What is a Yard Ramp?

A yard ramp is basically a moveable loading dock. These ramps can be adjoined to the opening of a shipping container, trailer or railroad car to facilitate access by forklifts or pallet trucks.

Yard ramps have two primary roles and have two specific styles:

1. Mobile Yard Ramps: For facilities without a loading dock, they permit lift truck access to trucks and cargo containers for loading and unloading. Mobile ramps can be used at a permanent place of business or a temporary work site. Ramps can be readily moved and the height can be changed to fluctuating vehicle heights.
2. Stationary Yard Ramps: For buildings that include a loading dock, stationary yard ramps can enable lift trucks and other vehicles to travel from dock height down to ground height and vice versa. Because this style of ramp doesn’t need to be moved on a regular basis, it typically doesn’t have the positioning equipment included with a portable ramp.

Yard Ramp Configuration

Yard ramps are typically made of steel, but there are also lightweight aluminum styles available. Yard ramp lengths vary by application, but they are quite often about 30-40 feet long. Ramps that are made for loading and unloading have a "level off" segment at the top of the incline so that forklifts can more easily maneuver.

Mobile yard ramps are frequently equipped with solid pneumatic tires so they can be easily relocated. Ramps can be rotated with a fork truck using a positioning sleeve mounted on the low side of the ramp. The height of the ramp is adjusted with a hydraulic pump.

Ramp surfaces vary, but are frequently made of steel diamond plate or grating. Side rails prevent forklifts 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 deck or loading dock edge.

Yard Ramp Applications

As outlined, yard ramps can either facilitate retrieval of freight or goods from truck height, or allow equipment to travel on and off of a loading dock. That can be beneficial in many different situations:

• Building Access For Vehicles: Yard ramps can permit lift trucks to travel freely in facilities that have both a plant or warehouse and a storage yard. In addition, they can enable other vehicles like delivery vans or small trucks to drive into a facility for loading, maintenance or other purposes. For buildings that require routine travel from dock to ground, stationary ramps are an excellent choice.
• Material Storage Yards: A very common use of yard ramps is in material storage yards where no loading docks can be built.
• Equipment Relocation: Another common application is for moving heavy equipment, whether it's for construction, oil & gas, mining, forestry or other industrial segments that utilize heavy equipment.
• Work Sites: While yard ramps are common in the construction industry, there are many other remote work site situations where ramps may be employed: loading agricultural totes, military equipment and supplies, outdoor events and concerts, etc.
• Dock Expansion: When a facility doesn’t have enough loading dock slots available, whether because of temporary volume spikes or unexpected demand, yard ramps can help increase capacity on a temporary basis without construction.

Yard Ramps Near Me

For yard ramp questions, sales or rentals, talk to a material handling professional at Raymond West today. We have a wide range of options for almost any application.

Raymond West's Boise service center serves most of Idaho, including Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Idaho Falls, Caldwell, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Post Falls and surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Boise Material Handling Equipment Supplier

743 W McGregor Ct #100
Boise, ID 83705
(800) 675-2500