What is a Yard Ramp?

A yard ramp is the equivalent of a moveable loading dock. These ramps can be pushed up to the opening of a cargo container, trailer or rail car to allow access by forklifts or pallet jacks.

Yard ramps have two basic roles and have two different types:

1. Mobile Yard Ramps: For buildings without a loading dock, they enable lift truck access to trucks and shipping containers for loading and unloading. This can be at a permanent location or a temporary job site. Ramps can be readily repositioned and the height can be adjusted to fluctuating vehicle levels.
2. Stationary Yard Ramps: For facilities that include a loading dock, stationary yard ramps can allow lift trucks and other equipment to move from dock height down to ground height and vice versa. Because this style of ramp isn’t relocated often, it typically doesn’t have the positioning equipment included with a portable ramp.

Yard Ramp Configuration

Yard ramps are typically steel construction, but there are also lighter weight aluminum styles available. Yard ramp lengths vary by type, 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 have some space to move about.

Mobile yard ramps are frequently configured with solid pneumatic tires so they can be efficiently reoriented. Ramps can be moved with a forklift 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 often made of steel diamond plate or grating. Rails along the sides prevent lift trucks or other equipment from rolling over the edge. At the elevated end of the ramp there is a lip designed to extend over the trailer floor or loading dock edge.

Yard Ramp Applications

As mentioned, yard ramps can either facilitate retrieval of freight or goods from truck height, or permit equipment to move on and off of a loading dock. That can be advantageous in a number of circumstances:

• Building Access For Vehicles: Yard ramps can allow lift trucks to travel without restriction in facilities that have both a warehouse or production plant and a storage yard. They can also allow other vehicles like pickup trucks or vans to drive into a facility for loading, maintenance or other purposes. For buildings that require routine travel from ground to dock, there are also stationary ramp options that can be installed.
• Material Storage Yards: Yard ramps are often used in material storage yards where no loading docks can be built.
• Equipment Relocation: Moving heavy equipment is another popular application, whether it's for construction, oil & gas, forestry, mining or other industries that use heavy equipment.
• Work Sites: Although construction job sites are one of the most common uses for mobile yard ramps, there are many other remote work site scenarios where ramps 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 temporary volume spikes or unexpected demand, yard ramps can help increase capacity on a temporary basis without construction.

Yard Ramps Near Me

If you have question about yard ramps or need to discuss sales or rentals, contact a material handling professional at Raymond West today. We have a vast range of choices for almost any application.

Raymond West's Oxnard / Ventura service area includes Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Ventura, Santa Paula, Westlake Village, Simi Valley and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Oxnard Material Handling Equipment Supplier

Ventura County, CA
(805) 667-0888