Many ways to improve the performance of dock supervision

There are many aspects that influence the performance of a docking operation, and each aspect could present a study in its own right. This article summarises some guidelines that could affect the day-to-day docking operation.


Dock supervisors set the standard for docking expectations. They must know what is expected of them by their service centre managers, and dock supervisors must be trained to effectively execute the service centre manager’s plan.

For optimum docking efficiency, dock supervisors must understand the power of performance manage-ment, based on goal-oriented positive reinforcement.

Performance logs, or a DMS, should be utilised to monitor bill and tonnage production per hour. The logs or DMS should be constantly monitored and performance management techniques should be utilised to achieve a desired production level.

Basic docking rules

There are critical docking rules that must be entrenched. These ‘rules of thumb’ include:

  • Heavy freight on the bottom, light freight on top; freight must be evenly distributed; stack boxes using a jigsaw puzzle technique (crisscross or horizontal) versus vertical stacking; cube all loading units.
     
  • Check weight and loading technique after every quarter of the trailer is loaded; maximise freight loaded on a trailer to maximise load average.
     
  • Save a cartload of small freight on the dock to close the load, helping to fully cube trailers.
     
  • Load freight with labels out.
     
  • Secure all freight. One or more employees must be trained in the proper techniques, and these employees could then train other employees.
     
  • Know and adhere to the rules for handling hazardous materials.
     
  • Apply dunnage (eg cardboard) underneath pails and drums, where metal meets metal, around sharp or jagged edges and on top of plastic bags or other freight that might damage easily.
     
  • Encourage pup awareness. Pup trailers have 15 percent more cubic capacity than the standard trailer.
     
  • Control the docking (staging) of freight – dock only as a last resort; excessive docking of freight is usually an indicator of weak or uninvolved supervision
     
  • Docking of freight always results in double handling, double checking and increased cost; unnecessary and uncontrolled docking of freight is a primary cause of poor dock production.

Empower supervisors

Organise supervisor responsibilities. Each supervisor should be given specific responsibilities, without overlapping duties. All supervisors should know exactly what is expected of them each day, and they should know which employees report to them.

  • Set up and co-ordinate an orderly bill flow from office to dock. Encourage the office to release bills to the dock as soon as they are completed.
     
  • Pre-plan all assignments before the employees punch in; have trailers up to dock, doors opened, bills sorted and tools ready at start of shift.
     
  • Establish and follow a set procedure for supervisor changeover:
     
    • the current supervisor and the new supervisor should walk the dock and determine the status of all staged freight
    • the current supervisor should provide a list of all employees on the dock and their current assignment.