Loading docks are notoriously difficult to manage. They are resource-intensive and without the proper security systems in place they can put your entire facility at risk.

Here are some of the best practices we’ve seen for vehicle and vendor management.

1. Vet your vendors and pre-schedule deliveries.
Loading dock operations run smoothest when you know who’s coming on site and when. Make sure you have a system to verify vendors and then schedule those approved vendors.  Ad-hoc verification policies, if possible, should only be used for unexpected deliveries.

Bonus: Denote vendors that have specific requirements, for example, if they need freight elevator access, after-hours access or an abnormally long dock duration.

2. Don’t let a vehicle in if its COI has expired.
A vehicle or vendor that enters the premises with an expired Certificate of Insurance is highly dangerous and expensive. Any possible damage that occurs on site will come out of the building’s pocket.

Bonus: When you are scheduling a vendor, double-check that their COI is up-to-date before you confirm the date they will come – or reach out proactively by utilizing a notification of expiration feature.

3. Partition loading docks based on security level.
Based on your building or campus, some areas should be more protected than others. Take control of your building by sectioning off areas that are more prone to risk and divert deliveries elsewhere.

4. Make check-in easy for recurring vendors.
If you have weekly or monthly vehicles and vendors that come on site, you may consider adding a recurring driver to a database where their driver’s license can be stored for easy check-in and scanning next time they are delivering something to your building.

Extras.
Incorporate extra security on your loading dock by establishing an underground security system, RFID tracking and weight scales. This will ensure your security process is sealed tight.

There are a lot of moving parts that need to come into place to make a loading dock secure. SV3 can help you automate all of these without exhausting your time and resources. Click here to learn more about SV3.

through a particular entry? Building Intelligence is changing the way we think about safety and security. In this blog post, we will share what exactly separates our visitor management solutions apart from the industry competition.