Indoor Dock Lift Solution: How Speed-Lift Replaced a Failed Truck Well

Project Summary

North Shore Window, a high-volume distributor of custom windows and doors, struggled with a 42″ deep truck well and a leveler that forced every shipment onto a dangerous slope. They selected a surface-mounted Forklift Pro® Speed-Lift®  to replace the unreliable well and create a safer, faster, forklift-ready dock inside their building.

North Shore Window operates a busy distribution facility in Yaphank, NY, moving heavy and fragile glass units daily. Their only receiving point was a truck well located 150 feet away from the building, 

The operational issues were severe:

• The 42″ deep well forced all loading and unloading up or down a slope
• Workers had to transport every unit across asphalt, even in rain, snow, and winter icing.
• The distance from the well to the building caused double-handling, inefficiency, and product exposure to weather.

“We were often transporting heavy stuff from trucks outside in the cold weather or rain… this just wasn’t working for us anymore.”

North Shore Window’s existing setup — a 42″ truck well located 150 feet from the building — created problems that common dock equipment simply couldn’t solve. Even if they had considered typical alternatives, none would have addressed the core issue:

Yard ramps still create a slope, which is unsafe for transporting large glass units, especially in New York winters.

In short, none of the conventional options would eliminate slopes, reduce weather exposure, or bring the loading point directly to the building — all of which were essential for handling heavy, fragile window units safely.

The Forklift Pro® Speed-Lift® addressed the core issues created by North Shore Window’s distant truck well, sloped unloading area, and need to move large glass units only once. The Speed-Lift provided a way to bring truck-height unloading directly to the building — without construction, downtime, or altering the facility.

Key advantages that solved their operational challenges:

• Surface-mounted design — placed right at the dock door with no pit or concrete work.
• Forklift-ready platform — built to handle wide, heavy window and door units safely.
• Fast lift cycles — approximately 7–8 seconds, supporting high-frequency daily use.
• Smooth cantilever motion — stable lifting with no bounce, sway, or abrupt movements.
• Large 8-foot-wide deck — allows multiple units to be staged and moved without double-handling.
• Reduced weather exposure — unloading happens at the building entrance instead of out in the elements.
• Moveable when needed — the tow-bar and a small 5,000 lb forklift can reposition the lift easily.

What mattered most to the customer came through clearly in their feedback:

• “The stability, the strength, and the accessibility of the machine were key for us.”
• “It helps tremendously in poor weather.”
• “It’s so simple to use that even office staff can operate it.”
• “We want to move things only once — this lets us do that.”

After installation, the Speed-Lift®  transformed the entire receiving workflow:

• Eliminated reliance on the old truck well — they rarely use it now.
• Removed slopes entirely, preventing product damage and improving worker safety.
• All loading/unloading now happens inside the building, protected from weather.
• Reduced material handling — heavy glass units are moved once, not multiple times.
• Faster cycles — “It goes up in about 8 seconds… very quick and very smooth.”
• Higher throughput — wide platform accommodates multiple window units at once.

“We use it every day. It’s been a game-changer for what we do.”