What is a Yard Ramp?

A yard ramp is basically a mobile loading dock. This style of ramp can be adjoined to the opening of a shipping container, trailer or railroad car to allow access by forklifts or pallet trucks.

Yard ramps serve two main functions and have a couple of specific types:

1. Mobile Yard Ramps: For locations without a loading dock, they enable lift truck access to trucks and shipping containers for loading and unloading. This can be at a fixed place of business or a temporary work site. Ramps can be readily moved and the height can be adapted to different vehicle heights.
2. Stationary Yard Ramps: For locations that have a loading dock, stationary yard ramps can allow lift trucks and other vehicles to move from dock height down to ground height and vice versa. Because this style of ramp doesn’t need to be relocated often, it generally doesn’t come equipped with the positioning equipment supplied with a mobile ramp.

Yard Ramp Configuration

Yard ramps are primarily made of steel, but there are also lighter weight aluminum styles on the market. Yard ramp lengths vary by application, but they are quite often about 30-40 feet long. Ramps designed for lift truck traffic have a "level off" length at the top of the incline so that forklifts are able to move about.

Portable 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 the low side of the ramp. The height of the ramp is modified with a hydraulic unit.

Ramp surfaces vary, but are frequently made of steel diamond plate or grating. Rails along the sides impede forklifts or other equipment from rolling 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 stated, yard ramps can either facilitate retrieval of freight or goods from truck height, or allow vehicles to travel on and off of a loading dock. That can be useful in a number of circumstances:

• Building Access For Vehicles: Yard ramps can permit lift trucks to move freely 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 enter a building for loading and unloading or maintenance. For buildings that require frequent travel from ground to dock, there are also stationary ramp options that can be installed.
• Industrial Storage Yards: A very common use of yard ramps is in material storage yards where loading docks are not an option.
• Equipment Relocation: Moving heavy equipment is another popular application, whether it's for oil & gas, construction, 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 job site scenarios where ramps may be employed: military supplies and equipment, agricultural totes, outdoor concerts and events, etc.
• Dock Expansion: If a warehouse doesn’t have enough loading dock capacity, whether because of temporary volume spikes or unexpected demand, yard ramps can help increase capacity temporarily.

Yard Ramps Near Me

If you have question about yard ramps or need to discuss sales or rentals, talk to a material handling expert at Raymond West today. We have a wide array of options for nearly any application.

Raymond West's Calexico facility serves Imperial County and Yuma County, Including Calexico, Brawley, El Centro, San Luis, Yuma and surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Calexico Material Handling Equipment Supplier

285 Rood Rd
Calexico, CA 92231
(760) 768-8700