Dock levelers are essential to safe, efficient loading and unloading processes at Cleveland warehouses.

Loading docks need to accommodate trailers of varying sizes and heights. Trailers can vary in loading height from around 36” up to 60”. A dock opening has a fixed height, often 48”. This is where dock levelers come into play. These platforms made of steel or aluminum, and bridge the gap and height difference between the dock and the trailer, allowing for the seamless movement of goods from the loading dock into a trailer.

Why Dock Levelers?

When it comes to connecting the trailer and the dock, Cleveland warehouse operators have options.

Depending on the size and scope of a warehouse operation, a dock plate, dock bridge or dock leveler might be used. Although each has a similar name and function, the dock leveler is generally preferred for a number of reasons.

A dock plate is portable, and is the least costly option. It’s typically meant for pallets and equipment moved by pallet jacks and hand trucks. It lacks safety features such as a curb to prevent run-offs. A dock board is the next step up from a dock ramp, offering the ability to withstand machinery like forklifts while still being portable. 

If you operate a large, high volume Cleveland warehouse with a variety of goods entering and exiting, dock levelers are the way to go.  They’re usually the better option for a larger, high volume facility, with permanent mounting equipment that is then controlled by a mechanical, air, or hydraulic mechanism. Dock levelers do not need to be moved around like dock plates. This can help prevent work injuries stemming from the movement of heavy machinery. A dock leveler can withstand the rigors of forklift operations, and continuous loading and loading of trucks full of goods.

Types of Dock Levelers

The most common type of dock leveler is the pit leveler. The dock door contains a recessed area underneath the door opening where the lifting system resides. The type of mechanism that raises and lowers the deck is a key difference:

• Hydraulic Dock Levelers are lowest maintenance and easiest to operate, using a hydraulic cylinder underneath to raise and lower the platform and extend the lip. These are electric powered, and have the highest up front cost but lower maintenance costs. This is the most user friendly and safe option due being fully automatic.
• Air Pit Leveler uses a pneumatic bladder system to raise and lower the leveler deck. These run off standard a 110v power source and are a good choice for medium duty, and cost effective installation and use.  There is a possibility of the air bag being punctured or damaged so it might not be as durable as the hydraulic leveler.
• Manual Pit Leveler uses a spring system to raise leveler and lip. This is the least costly option. These require the use of release levers and chains to control the spring system, so it might be more appropriate for a smaller operation that does not use the loading dock as frequently. These types of levelers may require more frequent maintenance compared to a sealed hydraulic system. 
• Vertical Dock Leveler folds into a vertical position, inside the building where it can be kept away from outside elements. These are usually hydraulic controlled for reliability and ease of use. These are popular with cold storage facilities where the gaps around traditional pit levelers can cause energy loss. 
• Edge of Dock Leveler is mounted to an exterior wall and has a built in bumper. These are an upgrade from a dock plate or board but does not have the lifting height capacity of a pit leveler. They can be mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic.  These are lower cost compared to pit levelers and are best used where the dock and truck height are similar, as their lifting range and adjustability is only a few inches.

Cleveland warehouses in need of new dock levelers or dock leveler repair and maintenance can contact our team for expert insight and easy appointment booking.

Advance Door Co. provides dock leveler installations, repairs, and replacements for commercial customers throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Parma, and surrounding communities.

Additional Resources:

OSHA loading dock requirements, Dec. 19, 2017, Safety & Health Magazine

More Blog Entries:

How to Tell If Your Cleveland Loading Dock Equipment is Due for an Upgrade, June 30, 2023, Cleveland Dock Door Company Blog