Case Study: Port of Charleston - Dockzilla
DZ Series

Dockzilla Transloading Center Creates​ New Port Hub for Global 3PL Player​

An international third-party logistics company (3PL), representing one of the largest retailers in the U.S., wanted to establish an import distribution center at the Port of Charleston’s Leatherman Terminal to receive overseas containers and mitigate congestion issues at west coast ports. The 3PL needed the building ASAP and there were no viable facilities nearby or ample time for permanent construction. ​They identified a large land parcel with proximity to the South Carolina port and tapped Dockzilla to build a custom transloading building to quickly transfer goods from overseas containers to trailers.

SOLUTION

In just five months from concept to completion, Dockzilla stood up a 37,238 square foot membrane-style cross dock building with 60 loading dock positions. Anchored by an elevated steel platform foundation to expedite offloading and loading at dock height, this complete warehouse facility featured Dockzilla’s externally-mounted Dock Houses and self-standing dock levelers with rain diverters, and a 147 MPH wind-rated vinyl structure to protect loading operations from the inevitable inclement weather on the coast, including Hurricane Ian.​

RESULTS

The Dockzilla cross dock solution is a first-mile game changer for the 3PL, allowing a large customer to bring 15,000 containers through the site per year and the potential to grow to 50,000 per year. They’re now able to quickly scale their operations while leveraging new port options without the constraints of permanent construction, local warehouse availability or retrofitting. Trucks can offload overseas shipping containers to the transloading platform to begin their journey in record time as the space was customized specifically for their needs and inclusive of all dock equipment.

AT A GLANCE

  • Cross Dock at Port: Dockzilla custom 60-dock solution allows a 3PL to utilize a new port for overseas containers.​
  • Total Package: The 37,238 sq. ft. building is all-inclusive of Dockzilla’s externally-mounted Dock Houses and self-standing dock levelers, doors, forklift access ramps, stairs, and more.​
  • Weather Ready: The membrane building is rated for 147 MPH wind and includes rain diverters on all 60 Dock House door positions.​
  • Expedited First-Mile: Shipping containers can be offloaded closer to port to dramatically increase first-mile efficiency.​
  • Built for Transloading: Set on Dockzilla’s elevated high-strength steel platform foundation for forklift traffic.​
  • Designed Per IBC: Semi-permanent design with life safety evaluation and stand-alone fire suppression system, conduit run electrical, and air/ventilation system.

“Target, the nation’s second-biggest importer behind Walmart, has been using a portable cross-dock hub built on a future expansion site at the North Charleston terminal since August. Such set-ups allow a company bring cargo containers in on one side of the building and then load them onto trucks on the other side. The temporary facility was set up by Minnesota-based Dockzilla Co., which builds portable loading systems and warehouses.”

– Charleston Post & Courier

CROSS DOCKING WAREHOUSE

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Elevated, modular steel platform with integrated NFPA compliant, stand-alone fire suppression system.

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Permanent solution with 30-year warranty on NFPA 701 compliant membrane covering.

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Application-specific dock equipment, including built-in fall protection components.

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Built-in rain diverters on each of 60 dock positions to mitigate the inevitable inclement weather at the port.

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