loading automation trends and takeaways for 2026

Peter noted how manual loading areas are a very dangerous place to be working, and Wouter agreed, “We really call it a danger zone… forklifts are under pressure to be loading or unloading in a quick timeframe to turn around those trailers quickly. There's a lot of operational pressure. That's where there are a lot of near misses and serious accidents happening, in and around the cargo space.”

Automated loading systems eliminate many of these risks by keeping people out of harm’s way, while also cutting near misses, forklift miles, and associated costs.

Wouter also praised how leading companies are using sustainability goals to accelerate innovation, “I think that's a big shout out to all the big companies that really drive that environmental agenda, because it starts with them… already in audit or an ESG report is requested from the suppliers. And that's really, really good.”

Joloda’s systems help customers reduce carbon footprints by minimising truck idle time and maximising fleet utilisation, “We load a trailer within two minutes. That trailer can be used 20-30 times in a day… whereas in other operations, where there's manual loading going on, it takes 30-45 minutes.”

Reducing loading times also means fewer trailers, and lower CO₂ emissions, while in some cases, automation even allows buildings to be smaller. “If it is a building that is 100 or 200 meters long, we could compress that to 40 metres… instead of 80 dock doors, we could introduce eight fully automated docks, because we can load a trailer in two to five minutes.”

From labour shortages to robotics, Wouter has seen several global themes driving automation demand, “Australia is seeing a lot of scarcity around labour. Labour rates are extremely high… and of course, the focus on safety in Australia is second to none.”

He also pointed to a growing integration between loading systems and robotic technologies, “We integrate more and more with robotic forklifts, AGVs, AMRs… to get pallets fed from production lines directly onto our loading machines.”

The result? A smarter, safer, and more connected loading bay ecosystem.

Wouter added, “We are looking at a very interesting thing of inspection of pallets before they get onto the loading dock." For a company founded in 1962, this blend of deep heritage and new technology underlines how Joloda Hydraroll continues to evolve.

As automation continues to evolve, the conversation around loading efficiency is becoming less about replacing people and more about designing smarter, safer, and more connected systems.

Through his discussion with Logistics Business Conversations, Wouter Satijn highlights that automation doesn’t have to be complex or all-encompassing to deliver real impact. Whether through compact, entry-level unmodified automation systems like LoadMatic Lite, or bespoke Automated Trailer loading & Unloading solutions, Joloda Hydraroll’s approach remains the same: to help lighten the load and make material handling easier, safer, and more efficient for every operation.