Is the type of truck using the loading dock door important to determining the proper design of a truck shelter?
Yes. In order to provide a seal from the elements, the shelter curtains must press against the outside of the sides and top of the rear of the truck. The typical over the road semi trailer does not have any kind of a step or bumper on the rear of the van. In this case, the sides and top of the trailer need to penetrate the shelter frames at least 14″ in order for the curtains to be pushing against the side and top of the truck and not be hanging in the opening. Some straight trucks have a step or step bumper on the rear. This step projects up to 12″ or more beyond the rear of the van. Consequently, when the step of these type straight trucks hit the dock bumpers, the back of the van only penetrates the standard shelter frames only some 2″ – and a shelter that for a semi would properly allow the truck rear to penetrate 14″ beyond the bumpers would yield a situation where the curtains are still hanging in the opening. And, if the curtains are still hanging in the opening, they can’t seal
