Adequate Lighting – It is also important to install adequate lighting for each truck position in order to provide illumination to the inside of the trailers.Dock Edge Protection – your loading dock edge should be equipped with dock bumpers and edge guards to prevent damage to both trucks and your dock.Vehicle Creep Prevention – to avoid premature vehicle loading or departure and improve loading dock safety wheel chocks, vehicle restraints, loading dock light communication packages including stop & go lights can all be installed.Vehicle Accommodation – because not all pick up or delivery vehicles have the same bed height, at least one loading bay should be equipped with a dock plate, dock board or dock leveler, depending on your weight and traffic requirements, to help bridge the gap between the dock and the truck bed.The ramp should comply with ADA Accessibility Guidelines, and have a maximum slope of 1:12. Loading/Unloading Vehicle Access – your loading dock should be equipped with at least one access ramp that stretches from the loading dock itself to the parking lot to allow deliveries from both small and large delivery trucks.Dock Approach – to prevent collection of water at or near your loading dock, the access should be graded or sloped away from the loading dock.Location – your loading dock should always be designed keeping easy access in mind, while keeping it separated from public entrances to your facility, other public areas and light warehouse or industrial work areas.Here is a list of things you should consider when designing your loading dock area so it is safe and efficient:
Loading docks should never compromise the safety of visiting truck drivers or company workers in nearby areas. Loading dock areas should be designed for durability and to ensure top level security, safety and productivity when it comes to personnel and goods. Most companies, like yourself, have loading docks that you receive and ship out your goods from, and these areas usually have a flurry of activity going on which is why it is very important that all measures are taken to ensure that your loading dock is safe and running efficiently.
If you are interested in finding out more about loading dock ramp slope requirements, or if you would like to learn more about the services and products offered by Dura-Ramp, feel free to contact us by filling out a form on our website and we will get back to you as soon as we can.Check out our latest article on the key elements to look for when designing your loading dock. This can allow vehicles and foot traffic to maintain traction, especially if the loading ramp is in a place where it might get wet, icy, or dusty. If a ramp does need to be steep, it is best to use welded metal grates for the decking rather than wood boards. By changing the position of the ramp or using a different dock design, you can avoid having a loading ramp that is too steep and ensure that it offers your forklift drivers easy maneuverability and convenience while remaining safe. If a facility has special requirements for a loading ramp’s size or location, it is usually best to have a custom loading dock designed to suit the circumstances. Forklifts could bottom out or lose traction with a steep grade. The higher the grade is, the more likely it will be that the forklifts, pallet jacks, or even foot traffic will be at risk using it. Ideally, the slope for any loading dock’s ramp should be as low as possible. If a ramp is being used in a tight space, the length of the ramp may need to be shortened, which means that the slope of the ramp is affected and the rest of the loading dock system should be designed to make sure that it is still safe to be used. What Should the Slope of a Loading Ramp Be?ĭifferent facilities have different requirements for the loading ramps that they use. One of the criteria that we look into when building ramps is loading dock ramp slope requirements. At Dura-Ramp, we are able to manufacture loading ramps to meet a massive variety of needs and specifications, and we always stick to a strict set of standards to ensure that our loading docks are safe to use. That is why it is vital that your loading dock be built properly to allow your employees to use it safely and efficiently. If you frequently unload and load cargo from your shipping yard, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, loading ramps can often be a necessity.