Yard ramp

A yard ramp, sometimes called mobile yard ramp or container ramp, is a movable metal ramp for loading and unloading of shipping containers and vehicle trailers, without the need for permanent docking bays. A yard ramp is placed at the back of a vehicle to provide access for forklifts to ascend the ramp, quickly and safely into the container or truck body.

Using a yard ramp 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 day normally find that a yard ramp is more cost effective than a permanent loading dock.

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 counterbalanced forklift trucks. The loading bay is designed to be at approximately the height of the vehicle with a leveling device to accommodate any height differences. There are however many situations where it is not possible to utilize a permanent loading bay. In these situations, a yard ramp is an ideal solution, providing fast, efficient loading and unloading of trucks/trailers by forklifts. The possession of a yard ramp also provides a backup in case of any problems encountered with a normal loading bay/dock leveler system, and can also provide additional flexibility should vehicles be encountered that the normal loading bay cannot cope with.

Yard ramps 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, yard ramps normally incorporate a tow bar or ramp clamp 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 yard ramps are constructed from aluminum, but although this has weight advantages, their cost is typically much higher than their steel equivalents; most yard ramps are therefore constructed from welded steel unless the weather conditions are such that aluminum needs to be used, i.e. in climates with temperatures well below freezing.

...
Wikipedia