[EricH]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

From what I can tell, the whole loading dock issue is due to FIRST's struggles with Insurance. Of course, as you state, I really dont understand how people carrying heavy items down steps is less of a liability than having teams back up to a loading dock... but I dont have a degree in law.

It wasn't a loading dock, it was a long ramp leading from a street straight to the pits near the practice field and machine shop. Carrying things up and down steps is kind of dangerous, particularly when they have at least one turn.