What is a Yard Ramp?

A yard ramp is basically a mobile loading dock. These ramps can be pushed up to the entrance of a cargo container, semi trailer or rail car to facilitate access by lift trucks or pallet trucks.

Yard ramps have two basic purposes and have a couple of specific categories:

1. Mobile Yard Ramps: For buildings lacking a loading dock, they enable lift truck access to semi trailers and freight containers for loading and unloading. This can be at a fixed place of business or a temporary job site. Ramps can be easily repositioned and the height can be changed to fluctuating vehicle levels.
2. Stationary Yard Ramps: For buildings that are equipped with a loading dock, a yard ramp can enable lift trucks and other equipment to move from dock height down to ground height and vice versa. Because this style of ramp doesn’t need to be relocated on a regular basis, it typically doesn’t come equipped with the positioning features supplied with a mobile ramp.

Yard Ramp Configuration

Yard ramps are most often steel construction, however there are also lighter weight aluminum styles available. The length of a yard ramp varies by application, but they are quite often in the 30'-40' range. Ramps designed for lift truck traffic have a "level off" segment at the top of the slope so that forklifts can more easily maneuver.

Portable yard ramps are frequently equipped with solid pneumatic tires so they can be easily positioned. Ramps can be rotated with a forklift using a positioning sleeve affixed to one end of the ramp. The angle of the ramp can be adjusted with a hydraulic unit.

Ramp surfaces vary, but are commonly made of steel grating or diamond plate. Side rails prevent lift trucks or other equipment from rolling over the edge. At the elevated end of the ramp there is a lip meant to extend over the trailer deck or loading dock surface.

Yard Ramp Applications

As stated, yard ramps can either facilitate retrieval of freight or goods from truck height, or permit vehicles to move on and off of a loading dock. That can be useful in many different situations:

• Vehicle Access To Buildings: Yard ramps can allow forklifts to move without restriction on properties 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 and unloading or maintenance. For buildings that require routine travel from ground to dock, stationary ramps are an excellent choice.
• Material Storage Yards: Ramps are frequently put to use in material storage yards where loading docks are not an option.
• Equipment Movement: Moving heavy equipment is another popular application, whether it's for oil & gas, construction, mining, forestry or other industries that use large 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 they may be put to use: loading agricultural totes, military equipment and supplies, outdoor concerts and events, etc.
• Dock Expansion: When a facility does not have enough loading dock slots available, whether because of temporary volume spikes or unexpected demand, yard ramps can quickly 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 expert at Raymond West today. We have a wide range of choices for nearly any application.

Raymond West's San Diego facility serves all of San Diego County, including Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Downtown, El Cajon, Escondido, Fenton Carroll Canyon, Grantville, Kearney Mesa, Levanto, Morena, National City, Oceanside, Otay, Otay Mesa, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Sorrento Mesa, Spring Valley, Vista and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | San Diego Material Handling Equipment Supplier

8221 Arjons Dr # B2
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 679-1800