605: Trailer Loading with Modular Simplicity from Slip Robotics

Written by Mike Huff on July 7, 2025. Posted in Podcasts, Uncategorized.

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Jordan Sanders, Chief Commercial Officer at Slip Robotics. Slip has made waves in the logistics world with its ability to load or unload a 53-foot trailer in just five minutes using its autonomous SlipBots. Now, with the launch of SlipBot Plus, they’re expanding the platform’s capabilities even further, enabling highly flexible trailer configurations, safer operations, and smoother workflows.

Jordan breaks down how customer feedback drove the development of SlipBot Plus attachments, why modularity matters in a chaotic dock environment, and how Slip’s U.S.-based manufacturing is positioning them to support the domestic reshoring movement.

Why “Simple” Trailer Loading is the Highest Compliment

Slip’s flagship solution is an autonomous, mobile staging lane that replaces manual loading with elegant simplicity. Three SlipBots act as large, motorized floors that move in and out of trailers with the push of a button.

Jordan explains, “We take it as the greatest compliment when someone looks at what we do… and they say it’s simple.” What looks effortless on the surface is powered by cutting-edge robotics beneath, but simplicity drives real-world value: safety, speed, and flexibility at the dock.

Because every item in a warehouse or plant enters and exits through the dock, minimizing congestion and labor strain in that space is critical. Slip enables trailers to be loaded or unloaded in five minutes, reducing dwell times and allowing drivers to return to the road more quickly, thereby eliminating detention fees and unnecessary idling.

As Jordan explains, it’s just that simple. ”We always tell folks it’s the, think of it like the floor, but it moves. If you can place it on the floor, then you can place it on a SlipBot, then it can get loaded into the truck, in five minutes.”

Modular Innovation: The Power of SlipBot Plus

SlipBot Plus is a suite of modular attachments designed to support a wider variety of freight types. The idea came directly from customers who needed to improve cubic utilization and handle difficult freight.

Jordan shares, “SlipBot Plus is a modular attachments that go onto the base SlipBot platform to enable even more freight to be shipped.” These attachments include:

SlipBot Plus Rack – Configurable racking for non-stackable or mixed items using standard trailer load bars.
SlipBot Plus XL – Ideal for oversized items, such as 30-foot beams or heavy equipment.
SlipBot Plus Edge – Designed for more ergonomic loading of floor-loaded boxes.
SlipBot Plus Bin – Enables high-density packing of parcels for middle-mile and e-commerce use cases.

These modular designs enable users to select configurations that match their freight profile while still utilizing the same core bot platform. As Jordan notes, “We’re all about simplicity and blending into brownfield, existing processes.”

Robotics with a Human Touch

Amid growing discussions on automation and labor displacement, Slip’s approach is refreshingly people-first. Their bots operate with human oversight, always requiring a person to initiate actions.

Jordan makes it clear: “Our bots only move with human oversight and human command.” Slip upskills warehouse workers instead of replacing them.

One memorable story involved a woman in her 60s who was thrilled to switch from physical labor to controlling the SlipBot with a game controller. “She asked her coworker to get a video of her… so she could send it to her grandson and brag that she’s a techie now,” Jordan recalls.

This shift opens up dock work to a broader labor pool—older workers, individuals with limited mobility, or those without forklift certification—while reducing physical strain and injury risks.

Key Takeaways on Trailer Loading

5-Minute Trailer Turnaround – Load or unload any type of trailer in just five minutes with three SlipBots.
Modular SlipBot Plus Attachments – Increase trailer utilization and handle various freight types (e.g., racks, oversized goods, floor-loaded boxes).
Built in the USA – Domestic manufacturing in Atlanta ensures minimal disruption from tariffs or geopolitical shifts.
Human-Centered Design – Operators stay in control; bots are tools, not replacements.
Hands-On Demos – Slip offers free on-site demos, allowing customers to see real ROI with their freight on their docks.