Advantages of a Yardramp
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.
