Thursday 13 November 2014

The Best Loading Dock Equipment Is a Ramp

If your livelihood depends on a loading dock, you’ve probably considered all types of equipment to make it even more effective. Seeing as how the dock exists to help trucks load and unload more efficiently, it makes sense that this equipment would all be aimed at aiding this process. That’s why, of all the loading dock equipment you could possibly consider, a ramp is by far the most important.

Leverage Other Equipment

One of the greatest advantages of a simple ramp is that it allows you to leverage all the other loading dock equipment you may have at your disposal. For example, without a loading ramp, you probably aren’t getting the most from your forklift. It can only do so much without being able to get inside the truck. With a ramp, the forklift can drive in and out of the trailer truck with ease. Otherwise, it’s so limited, it might not even be worth the investment.

Mobility

Furthermore, loading docks can be moved with ease to wherever they’re needed. It doesn’t take any special training (as with a fork lift, for example), either, so anyone on your staff can help. Once moved to the ideal location, a loading dock can then allow a forklift, dolly, hand truck, etc. easy access.

Makes Manual Loading Easier

Some companies don’t have a forklift amongst their assets. So when a truck comes, their workers unload it manually. Generally, this works with an assembly line of workers who hand the products off from one to the next. Aside from going slowly, this method often puts workers at risk. They often have to bend down to make the transition from the person on the truck bed to the person below.

A loading ramp makes this so much easier, though. Workers simply walk in and walk out, carrying what they can or using a hand truck or dolly to load up on more. You get more unloaded in less time and with far less risk of injury to anyone.

Can Replace the Loading Dock
Many companies have a facility equipped with a loading dock, though they don’t actually need it. They’ve simply been led to believe that if they need a truck unloaded and loaded, they need a loading dock to assist. However, many companies find that a ramp is just as effective. Of course, it’s also far more affordable. So if your company only receives a few trucks a day, a ramp may make far more sense than a loading dock.

Built to Last

No loading dock equipment should necessarily be fragile, but loading ramps are probably some of the toughest. They’re built to stand up to everything from harsh weather conditions to the crawl of a forklift and whatever additional weight it may be carrying. As they’re such a simple design, it’s also not like you need to worry about wires getting messed up or something spilling on the control panel.

Although an effective loading dock may need all types of equipment, one certainly stands apart from the rest. A good loading ramp makes more possible for less and in a very simple way.

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