Prioritize Dock Maintenance For Your Truck
As life gets busier, routine inspections of your dock become more challenging to execute. But if you prioritize this important task, you’ll save yourself money and prevent injuries down the road.
Check for sagging or warped boards, loose screws, and nails that are backing out and rotting boards. If any of these issues are present, they should be addressed immediately. Contact Top-Notch Dock Building for professional help.
As a trucker, you should make sure to schedule your annual inspections for your dock and trailer. This ensures that it’s in good working order while also collecting critical data to help you with future repairs and maintenance. These inspections cover structural components like outriggers, booms, and turrets as well as safety items like decal legibility and placement. Annual inspections are important for safety reasons and to protect your assets from liability.
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or near a shore. It can also refer to a dockyard, which is a shipyard where the loading, unloading, building, and repair of ships occurs. It can also refer to a floating dock, which is a structure that moves on the water, and a dry dock, which is an artificially enclosed basin into which vessels may be brought for inspection or repairs.
Having routine inspections is the best preventative measure against equipment failure and process inefficiencies. This way, potential issues can be identified and addressed early, resulting in fewer costly repairs or lost production time. These routine inspections can make all the difference in extending equipment and processing equipment life, as well as reducing downtime.
When planning for your annual inspection, make sure you plan enough flying time leading up to the turn-over date to do a thorough pre-annual. If possible, have a CFI or another pilot fly with you. This makes it easier to verify the work that was done, and it can also give you a chance to check that all the access panels were properly re-secured. It’s also a great opportunity to do a full walk-around of the plane and to make sure there are no new signs of hangar rash or corrosion on any ports or screws.
It is a good idea to keep a checklist of the things you need to do and have a copy of the inspection report. This will help you remember all the requirements you need to meet and will be helpful when it comes to renewing your DOT certificate. Whether you’re a trucker or an owner-operator, keeping up with FMCSA and DOT regulations is essential for a successful trucking business.
Post-Event Inspection
After the event, a walk through inspection should be completed to identify any damage caused during the event. The inspection should also ensure that no equipment or material has been left behind that could pose a hazard to future events. The inspection should also verify that all facilities, attractions and directional signage are still in their correct locations as per the site plan.
The inspection should always include both above and underwater assessments of structural, mechanical and electrical components. General observations of long term or preexisting deterioration should be noted but should not influence the rating assigned. A characterization of the overall condition of the dock should be assigned (see Table 31F-2-9). Ratings should consider only the damage likely to have been caused by the event, not preexisting deterioration or load conditions beyond those for which the structure was designed.
If significant above water damage is observed such as scour, slope failures, shifting or differential settlement, misalignments or overstressing cracks on piles it is recommended that an underwater assessment be conducted. The inspection team leader will determine the need and methodology for an underwater evaluation, in consultation with the Division.
If it is determined that a structural component has been damaged, the responsible party will be charged for the cost of restoration. This includes the costs of returning the item to its original condition as well as any additional labor costs for repair. Any items or structures that are left in EPS spaces after the event will be assessed for a cost estimate to return them to their original state based on the labor rate set forth in the EPS Fee Schedule and the estimated amount of time required to complete the repair. This will be billed to the CIO. Failure to restore the facility or its contents may result in loss of scheduling privileges in EPS spaces, disciplinary action and/or referral to UVA’s Judicial Committee.
Cleaning
Whether it’s a beautiful lakefront home, a simple cabin or even an old family dock, all docks must be cleaned. The harsh environment of salt water and sun, rain and heat can cause a buildup of debris, mildew and algae that is unsightly. In addition, a dirty dock can be dangerous and slippery.
The first step in cleaning your dock is to sweep away any loose debris. It’s important to not allow any debris to fall into the lake, which could disturb marine life. Next, use a non-toxic wood cleaner to clean the dock. Be sure to read the label for the product and follow all instructions. Some products may require scrubbing, while others will simply need a spray from your pressure washer. Always be cautious with using the pressure washer because too much force can damage the wood. Using a low PSI and angled nozzle will help prevent any unnecessary damage to your dock.
If stains or algae remain on the dock after cleaning, you may need to scrub and agitate it with a brush or sponge. Then rinse it thoroughly with clean water. It is also a good idea to have on hand a non-corrosive cleaner that can be applied at the time of any future occurrence of algae.
While the above cleaning tips can be done by most, it is highly recommended that you use a professional who is familiar with all aspects of cleaning and staining a dock. Whether it’s a routine inspection or post-event inspection, having the right equipment and training will make all the difference in your dock maintenance efforts.
Performing regular routine inspections will not only allow for any red flags to be identified and repaired in advance, but it will also save you money on costly repairs down the road. Schedule it on your calendar like you do with your haircuts or doctor’s appointments – the more regularly you inspect and clean your dock, the less likely you will have any major issues. With a little planning, it’s easy to keep your dock looking great and functioning properly!
Repairs
When docks are in constant contact with water, they are vulnerable to damage and wear. Whether the damage is cosmetic or structural, it should be dealt with immediately. A professional should inspect the dock regularly, and address issues like rust, cracks, bending, warping, or discoloration. Depending on the severity of the damage, the dock might need to be completely replaced, or it can be repaired and returned to good condition.
Generally, a professional will start by cleaning the dock to see what needs fixing. A thorough inspection will usually include looking at the pilings, railings, and decks of the dock, and checking for loose connections or rotting sections. The professional might also look at the dock framing and posts, and if the pier has a boat lift on it, they will usually need to inspect that too. They might even need to go underwater and use scuba gear to see what is happening with the foundation of the dock.
Some of the most common repairs made to docks are fixing rusted nails in boards and frames, patching cracks, repairing or replacing damaged floats, and restaining. Rust is a common problem that can occur due to the constant contact with water, but it can be easy to fix. Nails that have rusted through can be replaced, and the dock can be repainted to match the original color.
The cost of a repair job can vary and depends on what the repair is. For example, a simple repair to fix a crack can cost $150 to $250. However, a larger repair to replace a part of the dock can be more expensive and may take longer to complete.
A dock is often used to store boats, and it can be a dangerous place for a boat when it is not properly maintained. A good maintenance program can keep a dock safe for boat owners and reduce the amount of money it will cost to repair it over time. A well-maintained dock will last much longer than one that is neglected and can protect boaters from serious accidents.
