They are used in the material handling industry to refer to the automation of loading or unloading trucks and trailers with product either on or without pallets, slip sheets, racks, containers, using several different types of automated guided vehicle systems (AGV) or engineered conveyor belt systems that are integrated into vehicles, automating the shipping / receiving and logistics operations.
[1] These conveyor systems are commonly referred to as Some of these systems are used to handle bulk products such as garbage, agriculture products, recycled tires, cotton, bark or sawdust.
The transportation industry relies heavily on ATLS material handling systems to rapidly move product via land, sea, and air.
The major advantages of ATLS are: ATLS vehicle loading technologies significantly reduce the manpower required on the shipping and receiving docks, eliminate product damage, accidents, and ergonomic injuries related to lift-truck operation.
Generally, products can be loaded quicker and product density is increased resulting in more payload per shipment which reduces shipping cost, using a loading automation system.