When Is It Time To Buy A Trailer Loading Ramp

It is time to buy trailer loading ramps for a warehouse when safety and time efficiency are important issues. Portable ramps serve as excellent temporary or permanent solutions when building concrete loading docks is not feasible. These alternative mobile loading docks bridge the gap between levels and help to lighten the load, making it safer for workers. They also make good use of space when no loading dock is available for use.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 15 percent of work place injuries occur due to falls, including falls while driving a forklift. Several injuries and deaths are reported each year due to falls that occur specifically at a loading dock. These falls are even more dangerous for forklift drivers, who can become trapped or end up with heavy objects falling on top of them.

Even when strict safety precautions are followed carefully, there is often a gap between the bumpers on the loading dock and those on the trailer. Another way a gap is formed is when the deck on the trailer and the warehouse floor are not properly aligned. The most common dock height is between 48 to 52 inches, which does not meet flush with every delivery truck. A dock loading yard ramp bridges these gaps so workers can walk on solid footing and a forklift can easily maneuver its load.

Ramps bridge these dangerous gaps during the loading and unloading process. Hydraulic pump accessories make it easy to raise and lower ramps to the proper height, closing up the dangerous gaps and making the work process safer.

In addition to closing up dangerous open holes and providing steady footing, trailer loading ramps also reduce the risk of injury caused from lifting heavy objects. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 10 to 25 percent of all work place injuries occur at a loading dock. Many of these injuries occur due to improper lifting. The recommended prevention method is to form a bridge that properly allows for height transition, which also allows for the safe use of a forklift instead of putting the weight onto a worker's back and knees. This remedy to heavy lifting injuries is easily accomplished by using trailer loading ramps. Some loading ramps hold up to 16,000 lbs. Combined with forklifts, they become essential when using them in combination with warehouses that use palletized freight.

While creating a safer work environment, trailer loading ramps help to make good use of time. They help to increase productivity while reducing material handling costs, as they allow warehouse loads to be quickly loaded and unloaded from ground level to the dock.

Trailer loading ramps are necessary when no freight dock exists or existing docks are being used and none are available. Yard ramps are portable and can be towed by a forklift, which brings the loading dock anywhere it is needed. Trailer ramps or yard ramps are an excellent alternative solution for a temporary situation when it is not practical to have permanent concrete loading docks.