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How to size a dock board
Rate it for the forklift and its load, then check the gap and the height difference, in that order.
The capacity figure that matters includes the truck as well as the load. A counterbalance forklift can weigh more than the pallet it is carrying, and a board chosen on pallet weight alone is loaded to roughly double its assumed rating the first time it is used.
Then check the gap the board has to span and the height difference between dock and trailer bed. A board long enough for the gap but too short for the height change sits at an angle steep enough to ground a low-clearance truck, which is a different failure from overloading and just as disruptive.
Width follows the widest load, not the truck. A board wide enough for the forklift and too narrow for an overhanging pallet puts a wheel near the edge, and the edge is where dock board accidents start.
Aluminium is lighter to reposition; steel takes more abuse in a fixed position. Both are available, and the choice is a handling decision rather than a strength one at equivalent ratings.
Specifications
| Rate for | Forklift weight plus load, not pallet weight |
|---|---|
| Then check | Gap span and dock-to-bed height difference |
| Width follows | The widest load, including overhang |
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Tell us what you need
Send the model code from the specification table, or describe the bay and the loads it handles. You will get a price against the model rather than a general catalogue.