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!

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.