The Warehouse Dock Ramp Buying Guide

December 6, 2023 | Categories: Blogs, Efficiency, Industry Knowledge Base, Logistics

Loading Dock Ramps A Buying Guide for Warehouse Operators

A warehouse dock ramp may be the key to meeting your most ambitious throughput goals. Here’s why.

To improve warehouse efficiency, start by identifying your current bottlenecks. These are the places and processes that slow down your whole operation — and one of the most likely culprits is your loading dock.

Docks only contain so many bays, which means the number of trucks you can load or unload is limited. Demand is not limited. Loading operations tend to surge during peak season (and sometimes seemingly at random). A loading dock that’s more than sufficient in March may cause huge delays in December, or even for an odd week in June.

Warehouse loading dock ramps are the solution. They provide quick access to trailers, docks, and the ground without the cost and complexity of building new bays onto your dock.

Of course, flexible dock capacity is just one of the reasons you might shop for a loading dock ramp. They also solve a lot of other material handling and logistics challenges, including:

Accessing last-mile delivery vehicles from standard-height docks
Supporting forklift traffic from the dock to the ground and back
Creating pedestrian travel paths between levels
Building temporary loading/unloading areas
Adding new dock positions without traditional construction

In short, warehouse dock ramps are the key to matching capacity to the throughput needs of the moment.

What Is a Warehouse Loading Dock Ramp?

A warehouse dock ramp is any inclined surface that connects a dock to the ground; the ground to a trailer, van, or shipping container (also known as a truck dock ramp); or a vehicle to the dock. They're also called loading dock ramps, loading ramps, dock ramps, dock access ramps, or just ramps. But what differentiates warehouse ramps from other types of ramps is that they're built to handle the traffic of pedestrians and industrial trucks — which typically means steel construction, anti-slip surfaces, and curbs to prevent forklift rollover.

While every dock ramp can help boost warehouse efficiency, there's more than one type, and they're all designed for different purposes. This buyer's guide to warehouse dock ramps will help you choose the best solution for your facility, starting with an introduction to the four major categories of dock ramps.

See all Dock Equipment from BHS, Inc.

Dock Ramp

4 Types of Warehouse Dock Ramps

Most dock-access challenges can be solved with one of four types of loading dock ramps:

1. Stationary Dock Ramps

These ramps are more-or-less permanent additions to your loading dock, where they provide passage between the dock and the ground. You might also find them described as "dock to ground ramps," "ground to dock ramps," or simply "ground ramps."

Explore Dock Ramps from BHS, Inc.

2. Mobile Yard Ramps

Portable yard ramps are fixed with wheels on one end. A portable ramp is designed to be carried to a trailer or train car via lift truck or tugger. Once in place, they provide direct access to storage containers from ground level.

Learn about Yard Ramps from BHS, Inc.

3. Modular Loading Dock Platforms

This is a ramp with an integrated work platform at the top. These free-standing structures are ideal for temporary logistics installations, where they act as miniature loading docks in their own right. They may be configured to work with multiple types of trucks, including semi-trailers, delivery vehicles, and vehicles with standard truck beds.

View Modular Loading Dock Platforms from BHS, Inc.

4. Loading Dock Ramps for Delivery Vans

Loading docks are mostly built for tractor trailers, which means they're too high for last-mile delivery vehicles. The solution is a Loading Dock Ramp that elevates delivery vehicles to a standard dock height, providing direct access to your facility (and improving both safety and efficiency for last-mile load-outs.)

Get to know Loading Dock Ramps from BHS, Inc.

Learn more: Portable Loading Docks, Yard Ramps, and Dock Ramps: What to Know

Yard Ramps

How can you tell which of these four types of dock ramps is best for your situation? Start your research by answering the following five questions.

Choosing a Warehouse Dock Ramp: 5 Questions to Help You Decide

1. What challenge is the dock ramp designed to solve?

Loading dock ramps are tools. As in any other task, you’ll get the best results when you choose the right tool for the job. The first question to answer, then, is simple: What do you need your loading dock ramp to do?

If you need to improve permanent loading and unloading operations — using forklifts, pallet jacks, or pedestrians — choose a stationary ground ramp or Dock Ramp.
To unload trucks away from the traditional dock, a mobile Yard Ramp, truck dock ramp, or portable loading ramp can contribute to a safe operation.
For temporary loading/unloading facilities, or to expand capacity in your yard, Modular Loading Dock Platforms might be the best bet for more efficient operations. Because they're custom solutions, these units are also suited for a wide variety of applications, including smooth loading and unloading processes.
To load last-mile delivery vehicles at your existing dock, while avoiding hazards at the edge of dock levelers, install an elevating Loading Dock Ramp.

If you can’t find a loading dock ramp that fits your need, contact BHS to discuss a custom solution. We can alter any of our existing models, or engineer a whole new design, to match any use case. Call us at 1.800.BHS.9500 to start the conversation.

2. What kind of traffic will the ramp support?

Most loading dock ramps are designed for forklifts and hand trucks — but, as we’ve mentioned, some carry delivery vehicles or pedestrians instead. Different types of traffic require different safety standards and design features.

For vehicle traffic, look for truck, dock, and ground ramps that include high steel curbs on either side. This safety feature helps to reduce the risk of roll-off. If pedestrians will use your dock ramp, choose a model with OSHA-compliant handrails. For combined use, choose a model with both curbs and handrails.

3. How heavy are the loads you handle?

It’s essential to choose a dock ramp that can safely handle any weight you might need. Factor in the weight of vehicles and the heaviest load they might carry. All BHS dock ramps are made of steel and constructed for heavy-duty usage, and we can create custom models to support virtually any load. That said, here are the maximum capacities for standard ramps from BHS, Inc.:

Loading Dock Ramp

Dock Ramps: Up to 40,000 pounds (18,144 kilograms)
Yard Ramps: Up to 25,000 pounds (11,340 kilograms)
Loading Dock Ramps: Up to 25,000 pounds (11,340 kilograms)
Modular Loading Dock Platforms (Varies to match use case)

Lighter-capacity models are also available in standard BHS models. For example, Dock Ramps are also available with capacities of 16,000 or 20,000 pounds (7,258 or 9,072 kilograms). And, of course, custom ramps can fit any requirement.

4. How much space do you have for a ramp?

Consider the space you have for a ramp’s whole length, and choose a model that provides plenty of clearance for approach. But be aware that loading dock ramps can never be too short.

According to Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) standard 1926.451(e)(5)(ii), ramps must slope with a maximum angle of 20 degrees above the horizontal. Depending on the height of your dock, that requirement places limits on just how short a ramp should be — and you definitely want a low, steady angle for safe traffic up and down the ramp.

While all BHS ramps provide this safe, OSHA-compliant slope, they’re also available in lengths from 20 feet (6.096 meters) for a short stationary Dock Ramp to 36 feet (10.973 meters) for a mobile Yard Ramp. Custom lengths are also available, as long as they support an angle that’s safe for traffic.

Modular Loading Dock Platform

5. What material is best for your warehouse dock ramp?

In virtually every case, dock ramps should be made primarily of heavy steel, a material that’s strong enough to safely support heavy loads. However, some specialty ramps may incorporate wood decking (for use with metal-treaded vehicles, for instance) or other materials.

For most standard vehicle traffic, including vans and forklifts, choose an all-steel ramp, complete with steel decking. Just be sure the ramp includes features that improve traction — as well as a solid steel approach plate designed to absorb the initial impact of heavy vehicles.

All BHS ramps incorporate such an approach plate before transitioning to an open steel grating, which provides traction and durability at once.

Warehouse Dock Safety Beyond the Ramp

With these questions answered, you know what to look for in a loading dock ramp. (And if you still have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact BHS at 1.800.BHS.9500.) While you’re reconfiguring your dock with a ramp, however, you might also consider additional safety equipment. For example, you can improve dock safety with:

Structural Barrier Rails - Originally designed to protect aisles and equipment from forklift strikes, this heavy-duty railing system can also help prevent roll-offs at the dock.
Structural Bollards - Protect the edges of ramps and other dock equipment with a few well-placed steel bollards, available in heights of 24 inches (609.6 millimeters), 36 inches (914.4 millimeters), or 42 inches (1,066.8 millimeters).
Powered Dock Gates - This high-visibility gate lifts or drops at the press of a button. When in place, it serves as a visual deterrent for forklift operators, and withstands forces of 10,000 pounds at 4 miles per hour to prevent dangerous accidents.

Explore the full collection of BHS Dock Equipment here.

For help deciding which warehouse loading dock ramps and barriers will provide the most benefit for your use case, contact the BHS sales team at 1.800.BHS.9500 today.