Load former having storage/work area

A load former comprising:

• a frame having a first end and a second end and a front side and a rear side;
• a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at the rear side of the frame, the loading zone being open at the front side of the frame;
• a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane, the path including a first portion on a first side of the plane and a second portion on a second side of the plane, a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defining a bottom of the loading zone;
• a platform supported by the frame and extending over the first portion of the path;
• and
• a top wall vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform,
• wherein the storage space has a front opening at the front side of the frame such that the storage space is accessible from the front side of the frame.