Heavy Duty Truck Loading Ramps

Shipping yards and construction sites that do not have permanent docks need another method of loading up truck trailers. Truck loading ramps are excellent tools for this. You can use them to safely and quickly load up any truck no matter where you are, because they function exactly like concrete loading ramps on permanent docks—they can both forklifts and workers on foot with pallet jacks.

Different sizes of truck loading ramps exist for a wide range of applications. They are made from either steel or aluminum, but some frame loading dock ramps have steel grating on the surface for extra strength. Both steel and aluminum offer different advantages. Determining whether or not you need steel or aluminum depends on many factors such as necessary weight capacity and the amount of portability you will require. If you have any questions about which material is best for you application, and Easy Rack specialist can help you.

Steel Truck Loading Ramps
Steel ramps will service a range between 45” to 62” and can b operated by a 2 speed hand crank. Weight capacitance ranges between 15,000lbs to 30,000lbs. The most commonly used steel truck loading ramp and ramps lengths are 30’ and 36’ lengths, both of which include a number of built in safety features that include positive steel traction grating, 4” high safety curbs, safety locking chains, rubber bumpers, on overlap lip of 15”, and optional welded hand rails.

Aluminum Truck Loading Ramps
Aluminum truck loading ramps can be ordered in 30ft straight incline or 36ft. incline with 6ft. level off. Weight capacities range from 16,000 lbs to 30,000 lbs. They are simple and safe units to use thanks to a number of beneficial features. A single worker can adjust the height with a hydraulic hand pump. The ramp is stabilized by rubber shock absorbers. Fork truck can move the ramp around the shipping yard by hooking up to an optional tow bar that you can have ordered with the unit. Every aluminum ramp comes with safety anchor chains, and custom steel grating can be fitted to the ramp if necessary.

Mobility
Many different tire types, including pneumatic tires, can be fitted to truck loading ramp. OSHA and ANSI call for all loading ramps to be attached to the truck with bolt locking chains prior to use. They can also be fitted with toe bars to allow forklifts to move them. In other instances, different accessories may need to be added to the ramp to allow a variety of vehicles to move it around the yard. These include loading dock levelers, towbar hitches, loops, and forklift pickup slots that we can install upon request.

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, Tx.

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.

Yard Ramps

What is a yard ramp?
It is a type of loading dock ramp that allows a forklift to enter a shipping containers or truck trailer in from a facility that lacks an elevated loading dock or it allows a forklift to move from an elevated dock onto the ground. Pneumatic wheels on the ramp allows it to be moved into place by fork trucks, and hydraulic pumps built into the unit enable workers to position it at the precise height of a truck trailer bed, rail car, or loading dock.

What features to Easy Rack yard ramps have?
All commercial ramps (both dock to ground and ground to truck) are manufactured with an all steel welded construction. Weight capacities vary from 16,000 to 60,000 pounds and a wide range of length and width sizes available. Serrated grating gives the ramp excellent traction and prevents water, snow, oil, grease and miscellaneous debris from building up. The lower end approach plate provides maximum support and smooth transition onto the ramp grating surface. Heavy-duty formed steel side girders provide main load-bearing capability, and deep side members prevent forklift runoff.

What are yard ramps used for?
Yard ramps are essential for any warehouse or factory that was built without an elevated dock ramp. They allow work crews to bridge the gap between the building and the trailer and safely move supplies off the truck by forklifts. This is much more convenient, quicker, and more cost effective than unloading and loading containers by hand. In other cases, however, the reverse may be true. A building with a large outdoor stockyard may require a forklift to move from the loading dock onto the ground to either retrieve or organize supplies outdoors. This is often seen in shipyards and rail yards, and it requires a dock to ground ramp to allow vehicles to safely move from the dock to the yard.

How do I know what size yard ramp to choose?
The size of the ramp you purchase will depend upon a number of factors relative to the weight of the heaviest forklift and the heaviest load being moved along the ramp. Easy Rack recommends you select a unit that is three times the rated capacity of the lift truck it supports. Rail yards require a 36’ unit that includes a level off. Standard dock to ground units typically measure 30’ straight. When deciding on the width of the yard ramp to use, it should always be 15” wider than the widest equipment moved along its surface.

Can yard ramps be customized?
Yes. In fact, we recommend that any organization working multiple shifts and who are moving a wide variety of material types and equipment contact a specialist to discuss additional components that can be used to increase the stability, safety, and functionality of these units. These customization options include, but are not limited to, safety chains, ramp clamps, and tow bars.

Easy Rack carries a wide variety of shelves, dock loading equipment, commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting, used pallet racks, commercial Christmas lighting 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. Read our testimonials section, product reviews or visit our material handling blog to learn more about Easy Rack.

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.

Dockboards

Loading ramps are metal boards and plates that bridge the gap between a building or dock and a truck bed. Mobile loading ramps are used in every industry and in every market place. They are common in agriculture, military factories, building, warehousing, and distribution. They are designed to make loading and unloading of trucks as fast and as safe as possible. Some loading ramps are designed specifically for rail cars, but the majority of these ramps are made for trucks and trailer beds. In certain situations, specialty loading dock equipment such as wheel risers and steel platforms may also need to maximize safety and process flow.

Dockboards
Dock Boards are loading ramps that bridge the gap between the dock and the truck to make loading and unloading safe. Dockboards are designed to handle power equipment like fork trucks. They have curbs on the sides to prevent vehicle runoffs and to provide additional structure and capacity. Because they must support vehicles as well as products and workers, most models are made of heavy duty steel, although Easy Rack also supplies lightweight aluminum models when appropriate and necessary. Capacities range from 6,000 to 40,000 lbs.

Dock Plates Aluminum
A / B Plates made are manual loading ramps made from high grade "diamond deck" aluminum. Although they closely resemble dockboards, never confuse the two. Aluminum dockboards or dock plates are designed for hand trucks and pallet jacks only.

Edge-of-Dock Levelers
These loading ramps are designed for high use docks that were originally constructed without pit mounted levelers. They are ideal for fork truck traffic that is from 5” below dock level to 5” above dock level. LTL and truck traffic also go much faster with levelers in place. Molded bumpers and a mechanical spring operation take the heavy work out of the lifting. This unique design also helps ensure the unit is correctly positioned each time it is used.

Steel Yard Ramps
These loading ramps are used for loading trucks from the ground, either because there is no truck high dock present, or because there are more trucks than docks. Yard ramps are portable and can be towed with a forklift. A hydraulic pump allows the height of the yard ramp to be adjusted, and deep side members prevent forklift runoff.

Mini Loading Ramps
These loading ramps offer an economical solution when the target height is ½ or less that of normal dock heights (generally 33” or less). Capacities start at 12,000 lbs and range upward. The mini ramp can be ordered with an optional mobility package that eliminates the need for a hydraulic actuated undercarriage to move the unit. Minis can be used with manual equipment and fork trucks. Capacities start at 12,000 lbs with standard and custom sizes available.

Hook & Apron Walkramps
These aluminum loading ramps are designed for foot traffic, hand trucks, and pallet jacks moved by hand. Standard lengths run from 3' to 16'and two widths of 29" or 39".

Wheel Riser Dockboards
If the dock is too high for incoming trucks, wheel risers fit under truck wheels so the bed can be positioned properly above dock for safer and faster loading.

Steel Dockboard Platforms
Steel dockboard platforms allow facilities to enlarge their dock areas installing platforms incrementally one at a time or by ganging them together to expand dock space significantly.

Easy Rack carries a wide variety of loading ramps, 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 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.