What is a Yard Ramp?

A yard ramp is basically a transportable loading dock. These ramps can be pushed up to the opening of a shipping container, semi trailer or railroad car to allow access by forklifts or pallet jacks.

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

1. Mobile Yard Ramps: For locations that don’t have a loading dock, they permit lift truck access to trailers and shipping containers for loading and unloading. This can be at a fixed location or a short term work site. Ramps can be readily relocated and the height can be changed to various vehicle heights.
2. Stationary Yard Ramps: For facilities that have a loading dock, stationary yard ramps can allow forklifts and other equipment to move from dock level down to ground height and vice versa. Because this style of ramp isn’t moved on a regular basis, it generally doesn’t have the positioning equipment supplied with a portable ramp.

Yard Ramp Configuration

Yard ramps are typically made of steel, although there are also lighter weight aluminum styles on the market. Yard ramp lengths vary by type, but they are generally 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 have some space to maneuver.

Mobile yard ramps are generally outfitted with solid pneumatic tires so they can be easily reoriented. Ramps can be moved with a fork truck using a positioning sleeve affixed to the bottom end of the ramp. The angle of the ramp can be modified with a hydraulic unit.

Ramp surfaces vary, but are commonly constructed of steel diamond plate or grating. Rails along the sides impede lift trucks or other vehicles from rolling off 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 outlined, yard ramps can either facilitate retrieval of freight or goods from truck height, or permit vehicles to travel on and off of a loading dock. That can be useful in a number of circumstances:

• Vehicle Access To Buildings: Yard ramps can permit lift trucks to travel 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 enter a building for loading, maintenance or other purposes. If your facility requires routine 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 no loading docks can be built.
• Equipment Movement: Moving heavy equipment is another popular application, whether it's for oil & gas, construction, forestry, mining or other industrial segments that utilize large equipment.
• Work Sites: Yard ramps are often used at construction job sites to deliver materials, but there are many other remote work site scenarios where ramps may be employed: military supplies and equipment, agricultural totes, outdoor concerts and events, etc.
• Dock Expansion: If a plant or warehouse doesn’t have enough loading dock capacity, whether because of temporary volume spikes or unexpected demand, yard ramps can quickly increase capacity temporarily.

Yard Ramps Near Me

For yard ramp questions, sales or rentals, get in touch with a material handling professional at Raymond West today. We have a wide array of choices for nearly any application.

Raymond West's Spokane branch services Spokane, Airway Heights, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Coeur d'Alene, Medical Lake, Cheney, Pullman, Moscow, Moses Lake, Yakima, Wenatchee, Lewiston, Clarkston, Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Walla Walla and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Spokane Material Handling Equipment Supplier

11002 E Montgomery Dr #100
Spokane, WA 99206
(509) 728-6000