Aluminum Loading Dock Ramps

It may be unrealistic for you to install a permanent loading dock in your facility due to the current recession. A more economical alternative to concrete, permanent docks is one or more aluminum loading ramp(s). Aluminum loading ramps are built to be both stable and portable, and can provide all of the functionality of a full-sized permanent dock at only a fraction of a cost.

You might have heard that only steel ramps are sturdy enough for heavy loading dock operations. This is a myth. Aluminum ramps are designed to handle both heavy payloads and human foot traffic. In fact, they can handle the same amount of weight as their steel counterparts--approximately 16,000 lbs to 30000 lbs. You can safely drive fork lift trucks up these ramps into trucks and operate a remote shipping yard or construction site just like a warehouse loading dock.

Even though aluminum is a lightweight metal, it can be reinforced to enable it to safely support high weight capacities. This combines the benefit of a relatively light ramp that is highly portable with a structural durability that can reliably withstand a beating during heavy productions times.

Heavy duty strength is not the only advantage you receive from an aluminum loading ramp. A number of key safety features are built into aluminum loading ramps that make them safe for workers to walk over while pulling pallet racks or carrying materials by hand. A 1 ½ʼ curb provides guidance up the ramp and prevents pallet rack and forklift roll offs. It is also important to keep the ramp from swaying to one side or the other while workers are walking up the incline. Safety chains anchor the ramp in place to keep it fixed in position. Rubber shock absorbers underneath the aluminum ramp prevent heavy loads from bouncing it up and down. Diamond-shaped grating on the surface of the deck provides extra traction for wheels and work boots, making the surface more slip resistant in rainy weather.

Because aluminum loading ramps and equipment are used so much in remote locations, it is also important that the by highly mobile. Portability, therefore, another key benefit you can expect to add to your rail yard or construction site with these remarkable tools. Because they are much lighter than steel equivalents, they can be pulled much more easily behind a fork truck attached to a tow bar that can be optionally attached to the ramp at the time of manufacture. They are also light enough for one worker to adjust manually by means of a hand-crank hydraulic pump that raises or lowers the ramp into position.

Easy Rack carries a wide variety of loading dock equipment, used pallet racks, commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting,and modular prefab buildings installed nationwide. If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our loading dock equipment company is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., New Orleans, La., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Mo., Mesa, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Va., Omaha, Nebraska, Oakland, California, Miami, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Arlington, Texas, Beaumont.

Pallet Storage Racks & Racking

If you can only make a single material handling purchase this quarter, buy a pallet racking system. One or more used pallet storage racks will make your inventory control more efficient and improve your process flow. In most cases, it will also eliminate the need to expand a warehouse or move into a larger facility at great expense.

How can pallet storage racks help keep us from moving?
They will convert floor space and vertical cube space into organized storage areas that will be accessed by workers and fork trucks. We cannot stress enough to you how important it is to not use your floor space for storage that presents a hazard to workers and an obstacle to equipment. Getting stored materials off the floor and onto a new or used pallet racking system will improve safety ratings and enable you to better manage your inventory. When you know exactly what you have, where you have it, and how you can find it, you can much more easily manage your books and avoid double purchasing and over purchasing supplies, components, and materials.

Should all inventories be kept on pallet storage racks?
We recommend that you try doing this whenever possible. Not only will you control inventory better this way, but you can keep it in much better condition when you store it off the floor in a neat and organized manner. You will receive a return on this investment over time in the form of reduced replacement costs and shortened time involved in finding and retrieving materials. In this sense, a pallet rack is a time clockʼs best friend.

Do you custom build any pallet storage racks?
Yes. We custom build every one of them. Every new or used racking system is a custom rack built to meet the specific needs of our client. Used pallet racks will save companies up to 40% and can be custom built from components we have access to through nationwide procurement channels. New pallet storage racks are also custom built.

What do we have to do to order a used or new pallet rack?
Call Easy Rack and give a material handling account manager as much information about your industry, company, and warehouse as possible. Send blueprints and floor plans if you have them, and data like square footage, ceiling height, the industry you work in, the type of materials you will be storing, and a general estimate of the size and weight of pallets and containers to be stored on your racks.

We will do all the calculations for you and build you a system with the best support structure and weight capacitance for your unique storage needs.

Easy Rack carries a wide variety of used pallet racks, commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting,and modular prefab buildings installed nationwide. If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our home office is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., New Orleans, La., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Mo., Mesa, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Va., Omaha, Nebraska, Oakland, California, Miami, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Arlington, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Denton, TX, McKinney, Texas, Midland, TX, Killeen, Texas, Dallas TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, ALBQ, NYC, LA, MPLS.

Wheel Risers

What are wheel risers?
Wheel risers are special ramps that fit underneath the wheels of smaller trucks. Many smaller vehicles, such city bobtails, can be as low as 47”—approximately 3”-5” lower than the standard dock height. Wheel risers have to be placed under these trucks in order to make them higher than the docks. This is because it is much safer to drive a forklift up a ramp, and loading ramps themselves are more stable when the sloping portion of the ramp remains in the dock and the break over fits in the truck. Otherwise, the dockboard has to be reversed, with the sloping side of the board going into the back of the truck. This is both unsafe and in many cases impractical, because if the truck is full there will not be enough room for the board to go into the trailer bed.

How does a wheel riser work?
It basically lifts up the back of the truck so that its trailer bed is now higher than the edge of the dock, allowing it to be loaded like an over the road truck. If you have a 50 inch high dock and a 47 inch high bobtail, 5” wheel risers will make the bobtail 2” higher than the dock, allowing you to use your dockboard or dock plate as intended just as you would when loading a larger vehicle.

When do you need a wheel riser then?
During the course of the day, loading dock crews are driving fork trucks up the dockboard at an average of 2” into an over the road trailer. If on occasions a smaller truck pulls up and you have to reverse your dockboard, this can be done safely if you are very careful. However, if throughout the day you are CONSISTENTLY having to go down from the dock to the truck, you really need steel wheel risers to elevate the truck high enough to create an incline equivalent to that of an over the road truck.

This will then allow you to keep the long side of the board inside the building and position the ramp as it is meant to work. We have many sizes of wheel risers available to accommodate your application. Manufactured in both steel and aluminum, they come in a variety of sizes and capacities that start at 30,000 lbs. We sell units as high as 12” in height that you can order from your material handling specialist, and widths range from 18” to 24” across to provide a stable, sturdy support for truck tires.

What all does Easy Rack sell other than loading dock equipment?
Easy Rack has a wide variety of new & used pallet racks, material handling equipment, commercial lighting, used pallet racks, and modular buildings installed nationwide. If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our home office is located in Houston, Texas with regional distribution centers located in all 50 States including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., Dallas TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Boise ID, Atlanta GA, Albuquerque NM, Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Albuquerque NM, Huntsville AL, Fayetteville AR, Norfolk VA & Madison WI.

Dock Plates

What are dock plates?
Dock plates are lightweight loading dock ramps designed to be very portable and easy for one person to position. Their primary function is to provide a bridge for non-powered material handling equipment such as pallet jacks, hand trucks, platform trucks, and dollies. Some can support weights of up to 12,000 pounds, but they are NEVER to be used for a forklift or any kind of motorized vehicle support.

Are dock plates the same as dock boards?
Dock plates look similar dockboards and also work as bridges between the surface of an elevated loading dock and the back of a trailer car. However, dock plates are designed only for hand-operated handling tools that are dock boards. Dockboards are heavy duty loading ramps that are usually made from steel. They are designed for forklift and other motorized vehicle traffic to and from the surface of an elevated dock.

Are dock plates steel or aluminum?
Easy Rack Dock plates are manufactured made from diamond deck aluminum that is extra strong and helps prevent water, oil, debris, and snow from piling up on the plate. Diamond deck aluminum provides traction for both work boots and pallet jack wheels, and it makes the unit a great deal sturdier. Aluminum dock plates are easy for one person to handle because of their light weight. For manual positioning, it is best that you use an EZ-Roll to wheel the plate into place. When you are using a forklift to position the unit, you can wrap safety chains around it that allow it to be lifted, moved, and lowered into place.

How do I determine what weight capacity I need?
To determine the correct weight capacity, add the weight of your largest material handling device to the maximum load you will be transporting. Find a dock plate whose weight capacity exceeds this total amount. This is a common sense precaution against possible overloading on the part of workers in a hurry. People do not always pay attention to how many items they stack on a hand truck or pallet jack, so it is always a good idea to use a dock plate that is stronger than what is apparently needed.

How do I select the correct dimensions?
To determine dock plate width, add 8” to the total overall width of the load and equipment. For example, the most common sized pallet is 48” L X 40” W. Adding 8” to the width determines dock plate size to be 48”. This calculation works with both hand trucks and pallet jacks regardless of the materials loaded. Length calculation is a bit more complicated. Each dock plate has what is called a “maximum height differential” that refers to the difference between the maximum height of the loading dock and the truck floor. The shorter the board is; the more limited its use. The longer the board, the greater the number of dock applications it can be used for.

Do you have used equipment?
Yes. In fact, anything you find on our website we can locate in good, used condition. Used aluminum models can save companies up to 40% on their purchase cost. Steel dock plates can be obtained as well per special request.

Are you looking for a loading dock equipment company? Easy Rack also carries a wide variety of commercial & industrial netting, used pallet racks, commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting,and modular prefab buildings installed nationwide.

If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our main office is deep in the heart of Texas with associates located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., New Orleans, La., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Mo., Mesa, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Va., Omaha, Nebraska, Oakland, California, Miami, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Arlington, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Denton, TX, McKinney, Texas, Midland, TX, Killeen, Texas, Dallas TX DFW, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, ALBQ, NYC, LA, MPLS.

Rail Boards

What is the difference between rail boards and dock boards?
Rail boards are dock boards that have been specifically designed for rail car loading and unloading. Rail car to dock is a highly specialized application that requires its own type of dockboard. Units can range anywhere from 22K lobs on up to 40K, 60K, or even 90K.

Are your rail boards ANSI certified?
Yes. Our rail boards models are the only ANSI certified railboards on the market. They are made with special lift equipment and attachments, and they are designed with shift usage and transit cycles in mind.

What type of boxcars can rail boards be used for?
Easy Rack railboards are intended for use on all types of railway boxcars as loading ramps. Each board features an all-welded steel construction that provides a sure and reliable platform for fork truck access. Rectangular and flared design models can be ordered through your material handling account manager. Additional reinforcement for every unit is ensured by a box under structure which grounds the unit in position and increases safety. Box under structure bumpers also fit around the car latches to protect the door latch.

Each rail board comes with a heavy duty drop ring that allows it to be lowered via forklift into position. Each unit features a locking ring design that secures it to the dock, and lifting loops fold flat into recessed pockets.

What are your standard dimensions and capacities?
Due to the highly specialized nature of rail boards and yard ramps, it is necessary to custom build them around the dimensions of the railcar. The boardʼs size, features, and capacity will be differ according to whether or not it is a box car, refrigerator car, all door car, flat car, or plug door car. Your material handling specialist will also need a minimum of two X dimension measurements from the inside of the rail to the dock face to order your board. Measurements should exclude any projections, and every measurement should be taken 20' away from the center of the dock board position.

It is critical to provide dimensions for each location in which the dock board will be used. If the board is used along a long, open dock, provide X dimensions at 20' increments as well. Next, make line level and string measurement of at least Y dimension measurement from the top of the rail to the top of the dock for each rail board location.

A few pieces of data can be gathered by answering a series of simple yes/no questions and by taking some basic measurements prior to placing a call. Having this information ready will enable our manufacturing facility to ensure that the dockboard has the proper width, length, bends, capacity, and understructure for maximum performance and safety.

Easy Rack carries a full compliment of edge dock levelers, yard ramps, dockboards, safety netting, parking lot lighting, used pallet racks, used commercial shelving and many other material handling carts and supplies. Click here to obtain a free quote!

Where are you located?
Our home office is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including Dallas Texas, Washington DC, Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Nevada. Portland, Oregon, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Tucson, Arizona, Long Beach, California, Atlanta, Georgia, Fresno, California, Sacramento, Ca.

Contact us toll free 888-776-3720 and let us build or install something for you!

Edge Dock Levelers

When do buildings need dock levelers?
Whenever they do not have docks that match the height of today’s truck. Over the years, trucks have become much taller. Standard beds average a height of 52-53” and refrigerated beds range from 54-55”. Older buildings may have docks as low as 45”-49” and require some sort of dock leveler equipment to facilitate fork truck traffic from the dock to the truck.

What is an “edge of dock” leveler?
An edge of dock leveler attaches to the side of the dock, extending its range by 5” vertically and 5” horizontally. This means that if a dock is 49” in height, an edge of dock unit can enable it to access trucks measuring 54” in height. They are much more economical than pit mounted loading dock levelers, which have to be embedded in the concrete itself and represent a considerable cost for a retrofit.

How does an edge of dock leveler work?
When a truck backs up to the EOD leveler, two rubber bumpers stop it in precisely the right position. The ramp is then into position with a tool known as a ratchet riser. This bridges the distance between the dock equipment and the bed of the truck so forklifts, fork trucks, pallet jacks, and workers can cross over. With refrigerator trucks, it is normally necessary to install a refrigerator lip on the edge of the ramp to extend it an additional three inches into the truck bed.

What is the difference between a lo-dock leveler and an edge of dock leveler?
A lo-dock leveler is a factory add-on that increases the height differential of an edge of dock unit. In some older buildings, the dock height is significantly less than that of today’s modern trucks. Buildings that were built in the 40’s and 50’s may have docks as low as 45”-48”. The problem with using an edge of dock leveler alone is that it will only add 5” to this height—an insufficient amount. For buildings like this, Easy Rack can arrange to add a lo-dock leveler to an edge of dock unit. Such a unit can then add up to 11” total to any dock height, effectively overcoming the 5” limit of standard edge of dock levelers.

How much weight can an edge of dock leveler handle?
Most edge of dock levelers will handle capacities between 20,000 and 25,000 pounds. Many are manufactured with a self-storing handle that makes them easy to position by pulling the handle to the dock floor. The latch assembly activates the lip forward to the floor of the trailer when the handle is lifted, and the handle automatically returns to the stored position when it is released. Edge of dock levelers include bumpers and bumper blocks and can be custom manufactured in widths of 72” and 78” per request.

Are you looking for a loading dock equipment company? Easy Rack also carries a wide variety of commercial & industrial netting, used pallet racks, commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting,and modular prefab buildings installed nationwide.

If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our main office is deep in the heart of Texas with associates located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., New Orleans, La., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Mo., Mesa, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Va., Omaha, Nebraska, Oakland, California, Miami, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Arlington, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Denton, TX, McKinney, Texas, Midland, TX, Killeen, Texas, Dallas TX DFW, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, ALBQ, NYC, LA, MPLS.

Loading Dock Ramps

Loading Dock Ramps
Many facilities like construction sites lack docks with permanent, concrete loading dock ramps. Moving products to and from trucks and rail cars can be both laborious and dangerous for these businesses, even with the use of fork trucks. Portable yard ramps make efficient and safe to expeditiously move product from point to point without the need of an actual dock. Construction crews especially value yard ramps for their ability to load and unload building materials. Because they function just like a fixed loading dock ramp, yard ramps will support both fork truck and foot traffic and are available in a number of builds, sizes, and weight capacities.

Different applications require different sizes of loading dock ramps. The most commonly used lengths are 30’ and 36’ foot yard ramps that include a six foot level off to help facilitate access to storage areas and materials. Additional widths and capacities can also be ordered for specialized applications. Ask an Easy Rack specialist about your options. Easy Rack portable yard ramps are manufactured from steel, aluminum, or a blend of aluminum and steel (aluminum frame, steel grate). Your choices in material build are determined by the type of application, the weight capacitance you require, and the amount of portability you require. Again, a material handling specialist will help you make these determinations when placing your order.

Steel Loading Dock Ramps
Steel loading dock ramps feature a 2 speed hand crank and offer a service range from 45” to 62”. Weight capacities range from 15,000lbs. to 30,000lbs. The ramp itself is either 30’ length or 36’ in length. Safety features include steel traction grating, safety lock chains, rubber bumpers; a 15” overlap lip for extra safety, and 4” high safety curbs. Welded hand rails can also be welded on to any unit upon request.

Aluminum Yard Ramps
As in the case of steel yard ramps, aluminum loading dock ramps feature either 30ft straight ramp or 36ft. ramp with a 6ft. level off. Weight capacities range from 16,000lbs. up to 30,000 lbs. Several features make this unit user friendly and safe. A hand pump hydraulic lift allows for a single person to adjust the height. Rubber shock absorbers help to stabilize the unit, and an optional tow bar enables trucks or forklifts to move the loading dock around a construction site or shipping yard. Safety anchor chains come included with the unit. The yard ramp can also be manufactured with an aluminum frame and steel grating, and customized sizing can be arranged through your Easy Rack specialist.

Mobility
Various tire options, including pneumatic tires that are available for both steel and aluminum loading dock ramps. In order to meet with OSHA and ANSI requirements, every yard ramp must be attached to the truck with bolt locking chains before use. Toe bars can also be fitted to any loading dock ramp so that fork trucks can move them. For extended service range, a loading dock leveler can be added to the ramp, and towbar hitches, loops, or forklift pickup slots can be installed that will allow a variety of vehicles to move and position the yard ramp.

Easy Rack carries commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting, used pallet racks, and modular prefab buildings available nationwide. If you can not find the dock equipment you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our loading dock equipment company is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including Memphis, Tennessee, Baltimore, Maryland, Irving, Texas, Amarillo, TX, Brownsville, Texas, Grand Prairie, TX, Pasadena, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas., El Paso, Texas., Charlotte, N.C, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Seattle, Washington, Boston, Massachusetts, Denver, Colorado, Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky.