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Dock Levellers Explained
A Quick Guide To Dock Levellers And Their Uses

For any business that has a loading dock, the gap between the actual dock or warehouse floor and the truck can cause issues, especially if you operate a large distribution house that is frequently used by many lorries per house. A dock leveller will help you to overcome this problem, because they act as the bridge between the lorry and the destination for the cargo, offering a perfect solution to a long standing problem.

Dock levellers are always permanently fixed to the dock, which differ to dock plates that are normally portable and therefore not usually used in a fixed or static manner. Dock levelers are basically made up of a simple metal plate, which is called the lip that is raised from a certain position and then lowered onto the back of a lorry or truck that will then move the cargo onwards. Dock levelers are operated either manually or automatically by using an electronic pump to lift the plate.

A dock leveller is most commonly used where a factory or other type of building has a door that is level to the truck or lorry. This means that the dock leveller will be used to load the cargo into or out of the dock, but when the lorry backs in to pick up the load it can be put straight onto the lorry because the vehicle can directly connect with the dock ready for loading.

Compared to dock plates and dock boards, dock levellers are generally a more expensive solution when it comes to the problem faced by most distribution company, but it is fair to say that they are generally more reliable and able to handle the heaviest weights, mainly because they are fixed rather than portable.

Although there are different forms of dock levellers, one of the most common in the UK is the recessed or pit dock leveller, which means the leveller is placed with in the recess or pit, just beneath the door and floor. This again makes them much stronger than their portable counter parts and allows heavier cargo and bigger fork lift trucks to use them regularly.

A well built and well design dock leveller will usually also have anti skid surfaces and anti freeze surfaces, meaning that they can work in all types of weather and environments without the risk the users falling over on ice or other types of hazardous material.

You will see dock levellers in most distribution centres and warehouses across the country and although there are different manufacturers, the basic principle and make up of a dock leveller will always remain the same.

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