Yardramps, sometimes called Mobile Yardramps or Container Ramps, are ideal for the fast and efficient loading and unloading of shipping containers and vehicle trailers, without the need for permanent docking bays.
A yardramp is placed at the back of a container truck to provide access for forklifts to ascend the ramp, quickly and safely into the container.
Using a yardramp for container loading or unloading allows the work to be carried out by a single forklift operator. Businesses handling only one or two loads per month normally find that a yardramp is extremely effective with a quick return on investment.
Containers, trucks and trailers are typically loaded / unloaded from the rear by reversing the vehicle up against a raised concrete loading bay, the cargo is then moved using counter-balanced fork lift trucks. The loading bay is designed to be at approximately the height of the vehicle; a levelling device can then be used to bridge the gap, and accommodate any height differences.
There are however many situations where it is impractical or even impossible to install a loading bay at all, let alone one that will accommodate all the vehicle styles and heights needed. In these situations, a yardramp is an ideal solution, providing fast, efficient loading and unloading of trucks/trailers by fork truck. The possession of a Yardramp also provides a backup in case of any problems encountered with a normal loading bay/dock leveller system, and can also provide additional flexibility should vehicles be encountered that the normal loading bay cannot cope with.
Some businesses which do not have any fixed loading bay facilities will manually move goods to the back doors of the vehicle where they can then be removed by fork lift truck which is at ground level. This operation has numerous safety hazards, which again would be overcome with the use of a yardramp.
Yardramps can also be used either inside or outside of buildings; they avoid the need to construct expensive permanent concrete docking bays; and are ideal for short term use in peak periods or on temporary sites.
Additionally, yardramps normally incorporate a tow bar or hitch allowing them to be quickly and easily moved around on site by forklift and placed in a new location as required. Their mobile design makes them ideal for small sites where space is a premium, or sites with rapidly changing operations/requirements.
Some yardramps are constructed from aluminium, but although this has weight advantages, their cost is typically much higher than their steel equivalents; most yardramps are therefore constructed from welded steel unless the weather conditions are such that aluminium needs to be used, i.e. in climates with temperatures well below freezing.
There are a variety of choices for the decking material as it is required to be both tough and non-slip in a range of operating conditions. Most manufacturers use some form of open grill sheeting supported on a rugged base structure.
The basic layout of a yardramp is an inclined section of about 9m (29’6”) in length and 2.25m (7’5”) in width, followed by a flat approach section of about 2.4m (7’10”) in length at the top, with a lip to enter the container or truck being loaded or unloaded. Both sides of the ramp usually have safety rails to prevent forklifts from accidentally driving over the edges. The yardramp is supported on an undercarriage, or adjustable legs, fitted with wheels which are used to transport the yardramps around.
The undercarriage/legs are adjustable so that the height of the ramp can be raised whilst the truck is put into position, and then the yardramp is lowered so that the front lip supports the weight of the yardramp on the container or truck floor. It is then vitally important that the yardramp is allowed to float up and down with the vehicle as it raises/lowers on its suspension.
Although there are a number of yardramp manufacturers, all offering subtly different designs, there may be times when a one-off special design is required in order to meet particular requirements. In these situations it is important to deal with manufacturers who fully understand the product; from a technical, quality, and safety perspective, and have the manufacturing capabilities to fulfil the requirements.
Although most mobile yardramps are generally of a similar design, it is important to be aware of their features, and their potential impact on your operation:
- Usable width – It is strongly recommended to use a ‘full width’ yardramp which is the width of a container for the full length of the ramp. Some ramps on the market are narrow for the majority of their length, but flare out at the top. This is not a recommended method as it requires additional positioning and often prevents pallets entering the vehicle parallel. Some yardramps are supplied narrower to allow them to be shipped in a container, ideally however they should be full width.
- Capacity – The industry standard capacity ramp is rated at 10 tonnes (22,000 lbs), but many manufacturers produce alternative light duty 7 tonne (15,000 lbs) models, and some produce heavy duty 12 tonne (26,000 lbs), 15 tonne (33,000 lbs) or higher capacity yardramps dependant upon the customers’ requirements.
- A level-off section at the top of the yardramp is required so that the load is inserted as parallel as possible to the floor of the vehicle, preventing impact with the roof, and also improving visibility for positioning.
- The working height of mobile yardramps needs to be adjustable to suit varying vehicle bed heights. The working height will also alter slightly as the vehicle is loaded or unloaded and moves on its suspension. Normally a working range of 1m to 1.7m is considered suitable. Height ranges that will allow the ramp to reach containers at around 1525mm (5’0”), down to Euro Trailers at around 915mm (3’0”) are considered suitable.
- A full width exit lip which sits securely on the bed of the vehicle to allow full width access to the vehicle/container. Any narrower and you risk your fork trucks falling or getting stuck in gaps between the ramp and vehicle. Also look for ramps which have strengthening ribs on the top of the exit lip, which can narrow the usable width and interfere with the loading/unloading operation, preventing the final pallets being loaded with the ramp.
- Fully mobile design with an easily operated tow mechanism; allowing the yardramp to be quickly and easily manoeuvred into position on the vehicle, or stored away until next needed.
- Essential safety features:
- A means of preventing the yardramp and vehicle from creeping apart during use.
- Safety rails to prevent fork trucks driving off the sides during use.
- High traction, non-slip flooring along the length of the yardramp, including exit and entry areas at the top and bottom of the ramp respectively.
- Adequate signage to cover functions/instructions for the ramp.
- The ramp should be designed / operated such that it is able to ‘float’ up and down with the vehicle as it moves on its suspension during the loading/unloading operation.
- Handrails along the full length, if the yardramp is likely to be used by personnel.
- Safe Working Load must be clearly stated.
Careful consideration must be taken when selecting the correct yardramp for your application. The manufacturer should be able to provide information to help you select the right model, but important things to consider are:
- Capacity or Rated Load – The weight of the greatest moving load (including goods, persons and transport equipment) for which the product is designed must be accounted for. Also consider if there is any likelihood of any changes to operations within the company; it is always better to over specify than under specify. It is also vitally important that you are aware of whether quoted capacities are Total Load (Uniformly Distributed Load: UDL), or Single Axle (Dynamic Load) capacities; under heavy braking it is quite feasible to have the full weight of the fork truck acting through its front wheels only, therefore it is important to ensure the single axle rating of the ramp is sufficiently high.
- Frequency of use – This is just as important as capacity when specifying the right ramp for the job. High frequency usage, e.g. shift working can cause damage to a ramp which is only designed for relatively infrequent use.
- The load to be moved – Careful consideration must be taken to ensure the ramp allows you to move the load sizes required. Narrow, high side curbs are a hindrance if you are trying to load wide items, and long, tall items may foul on the top of the container if the level off top section is too short. Again, the supplier should check for these kinds of requirements before specifying their suggested product.
- Usable width – This is typically full vehicle width, i.e. around 2.25m (7’5”) to allow straight access into the vehicle without the need for repositioning at the top of the ramp, though specialist equipment may require more width.
- The type of fork truck – 3-wheeled fork trucks for example will put additional pressure on the flooring of the yardramp; hence it is important to ensure the manufacturer has accounted for this in the ramp they suggest. It is also important to check the trucks to be used are capable of running safely on the incline at which the yardramp will be working at, and have no under clearance problems.
- Height range – When designed to the correct standard, the maximum recommended incline of a yardramp is 7 degrees or 1 in 8, though many yardramps are capable of raising beyond this angle. When specifying a yardramp, it is important that you are aware of the maximum height range required, i.e. measure the highest and lowest vehicles used on your site, and ensure the ramp is capable of reaching these positions.
- Movement of the yardramp – Yardramps are typically moved around using a simple tow bar which is pinned into the tow hitch on the back of most standard fork trucks, though some manufacturers offer alternative methods of towing, such as the ability to push the ramp around using pockets which accept standard the forks of a fork truck.
The decision of whether to rent or buy a yardramp is affected by numerous factors. Clearly timescale is the most obvious one; short term/temporary requirements are likely to benefit from rental. If the requirement is more long term then the decision becomes more of an issue of corporate policy. Some businesses prefer to avoid capital expenditure and may benefit from a long term rental contract.
Finally, some yardramp manufacturers also offer options for taking a yardramp on rental initially, and then offer a particular refund on the rental paid if and when the decision is made to purchase the ramp.
After Sales Service:
When looking for yardramps, it is crucial to ensure that, not only do you receive a product of sufficient specification and quality, but that the manufacturer is able to provide after sales support.
Under the European Use of Work Equipment Directive 89/655/EEC, there is a requirement that all equipment provided for use at work is, in certain circumstances, inspected to ensure that it remains safe for use. Any inspection should be carried out by a competent person and a record kept until the next inspection. It is therefore vitally important that yardramp suppliers are able to provide suitable after sales service, in the form of competent engineers to carry out inspections and repair work where necessary.
Availability of spares should any breakdowns occur is also important; delays in obtaining spares can lead to delays in your operation, and can ultimately be very costly. Ensure that your yardramp supplier is able to provide spares quickly and reliably. Failure to use parts supplied by the original equipment manufacturer can lead to dangerous and costly problems at a later date and will usually invalidate any original manufacturers’ warranty.
