MODEX 2026: Rite-Hite publishes first U.S. loading dock benchmark report

Rite-Hite recently published its 2026 Dock Operations Benchmark Report, a comprehensive industry study examining safety, operations, and maintenance practices across 168 U.S. facilities.

Conducted in Dec. 2025 by an independent research group, the study delivers a data-driven view of how loading docks operate today and where inefficiencies, safety risks, and untracked costs continue to limit performance.

Rite-Hite is exhibiting its warehouse safety products at MODEX 2026 in booth B14757. The trade show is being hosted by MHI April 13-16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Report includes self assessment tool

Survey participants represented manufacturing, retail, food and beverage, 3PL, e-commerce, and transportation across facilities of varying sizes.

In addition to benchmarking data, the report includes role-based recommendations for operations, safety, and maintenance leaders, peer profiles by facility size, and a self-assessment tool to help organizations evaluate their current level of dock maturity.

“This research puts data behind what many operations leaders already suspect,” said Dave Adams, Rite-Hite Digital Solutions president. “Without clear visibility into what’s happening at the dock, it’s hard to prioritize improvements or justify investment. These benchmarks help leaders focus on changes that can optimize facilities for safety, uptime, and overall performance, while highlighting hidden, avoidable costs.”

Data-connected equipment provides safety visibility

The study also illustrates a growing gap between facilities relying on manual tracking and those adopting connected, data-driven approaches. While only 17% of respondents currently use connected dock equipment, their facilities reported stronger visibility into safety events, throughput, and equipment condition.

“Rite-Hite has spent decades working alongside customers at the dock, so these challenges are familiar,” said Brianna Olson, a Rite-Hite Customer Success & Engagement manager. “This report reflects our commitment to helping the industry move from assumptions to facts, from reactive decisions to informed ones.”

Rite-Hite said its 2026 Dock Operations Benchmark Report illustrates the importance of a connected operation with integrated, automated data capture.

The data underscores how a digital platform like Rite-Hite ONE can simplify data-driven decisions with real-time shared visibility and insights.

This report is available exclusively as a free download. Industry professionals can access the report by visiting the link below and completing a brief form.