitecap Supply" years ago. Standard dock was 48", and the dock leveler might give 3" play. The problem came from their Corporate guys who specced a 60 ft loading dock, well, a 53 ft trailer and a 10 wheel sleeper cab is going to be way long, and the tractor sitting angled up (sunken dock, build was on grade) changes all the geometry. Bottom line, I nailed 2x12x16 4 thick to back trucks on temporaraly. Worked well, and they found that there local route trucks (not full height) would actually match the dock as well when backed up on a 6" ramp.
Guess that doesn't help much, other than to say 48" to the dock

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Thanks for the replies. My understanding of dock height is 48-52". Looking at advertisements there are a number of box trucks advertised as dock height, but I'd definitely verify that.

Harold, yes, I'd be going from Ohio to Indiana bi-weekly or at least once a month.

Might be cheaper to have an expediter deliver loads, the more I'm looking into this. I understand all the cdl rules, etc are for safety (and revenue LOL) but it sure makes it tough for a guy trying to grow a business.

RedNeck - I've heard that as well about rollback insurance. Yet there are some guys I've seen here and there that have 'private carrier' rollbacks. They're wholesale buyers at the dealer auctions and somehow get away with bending the rules.

Like the idea of wooden ramps though. Wonder if the dock workers would permit it? Might be a quick solution.