How to Choose Aluminum Dockboards

Aluminum dockboards belong to some of the most essential docking equipment. Lightweight and durable, they ensure safety and efficiency of loading operations providing for easy and confident use. Choosing the right dockboard is a crucial success factor for any dock business.
Dockboards are used to create a ramp from the dock to the truck to provide for safe and effective loading and unloading of trucks. Dockboards are very strong and durable designed to be used with powered loading equipment such as pallet trucks or forklifts. Steel reinforcing side curbs prevent loading equipment and load from falling between the truck bed and the dock.

Material

Dockborads are usually made of either aluminum or steel since they are strongest and most durable and safe options. Material is the first factor to consider when choosing a dockboard.
Aluminum dockboards are much lighter and therefore less expensive to ship. They can be handled manually without using a forklift. The capacity ranges from 10 to 15 thousand lbs. which is enough for most loading/unloading operations. Steel is a stronger option designed for heavy-duty operations. However, it is much heavier and usually needs to be handled with the help of a forklift. Steel dockboards are available in capacities up to 60 thousand lbs. The choice of material is very much linked to the capacity features.  

Capacity

Loading equipment can get very heavy so it’s important to make sure that the dockboard will have no troubles handling the weight. In order to find out whether you need steel or aluminum dockboards and of what capacity, you should determine your maximum possible load weight. Take the weight of the heaviest loading equipment that you use and add the weight of the heaviest load that will be carried. You need to pick a dockboard with a capacity exceeding your maximum load weight. Remember that overloading is dangerous and can lead to an accident. Choose higher capacity aluminum dockboards if it will be used for round the clock operations or with three-wheeled forklifts.

Size

Aluminum dockboards come in various widths and heights and size is an important factor to consider when choosing a dockboard. It is recommended that you pick a dockboard that is at least 8 inches wider than the overall width of your loaded equipment for manually handled operations and 16 inches wider for powered operations. The choice of length is determined by the grade height differential (the difference in height between the dock floor and the truck bed). The longer a dockboard is, the wider range of differentials it covers.
Being lightweight and easy to handle top quality aluminum dockboards are ideal for mid-duty loading and unloading operations both manually handled and powered. Easy moving and quick and firm positioning make them a great choice for any docking business.

Find aluminum dockboards for your application at Warehousing Equipment Direct.