What is a Yard Ramp?
A yard ramp is basically a moveable loading dock. These ramps can be adjoined to the opening of a freight container, semi trailer or railroad car to allow access by forklifts or pallet trucks.
Yard ramps have two basic functions and have two specific types:
- Mobile Yard Ramps: For locations that don’t have a loading dock, they enable forklift access to trucks and freight containers for loading and unloading. Mobile ramps can be used at a fixed place of business or a temporary work site. Ramps can be easily repositioned and the height can be adapted to fluctuating vehicle heights.
- Stationary Yard Ramps: For buildings that are equipped with a loading dock, stationary yard ramps can permit lift trucks and other equipment to proceed from dock height down to ground height and vice versa. Since this type of ramp doesn’t need to be relocated often, it generally doesn’t have the positioning equipment included with a mobile ramp.
Yard Ramp Configuration
Yard ramps are primarily steel construction, although there are also lighter weight aluminum options available. The length of a yard ramp varies by type, but they are usually in the 30′-40′ range. Ramps designed for lift truck traffic have a “level off” segment at the top of the incline so that forklifts are able to move about.
Mobile yard ramps are typically configured with solid pneumatic tires so they can be easily reoriented. Ramps can be rotated with a fork truck using a positioning sleeve mounted on one end of the ramp. The angle of the ramp is modified with a hydraulic unit.
Ramp decking varies, but is frequently constructed of steel grating or diamond plate. Side rails impede lift trucks or other equipment from going off the edge. At the elevated end of the ramp there is a lip meant to extend over the trailer floor or loading dock edge.
Yard Ramp Applications
As mentioned, yard ramps can either allow cargo flow to and from truck height, or allow equipment to travel on and off of a loading dock. That can be beneficial in a number of circumstances:
- Vehicle Access To Buildings: Yard ramps can permit forklifts to travel freely on properties that have both a warehouse or production plant and an outside storage yard. In addition, they can enable other vehicles like delivery vans or small trucks to enter a building for loading and unloading or maintenance. For buildings that require routine trave from dock to ground, stationary ramps are an excellent choice.
- Industrial Storage Yards: A very common use of yard ramps is in industrial storage yards where loading docks are not an option.
- Equipment Movement: Another common application is for moving heavy equipment, whether it’s for oil & gas, construction, mining, forestry or other industrial segments that utilize large equipment.
- Work Sites: While yard ramps are common in the construction industry, there are many other remote job site scenarios where they may be useful: loading agricultural totes, military equipment and supplies, outdoor events and concerts, etc.
- Dock Expansion: If a facility doesn’t have enough loading dock slots available, whether because of volume peaks or unexpected demand, yard ramps can help increase capacity temporarily.
Yard Ramps Near Me
If you have questions about yard ramps or need to discuss sales or rentals, contact a material handling professional at Welch Equipment today. We have a wide array of choices for nearly any application.
