Yard Ramps

Are you trying to move freight where there is no loading dock, not enough dock doors, or a dock that will not be finished in time? We build yard ramps for exactly that problem. Our portable yard ramps turn any flat stretch of concrete or asphalt into a working loading dock in minutes, so your forklifts can get in and out of trailers, containers, and box trucks without waiting on construction.

Every yard ramp we manufacture is 100% welded steel, engineered in-house, and built to handle the weather and wear a busy yard throws at it, not just a clean warehouse floor. Whether you need a pre-engineered ramp from our PRO, ST, or LT series, or a custom ramp built to a specific dock height, width, or capacity, our team can help you land on the right fit. Custom ramps take longer to manufacture, but our pre-engineered ramps ship fast from stock inventory, which matters when a dock shortage or seasonal surge will not wait.

How to Choose the Right Yard Ramp

Start with three numbers: your dock or trailer height, the rated capacity of the forklift that will drive the ramp, and how often the ramp needs to move. From there, we match you to the PRO for heavy, constant-duty loading, the ST for a permanent ground-to-dock conversion, or the LT for lighter loads and easier portability, then confirm the exact length and deck options for your site.

Sizing a Yard Ramp

• Dock or trailer height: most docks and loaded trailers sit around 48 to 52 inches off the ground, though this shifts with trailer load, so we always confirm your actual height before quoting.
• Length and slope: a longer ramp means a gentler, safer climb. As a starting rule of thumb, gas and propane forklifts need roughly six feet of ramp per foot of rise, while electric forklifts need an even gentler grade because they have less climbing power, which is why most of our ramps run 30 to 40 feet long.
• Capacity: your ramp’s rated capacity should run well above your forklift’s own lifting capacity once you have accounted for the forklift’s weight plus its load, not just the pallet you are moving.
• Width: if the ramp is replacing a dock door for drive-through access, the usable deck needs to clear the outside of your vehicle’s wheel span with room to spare.

Common Yard Ramp Applications

• No-dock facilities: warehouses, distribution centres, and manufacturing plants that never had a dock built, or that need one for a single tenant.
• Seasonal overflow: extra loading capacity during peak shipping periods, without the cost of a permanent addition.
• Construction and industrial sites: unloading heavy materials and equipment directly where a project needs them, then moving the ramp to the next site.
• Ground-to-dock conversion: turning an existing high dock into ground-level access for vehicles that were never built to back up to a standard dock.

If you are still weighing options, call our team with your dock height, forklift capacity, and how often the ramp will move, and we will point you to the right series.

Yard Ramp Features & Construction

Our yard ramps come with the features that hold up to constant outdoor loading and unloading, whatever the application:

• Innovative wheel system for easier maneuvering around the yard
• Adjustable support legs that keep the ramp stable and level
• Heavy-duty I-beams for structural strength under repeated loads
• Serrated steel bar grate decking for secure footing in rain, snow, or mud
• A secure safety chain for safe entry and exit
• A 6-inch dock plate that bridges the gap to your trailer or dock
• A two-speed hand crank system for quick, on-the-fly height adjustments

The wheel system keeps a ramp mobile without sacrificing stability once it is in place, and the adjustable legs and I-beams let it stay level and rigid through daily loading, not just on day one. Because the deck, dock plate, and safety chain are all part of the same welded assembly, there is no separate hardware to lose track of between uses.

Why Businesses Choose Dura-Ramp

As the North American leader in custom loading dock ramps, we have manufactured yard ramps for major corporations and Fortune 500 companies for over three decades. Customers keep coming back to us because of:

• Quick and easy installation
• Fast shipping from stock inventory
• Lower cost than building permanent dock infrastructure
• Reduced downtime waiting on a dock to become available
• Reduced risk of workplace injury from mismatched ramps or grades
• Superior traction in wet, icy, or muddy yard conditions
• 100% welded steel construction and in-house engineering

If you would like a free quote on a yard ramp, a custom-built ramp, or any of our other loading ramps, reach out to our team and tell us your dock height, forklift capacity, and how the ramp will be used, and we will help you land on the right fit.