Is a loading dock rental good for your business?

The first thought you have when you need a loading dock is where you can buy one, but a loading dock rental may be a better solution for your business. Rentals can mitigate the cost of maintenance, and you don’t have to deal with depreciation of assets. Rentals can be long-term or short-term. One of the major benefits of choosing to rent is you can change the equipment capacity you have on hand easily. The downside is you have to be on top of your scheduling to make sure you can have your rental in place when you need it.

What type of ramp are you looking for?
The first thing to figure out is what type of rental ramp you need, and what you need it for. Think beyond the immediate need of loading or unloading for one specific project or job and look to what you could do with the rental on site. Renting a ramp for two days, rather than one working day, may let you unload one truck – but with a portable loading docks you can then move the ramp to push other jobs along faster. Really consider what you could get done with a ramp on-site before determining what type you need. You also need to think through the weight capacity and length of the ramp, as well as what type of equipment it may need to handle.

Do you need to rent equipment too?
It can be easier to rent equipment for loading along with the ramp rather than trying to use your own. The rental service will have a better idea of what will work best, and you can also access a different class of equipment than your own. Your fork truck may be able to do the job, but it may be worth it to spend the extra money to rent a loading crawler you can use with the ramp. It is partially about increasing your efficiency with the rental, but also about reducing risk of injury. If you don’t have a ramp, then chances are the equipment you have on hand isn’t ideal for the job either.

Who picks up and delivers?
You need to be clear about who has the responsibility for picking up and delivering the loading ramp rental both ways. If it is the rental service doing this, make sure you know what to expect. If they send a flatbed tractor trailer that requires the ramp to be offloaded with a crane, you had better have one. Make sure you communicate your capabilities in this instance. The service agency can most likely send out a truck with a lift that will work, but don’t assume that they send out the most viable transport option.

Renting can be the best solution, even long term
As mentioned earlier, a long-term loading dock rental can be an ideal solution to give your yard the equipment it needs to function well without breaking your operations budget. You won’t have to deal with depreciation and repair work, and there is less of an outlay in finances which can help keep your money where you need it. It also makes it easier and more economical to upgrade your ramps when you need to do so.

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Getting the most out of your aluminum yard ramps

Aluminum yard ramps can be used in many different environments from the home to commercial staging yards. The latest designs feature high traction and portable features that make them an ideal solution for transportation problems. Loading and unloading with a ramp can increase production efficiently, reduce the risk of lifting and moving injuries, and help you maintain a more organized yard. Whether you are looking for a folding light ramp to move a mower, or need a solid ramp that can off load landscaping equipment – there are appropriate designs for each task available.

What are they good for?

Ramps are designed to make loading and unloading safer and easier. They can be used alone, or in tandem, depending on what you need to move. Ramps aren’t just for moving wheeled machines; they can provide an access point for foot traffic that can radically reduce strain and injury too. In some instances, ramps can also perform access and egress functions to make sure your yard project is kept up to safety regulations too. Ramps can be designed as multi-piece units that connect, folding units and single ramp structures. They come in multiple widths and with a variety of tread designs. Before you buy any type of yard ramp, you need to sit and define the need you have for them. This will help you to determine the size and style of the ramp you need, and whether or not you need one ramp, or a pair of yard ramps.

What do you need in a ramp?

The biggest mistake people make when they purchase yard ramps is they buy the one that fits the need they have on hand. For example, if you have just purchased a rider mower you buy a ramp that fits the mower and allows you to get it in use, and to store it effectively. What you aren’t seeing is that once you begin to have a need for a ramp, you are going to need it for more than just using it for one piece of equipment. A ramp should fit your major pieces of equipment, and the ones you anticipate. This doesn’t mean you should buy the biggest ramps you can find, but they should all be able to assist in doing more than one specific task. A multi-use ramp that fits the work at hand is the best choice.

Best practices for using aluminum yard ramps

Using ramps requires certain procedures to make them safe. You always want to make sure that the base of the ramp is on solid ground. If the ground is not solid, you should place the base on a board with a stake driven along the outer edge to keep the board in place. The top part of the ramp needs to sit flush on the off loading surface. Make sure that any hinges parts of the ramp are in an open and locked position. Always test the ramp by pushing down on it a few times to check for movement or buckling.

Tips for storage and transportation of ramps

The best way to store and transport your aluminum yard ramps is by using latching straps. Just carrying them can cause injury. Place two straps on the closed ramp and lift the ramp with both hands. You also want to make sure the ramp is cleaned after use to preserve the integrity of the metal.

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Know the available range of forklift equipment to make sure you are prepared

Being efficient in your operations is about making sure that your team has what they need to perform their work safely and quickly. A forklift is a necessity in any yard or loading area, and making sure you have the right forklift equipment will save you time and trouble in the end. A base forklift cannot do it all; trying to use a base model for everything can put your safety record at risk and slow down operations. Here is an overview of the types of equipment available for your site.

Order pickers
Order pickers are a necessity, even if the height of your stock isn’t exceeding average shoulder reach. These are chain driven extended fork systems that are integrated into an attached rack. It is better to use an order picker than plain forks as they are constructed to take into account the effect of weight at height, reducing safety concerns.

Lifting cages
Lifting cages are a must-have for dealing with small items. While they may come boxed and wrapped, the packaging usually falls apart. These wire style cages have a solid bottom with receiving slots for the forks so you can lift items easily. It can also be a good choice if you need to lift up working material. You can fill the cage, or just use it as a safety cage for lifting individual items. Lifting cages are not designed to be used as work platforms. Work platforms are specific to their intended use.

Work platforms
Work platforms are available for forklifts. These platforms are designed to meet current safety standards and regulations to allow workers to use the forklift as a scaffold platform. Make sure you are aware of all the additional requirements for use, such as fall equipment and training. Check with both state and local safety offices for which regulations apply to their use, and what activities are permitted from the work platform.

Roll Carriers
Roll carriers can work for anything from pipes to carpets. They allow you to safely load and transport long rolls. There are also specially designed roll carries for lifts with higher reach extensions. These can be essential to speeding up your operations. While just about every forklift operator has devised their own way of carrying rolls, the time spend jerry-rigging regular forks to carry the load safely means time lost in operations. Better to invest in the equipment designed to do the job right so you don’t lose time on the floor just getting things to work.

Extensions and more
Fork extensions are one of the most common types of forklift equipment to have on hand. Even if you don’t think that you need them, having an extended fork pair is something you will be glad you invested in. Other common accessories that should be in your tool box include tool boxes, safety nets and cargo strapping devices. There are also some chain fall cages designed for use with forklifts that can come in handy. You should also invest in some safety posters and books to make sure your personnel stay up to date on safe operations and maintenance protocols.

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Staging and Moving Portable Loading Docks

When buying portable loading docks, you need to plan for how you are going to get them from their storage point to their staging area. If you don’t think this through, you will wind up leaving the docks staged. This not only can interfere with the staging process for phase work, but it can reduce the turn radius in yards. More importantly, portable docks aren’t meant to be left in place as, this shortens their lifespan. Take the time to consider how you will move the docks from place to place, and how you will perform their needed maintenance. Sit down and look at your access and egress paths, and consider the schedule of your equipment when making your plans.

Planning out the access

You may know where you have space for the portable loading docks, and how they will be used, but you also have to consider the space around them too. Staging should take into account the approach of trucks and loaders so that adequate turn radius is allowed. Just because a driver can turn in a tight space doesn’t mean you should leave it to them to do all of that work. The easier it is for them to get in and out, the better your service and efficiency will be.

Knowing when to move the staging areas

Projects lose money when even an hour delay occurs. A part of planning your staging areas is knowing when you need to move them. It is never as simple as just planning to move a dock when a phase has ended. You have to accommodate the staging-in plans of other contractors. If you are using the docks in a permanent yard, you need to make sure that you accommodate the loading schedule as docks will have to be moved to create viable turn radius.

Making sure you have the portable loading docks you need

When planning for your loading docks, take into account everything they can be used for. The most common mistake made is to buy a dock that is dedicated for one use, and not to take into account where the dock could be located to expand its potential. If you have a dock with a load bearing capacity and width to handle a pallet jack, chances are you will want to use it for a forklift as well. It is always best to look at your staging plan so you can really determine what activities will occur around the portable dock so you choose one that is flexible.

After the project is over

The old story goes that when it came time to take the portable loading docks away … the company didn’t have a loading dock to load the loading docks. Believe it or not, this is a very real problem. Just as you planned the offloading of the docks in the beginning of the project, you need to plan out how you are going to get them off site. The easiest way is to use a lift and flat-bed, but if that is not an option for you make sure that your loading truck has the equipment it needs to lift and load the docks when they are collapsed or dismantled. Advanced planning will save you time and money.

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Article Source: http://bizcovering.com/business/staging-and-moving-portable-loading-docks/

Know the available range of forklift equipment to make sure you are prepared

Work platforms
Work platforms are available for forklift equipment. These platforms are designed to meet current safety standards and regulations to allow workers to use the forklift as a scaffold platform. Make sure you are aware of all the additional requirements for use, such as fall equipment and training. Check with both state and local safety offices for which regulations apply to their use, and what activities are permitted from the work platform.

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What capacity do you really need in your steel yard ramps?

The capacity of your steel yard ramps means more than just the amount of weight they can carry. Capacity also refers to the type of motion they can handle – from walking to driving to being able to use lifting machines, capacity can be very different in each instance. Capacity and load type can combine to change what you are looking for in your yard ramps a great deal. Taking the time to figure it out first can help you be prepared for anything.

Know the range of your load

The range of your load needs to go from the lightest use you expect on the ramp, to the heaviest. Don’t ignore the light use – such as a single person using the ramp to walk onto a platform. That light weight use is going determine the type of tread that you need on your ramps. A sanded tread can keep workers safe on the ramp, a metal tread can be better for just tire traction. You should also consider your seasons and the elements the ramps will be exposed to when selecting their material and tread type.

What width?

Width is important. You can opt for individual track style ramps that will catch the tires of the equipment, but in most cases, yard work requires a full deck ramp. The width needs to accommodate the machine used to get on and off the platform, even if that machine is just a manual wheelbarrow. It should also be wide enough to hold the machine and allow for a worker to stand on each side of it. That is the ideal, but not always a possible reality. You do want at least 6 inches on each side of the wheel since it is rare that loads are carried off perfectly straight.

Height and reach

It goes almost without saying to make sure that the height of your yard ramps can meet the expected height of the truck bed or platform. You need to make sure that you take into account any differences in height that can occur from a truck bed being under load as well. The one thing that most people skip in an effort to save out of pocket expense is buying the ramp with the right reach. Reach is the length of the steel yard ramps from apex to ground. The longer the reach, the gentler the slope. This isn’t just about being gentle, reach will determine what type of machine, and how much it can carry on the ramp. Make sure to have your engineers check, or use the online charts to select the right reach for your expected workload.

Portable or standing?

The last thing you need to determine about your steel yard ramps is whether or not they should be portable or standing. Portable can mean many different things. A portable ramp may be hinged so it can fold, or come apart in sections, or even have wheels on it for ease of transport. Portable doesn’t always mean that it can be lifted by hand or transported in a small pickup. Standing, or fixed, ramps also come in a large variety. There are free standing ones with feet cast into the supports, and there are ones in which you have to provide a concrete footing to install too.

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Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/home-improvement-articles/moving-relocating-articles/what-capacity-do-you-really-need-your-steel-yard-ramps-1404283.html

Loading Ramp Rental – Why Being An Owner May Not Be The Right Fit

We’ve all heard it before; renting is a waste of time and money. If you’re not making an investment into something that will last you for years and years to come, why are you throwing your money away? It’s important to understand that although these words are true in some aspects, for the occasional renter it’s crucial that items are available in such a way. For construction companies or laborers, you can save a lot of money by renting or leasing out equipment when necessary. A loading ramp, although a worthwhile investment if it is used frequently, can be found at a great bargain for those occasional users.

How Rentals Work For Labor Businesses

If you’re able to find a rental company that will provide tax deductions for using their equipment, great. If you’re able to find companies that will provide you with a discounted rate if you return the equipment by a specific time, even better. If you’re not planning on using a loading ramp for every job you do, then renting will save you money in the long run. Why invest in something you may only use occasionally on the job?

Individuals Can Reap These Rewards Too

It’s just like if you’re moving from one house to another; you wouldn’t go out and buy a large truck to move your items only once. Renting is a cost-effective way to get things done, and a loading ramp is no different than any other rental.

Ramps Can Be Costly

Contrastingly to the viewpoint of ownership, buying a loading ramp with the intention to use it frequently is all well and good. But after you’ve unloaded that equipment once or twice and suddenly find yourself not needing the ramp anymore, you’ll have it sitting in a dark and damp place until you’ve remembered it months later. Renting for packing up equipment or doing yard-work is the ideal choice, considering the cost-saving benefits that companies may be able to provide you with. Compare rentals online or go to several different locations where these rentals are made and compare the prices by yourself. These companies will compete for your business and offer pricing that will reflect that.

Investing In A Smart Way Can Be Cost-Effective

Let’s say you’ve got a cottage or large piece of land, or again if you’re a business owner who will utilize a loading ramp for it’s practicality and safety features. If you plan on using these ramps more than five times a year, it is definitely a wise investment. Considering the options you have before you, it all depends on your personal preference. If you honestly believe that owning a ramp as apposed to renting it will better suit your needs, go for it. There are often deals you can find online with other people who have made the mistake of buying a loading ramp rental and shortly after realizing they had no need for it.

We’ve all heard it before; renting is a waste of time and money. If you’re not making an investment into something that will last you for years and years to come, why are you throwing your money away? It’s important to understand that although these words are true in some aspects, for the occasional renter it’s crucial that items are available in such a way. For construction companies or laborers, you can save a lot of money by renting or leasing out equipment when necessary. If you are planning to rent a yard ramps it will be wise decision. Yard ramp Guy-rents yard ramps offer wide rang of yard ramp rental.

Article Source :- http://ezinearticles.com/?Loading-Ramp-Rental—Why-Being-An-Owner-May-Not-Be-The-Right-Fit&id=8461675

The Benefits of Using Aluminum Yard Ramps

Does your business rely on semi-trailer trucks to move products in and/or out of your building? If so, you may already have a loading dock to help out, or you might be considering installing one. In either situation, though, you should really look into aluminum yard ramps and the benefits they can deliver your business.

What Aluminum Yard Ramps Do :

Yard ramps perform a number of beneficial services for companies that rely on tractor-trailer trucks. If your business doesn’t already utilize a loading dock, they’re practically essential. Otherwise, your only option is to have workers manually load and unload those trucks. That method is both time-consuming and potentially dangerous.
With a yard ramp, though, things will move much quicker. Your workers will also be safe from incurring injuries either on the spot or slowly over the course of their careers. The obvious advantage, however, is that, with a yard ramp, you can utilize hand trucks, dollies, forklifts and all kinds of other equipment to make the job take less time while becoming much safer.

Save Money :

That’s what yard ramps do, but that’s not all they bring to the table. Compared to installing a permanent structure like a loading dock, yard ramps are positively economical.

In fact, you can even elect to rent yard ramps, usually from anywhere between a month and a year. This will give you plenty of time to decide if a permanent commitment is something that makes sense for your business. If all you needis a temporary solution while your loading dock is being built, you couldn’t ask for a better option than using a yard ramp.

Versatility :

Even if you have a loading dock or even several at your facility, it still makes sense to have at least one aluminum yard ramp at your disposal in case the unexpected happens. For example, all your docks may be in use, yet there are trucks ready to unload. By having a yard ramp handy, a waiting truck can get unloaded or loaded and be on its way without wasting any time.
All kinds of factors can render a loading dock useless. It may sustain damage that could take days or weeks to fix. In the meantime, do you want to incur the costs that come with having one less dock to use? What if it’s your only one?

These problems won’t amount to much if you have an aluminum yard ramp you can move into place and take over for the missing dock. Aluminum yard ramps are designed to be highly mobile, and the lightweight metal they’re built from certainly helps in this regard. Fortunately, they’re also quite durable, meaning their mobility doesn’t mean you’ll need a new model every single year.

Whether you already have a loading dock or are debating their merits, yard ramps are still a good choice. Those made from aluminum are especially mobile and affordable. Consider renting one today, and you may find that a loading dock isn’t something your company needs to spend all that money on.

Sources: http://www.streetarticles.com/sales/the-benefits-of-using-aluminum-yard-ramps

The Case for Portable Loading Docks

A portable loading dock is really a modern marvel when you consider what it can do and replace. You may also want to consider how difficult certain tasks would be without one available. Thanks to portable loading docks, everything from large machinery to basic products can be loaded into a trailer truck with relative ease. The main benefits of these docks can be broken down as:

•Financial
•Functional
•Mobile

Before we get to those, however, let’s take a look at what portable loading docks actually are.

What is a Portable Loading Dock?

All loading docks serve one basic purpose. They are the launching point from where the inventory is to where it will end up, the truck. Conversely, if the truck is unloading, then a loading dock serves as the point that makes this transition as efficient as possible.

Usually, loading docks refer to actual concrete structures that are permanently installed into a warehouse or other facility. However, there is also the portable kind. These essentially function as a ramp, allowing equipment to be move from the ground to the back of a truck.

Financial

One of the main benefits of using a portable loading dock is that it saves companies so much money. As you can imagine, installing a loading dock isn’t cheap. It takes a lot of materials and labor. Plus, after it’s installed, it still needs to be maintained.

Compared to that costly process, purchasing a loading dock is quite affordable. In fact, you can even rent one to save far more money if this temporary solution is an option.

These loading docks can often help save money other ways, as well. If you only have so many loading docks, you may be paying for trucks and workers to sit idle. By having a portable loading dock handy, though, you can continue to unload, ensuring none of your company’s funds go to waste.

Functional

Another issue conventional loading docks face is that they are permanent, like we mentioned before. This means that there may be many trucks that don’t line up to it perfectly. Ideally, you want the floor of the truck’s trailer to seamlessly transfer over to the floor of your loading dock. With so many different trucks out there, though, this just isn’t always the case.

This isn’t a concern when you’re using a portable loading dock, though. That’s because its height is adjustable. So go ahead and alter it as need be so there are no issues with loading or unloading due to height.

Mobile

Finally, as the name makes clear, portable loading docks can be moved wherever you need them. So no matter where the truck is in your lot, you can load or unload it just fine. You can also allow a forklift access to it or even to your permanent loading dock from the ground level.

There are so many ways a portable loading dock can make your company a more efficient and profitable one, but the above three are perhaps the best examples. Still, those three alone should prove why a portable loading dock makes a great investment.

Article Source:http://www.streetarticles.com/tools-and-equipment/the-case-for-portable-loading-docks

Used Steel Yard Ramps Come with All the Benefits and Less of the Cost

If your company relies on trailer trucks to make deliveries and/or pickups, you have a lot of options for boosting the process’ efficiency. Many companies, for example, have a loading dock or two installed to make it easier for workers to move items in and out of the trucks. Whether you go this route or not, steel yard ramps can truly augment the entire process, despite their simplicity and basic design. If you decide to go with used steel yard ramps, you can get all the benefits with far less of the cost.

About Steel Yard Ramps

Steel yard ramps are pretty much exactly what they sound like. They are steel ramps used to assist in loading and unloading trucks. This sounds simple enough, but once you begin taking advantage of this handy apparatus, you’ll have a hard time believing you ever made do without it.

That’s because these ramps come with or provide a number of benefits that make processing a truck just about as simple and fast as it can be.

Adjustable

For one thing, most steel yard ramps are adjustable in height. That means they can access a truck bed that’s five feet off the ground just as easily as they could one that was only four feet off the ground. If you’re relying solely on a loading dock, these different truck heights will be problematic, to say the least.

Durable

The material says it all. Steel yard ramps can put up a fight against all types of conditions. Whether your warehouse is located in an area with an unfavorable climate, or we’re just talking about all the foot and wheel traffic it will see, steel yard ramps are as durable as they get. That’s why used steel yard ramps are such a good investment. Between their simple design and steel build, it’s not like buying some other piece of equipment with intricacies that need to be examined in depth.

Forklift Access

If you’re currently without a loading dock, a steel yard ramp is going to change your business for the better in a dramatic way. This is simply because they allow forklifts access to trailer trucks. Imagine how much faster one can get unloaded as opposed to just using (and paying for) workers to do it.

Even if you do have a loading dock, consider the above example with height differentials. One issue that differences in height could cause is keeping a forklift from entering. With a steel yard ramp handy, this problem is no more.

Mobile

Lastly, steel yard ramps are a mobile solution. They’re not permanent like loading docks. So you can apply them wherever your truck is or with whichever loading dock needs the help. No loading problem is out of reach of these amazing devices.

If your loading procedure doesn’t currently involve a steel yard ramp, you’re missing out on all the benefits listed above. Fortunately, cost doesn’t need to keep you from experiencing them. Thanks to used steel yard ramps, you can get all the benefits you want for far less money.

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Blog source:- http://newloadingramps.blogspot.com/2014/11/used-steel-yard-ramps-come-with-all.html