What is a Yard Ramp?
A yard ramp is essentially a mobile loading dock. These ramps can be adjoined to the opening of a cargo container, trailer or railroad car to allow access by lift trucks or pallet jacks.
Yard ramps serve two primary functions and have a couple of different styles:
- Mobile Yard Ramps: For locations lacking a loading dock, they allow lift truck access to semi trailers and shipping containers for loading and unloading. This can be at a fixed place of business or a temporary job site. Ramps can be easily relocated and the height can be changed to different vehicle levels.
- Stationary Yard Ramps: For locations that have a loading dock, stationary yard ramps can permit lift trucks and other equipment to travel from dock level down to ground height and vice versa. Because this type of ramp doesn’t need to be relocated often, it generally doesn’t have the positioning equipment included with a portable ramp.
Yard Ramp Configuration
Yard ramps are most often made of steel, but there are also lighter weight aluminum styles available. The length of a yard ramp varies by application, but they are usually in the 30′-40′ range. Mobile ramps usually have a “level off” length at the top of the incline so that forklifts can more easily maneuver.
Portable yard ramps are typically outfitted with solid pneumatic tires so they can be efficiently reoriented. Ramps can be moved with a forklift using a positioning sleeve affixed to the low side of the ramp. The angle of the ramp can be modified with a hydraulic pump.
Ramp decking varies, but is frequently constructed of steel diamond plate or grating. Side rails impede forklifts or other vehicles from going off the edge. On the top side of the ramp there is a lip meant to overlap the trailer floor or loading dock surface.
Yard Ramp Applications
As outlined, yard ramps can either enable retrieval of freight or goods from truck height, or allow equipment to travel on and off of a loading dock. That can be advantageous in several scenarios:
- Vehicle Access To Buildings: Yard ramps can enable lift trucks to travel without restriction on properties that have both a warehouse or production plant and an outside storage yard. In addition, they can enable other vehicles like pickup trucks or vans to drive into a facility for loading and unloading or maintenance. If your facility requires routine trave from dock to ground, there are also stationary ramp options that can be installed.
- Material Storage Yards: Yard ramps are often used in material storage yards where it is not possible to install a loading dock.
- Equipment Relocation: Another common application is for moving heavy equipment, whether it’s for oil & gas, construction, forestry, mining or other industries that use heavy equipment.
- Work Sites: While yard ramps are common in the construction industry, there are many other remote job site scenarios where ramps may be employed: military supplies and equipment, agricultural totes, outdoor events and concerts, etc.
- Dock Expansion: When a warehouse doesn’t have enough loading dock slots available, whether because of volume peaks or seasonal demand, yard ramps can quickly increase capacity temporarily.
Yard Ramps Near Me
If you have questions about yard ramps or need to discuss sales or rentals, get in touch with a material handling expert at Welch Equipment today. We have a wide range of options for nearly any application.
