Two recent jobs are a good example of why loading-dock shelters aren’t one-size-fits-all. One facility needed fitted coverage at a pair of standard truck bays. The other needed shelters built around rail-side loading.
Both projects started the same way: remove the worn units, verify the opening and dock conditions, and install shelters that fit the way the facility actually receives freight.
Two truck shelters with rain diverters in Ballico
At a commercial facility in Ballico, Barton replaced the shelters at dock doors 1 and 2 with Marvel M665VV-22-50 soft-sided foam-frame truck shelters. Each new shelter included rain diverters, double-layer 50-ounce vinyl, and head-curtain flaps.
The metal rain diverters sit above the shelters and direct runoff away from the top of each opening. That matters on an exposed dock face, where water coming down the wall can otherwise land right where the trailer and building meet.
See the Ballico dock shelter project.
Retractable rail shelters in Modesto
The Modesto project had a different challenge: a warehouse opening beside a rail spur. Barton removed two retractable rail shelters and two full-door-size dock shelters, then installed two Marvel M800V-40-60 retractable rail shelters and two M700 full-door-size shelters.
During loading, a retractable rail shelter extends toward the railcar opening, then returns against the building when it is not needed. The spring-supported frame has to move freely while the shelter material still covers the gap around the freight opening.
See the Modesto retractable rail shelter project.
Start with the opening, not a stock answer
Trailer sizes, dock height, approach, weather exposure, and the way freight arrives all affect the right shelter. Rail-side openings add another set of clearance and retraction requirements. We measure those conditions first, then match the shelter and options to the actual job.
If your dock shelters are torn, pulling away from the wall, or no longer fitting the trucks or railcars using the bay, Barton can inspect the opening and lay out the next step. Start with our loading dock seals and shelters or request commercial service.