Why Would I Use a DockPlate In My Warehouse?

DOCKPLATE

A dockplate is another name for the platform which stretches from the loading dock to the receiving truck or trailer where the goods will be placed for transport. Although only a few inches typically separate the height of the truck bed and the height of the loading dock, these few inches would create a significant increase in the amount of work involved in loading a vehicle, were it not for the use of a dockplate.

A typical truck height is 55 inches from ground to the bed of the truck or trailer. Refrigerated trucks will more commonly be 59”. If the height of the loading dock is 48”, the height differential is 7”. By using these calculations, you can determine the appropriate length for the dockplate. For instance, if using a pallet jack on the dockplate to transport the load, a 7 inch height differential would require a dockplate of 60 inches. If a fork truck is used to move the load, in this same example, a propane forklift would require a dock plate of 36 inches and a electric forklift would require a 48 inch length. The length differential is a function of the incline level and the power required to move the load up the incline. Obviously the propane forklift would have the most power available and so could climb a steeper slope.

Most manufacturers recommend using a dockboard rather than a dock plate when motorized loading equipment is used. The dockboard has side rails, or bumper rails to prevent the wheels of the loading equipment from slipping off the side of the platform.

The standard width of a dockplate will vary according to the width of the load or of the equipment. For instance, a standard pallet size is 48 inches. If moving the pallet with a pallet jack is the normal method, you would need a dockplate six inches wider than the pallet size or 54 inches. If using a motorized forklift, you would need a platform 6 inches wider than the width of the forklift wheelbase.

Added traction for the equipment and for the foot traffic using the dockplate is provided by etching, grooving or ridging of the platform surface. This makes the equipment more efficient and prevents costly and painful falls or slips.

A dockplate is commonly constructed of aluminum or steel, but sometimes a combination of the two is used. Steel is less expensive to manufacture but the finished product is heavier and more expensive to ship. A steel dock plate may require a forklift to move it into position. Aluminum costs more for the manufacturing process but costs less to ship and is much easier to move about on the loading dock. A common practice is to construction the frame of the dock plate from steel and use a platform made of aluminum plate.

A key feature of any dockplate is the ability to use the safety legs and the security fastenings to make sure the equipment doesn’t slip out of place while in use.