Dock Planning & Design
Selecting Dock Leveler
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Capacity

Gross total weight of loads and handling equipment should be determined in the selection of Dock Leveler capacity. In order to provide a proper margin of safety, consideration should also be given to the moving impact made by the gross load when traveling across the Dock l eveler. The number of shifts and subsequent duty cycles during which the Dock Leveler will be used is another important consideration in choosing a Dock Leveler. Contact your local Blue Giant representative to discuss the Dock Leveler capacity required for your application.

Frequency of Operation

High use areas or multiple shift operations where Dock Levelers are used continually may warrant consideration of heavier duty units, or hydraulic operation to reduce total lifetime cost.

Dock Height

Dock height will determine the grade percentage from dock to vehicle. The general selection criteria is the maximum grade percentage from dock to vehicle: when using electric powered handling equipment it is 10%, and for gas or diesel powered equipment 15%. Exceeding these grade percentages may result in equipment "hang up", damage to handling equipment and load spillage.

Type of Vehicle Being Serviced and Grade

Grade of dock areas in conjunction with types of vehicles being serviced should be considered. An inclined dock may necessitate a projected dock area to prevent damage to building walls from oncoming vehicles. Specialized vehicles such as refrigerated trailers may require longer Dock Leveler lips, as may trucks with extended tailgates.
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