Loading dock planning and design looks much different today than it did just a decade ago. Planning the right loading dock equipment and design will ensure that safety, productivity, and quality control standards are met. Once site design, traffic flow, configuration, and exterior commercial garage doors and details are finalized, choosing the right loading lock leveler is one of the most important choices you'll make for maximizing efficiency.

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Use our loading dock leveler guide to achieve a set-up that ticks all the logistics boxes, giving your dock operations team the best safety and efficiency standards available.

The dock is one of the main locations listed among OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards. According to OSHA, "many workers can also be injured when (1) lift trucks are inadvertently driven off loading docks; (2) lifts fall between docks and an unsecured trailer; (3) they are struck by a lift truck; or (4) they fall while on elevated pallets and tines." 

Choosing the right dock leveler will help your dock operations team prevent injuries and maintain productivity standards. 

Types of Dock Levelers

Dock levelers bridge the gap and height difference between your dock and the trailer, and choosing the right design will make unloading trucks and trailers easier, while reducing the risk of accidents. There are two main types of dock levelers, and each of these types offer different load capacity, activation systems, environmental capability, and specific cleaning and maintenance requirements. 

Recessed Dock Levelers

Recessed dock levelers have a high load range and a long life expectancy. Recessed dock levelers are available with three main types of operators:

1. Mechanical, Spring Loaded Dock Leveler

Mechanical dock levelers utilize a mechanism of chains, pulleys, levers, and fulcrums to allow easy positioning for your docking area. The design of our mechanical dock levelers offers the advantage of a single adjustment point for high strength, durability, easy walk-down, with an open frame design for easy pit clean out. 

Mechanical dock levelers don't consume as much power and are usually more affordable to install. 

2. Air-Powered Push Button Dock Leveler

A simple, single-push button control panel combined with the power of a high volume, low pressure air pump allows for years of reliable performance. The air-powered push button dock leveler provides a sturdy dock leveler that requires minimal maintenance.

3. Push Button Hydraulic Dock Leveler

Push-button hydraulic dock levelers are very reliable, but they require more maintenance than air powered designs.  They will initially cost more than an air-powered or mechanical leveler, but they're a better investment for high-traffic loading docs. 

You need a durable mechanical dock leveler that is going to stand the test of time and a model with the right hold-down set-up to reduce wear and tear on parts. As you will be utilizing your loading dock frequently, this will save you money on maintenance, repairs, and even replacement in the future.  

Edge of Dock Levelers 

Edge of dock levelers are the best choice for docks where there is little variation in truck bed height and light volume loading bays.  They can be mounted directly to the dock. They're perfect for businesses that have light load capacities and limited budgets for dock equipment.

Edge of dock levelers are also available in mechanical, air-powered, or hydraulic options. 

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Which Loading Dock Leveler Is Right For You?

With several loading dock leveler designs available on the market, there’s a decision to be made regarding which leveler is best for your application. Aspects such as industry, trailer types, number of shifts, and gross truck load weight are important considerations for facilities to make during research. Continue reading to learn more about the different loading dock leveler options by industry and applications.

Types of Loading Dock Levelers

Edge of Dock Levelers

A type of loading dock leveler that is mounted to the face of the building (no poured concrete pit) and has two operational choices. The first, an edge of dock leveler can be operated mechanically by an operational handle that is used to manually lift the leveler and lip up from the stored position and place it into the trailer bed. Second, it can be operated hydraulically by simple two button (up and down) controls. Both are good options for facilities that have minimal variation in bed heights of the vehicles they service.

Mechanical Dock Levelers

A type of pit style loading dock leveler that is manually operated. Different from the mechanical edge of dock leveler, mechanical dock levelers are installed into a pit at the loading dock door and require an operator to pull a chain to activate the leveler and then place it in the back of the trailer bed. These are both cost-effective options for facilities who experience basic shipping / receiving needs with lighter weight materials being transferred.

Air Powered Dock Levelers

Similar to the hydraulic edge of dock leveler, Air Powered dock levelers utilize a button located on a control panel to raise and lower the leveler. The main difference is that they are powered using pressured air versus a hydraulic cylinder. Their easy wash-down air tower and frame allows for quick removal of dirt and debris between loads; ideal for facilities with strict sanitation regulations.

Hydraulic Dock Levelers

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A type of loading dock leveler that, rather than a dock attendant needing to manually pull on a chain or operate a handle, the hydraulic dock leveler deck and lip are able to raise and lower at the touch of a button and can handle higher gross weight and frequency loads. Perfect for face-paced facilities that may transfer more demanding freight.

Dock Levelers by Application

Industry needs can make a crucial difference in the type of levelers your docks should have. It all depends on the goods that are being picked up and/or received. We’ve put together a guide to help you in your research.

Strict Sanitation Regulations

Facilities, such as the food and beverage industry, move a significant amount of product with extremely strict regulations. To help increase efficiency, a dock leveler with push-button operation is recommended. Selecting an air powered dock leveler provides this solution and has an easy wash-down air tower and frame - a perfect solution for strict sanitation requirements. For a hydraulic option, the RHH- is another push-button control-operated choice and is available with biodegradable fluid.

Browse our Hydraulic Dock Leveler Line-Up Browse our Air Powered Dock Leveler Line-Up

Environment & Temperature Controlled

Facilities that require additional amenities out of a dock leveler, due to the role that temperature plays in its products, need more control of the environment in regards to either air infiltration and cross contamination. Hydraulic vertical dock levelers are designed to help provide superior environmental and security control while maintaining smooth operations. Vertical Storing dock leveler allows facilities that utilize a drive-thru approach to open trailer doors inside the building, making it an ideal choice for when it comes to temperature control.

Learn More About Vertical Storing Dock Leveler

Full-Width & Full-Height Loading

To get the most out of a trailer's capacity, many facilities will use the method of cube-loading to maximize the amount of space. This process requires accuracy and speed to load the trailer dimensions, while still keeping assembly lines going. To have the ability to move quickly and efficiently, warehouses will often have custom designed loading docks to ensure precision loading and maximum utilization of trailer space. Rite-Hite’s RHJ- Jumbo hydraulic leveler allows material handlers the ability to contact the full-width of the trailer for unparalleled end-load access to help increase productivity, safety, and performance.

Learn More About RHJ- Jumbo Dock Levelers

Heavy Weight & High Frequency Loads

Weight-bearing industries such as the Paper, Pulp, and Packaging industry require a dock leveler engineered to handle more weight. As demands continue to rise, so do the amount of loads that are coming and going, making the Rite-Hite RHH- High Capacity hydraulic leveler a viable option for this industry. Facilities that also move a high volume of product or perform cube loading of trailers could also benefit from the RHJ- Jumbo Dock.

Learn More About RHH- High Capacity Hydraulic Levelers

Consider Vehicle Bed Height

In addition to industry and applications, the maximum and minimum height of the vehicles that frequent your loading dock is another consideration when selecting a dock leveler. Depending on the vehicle height, this determines the leveler’s working (or operating) range and may affect which loading dock leveler is best suited for the dock position. Last, but not least, the gross weight being transferred across a dock leveler will greatly impact the final product selection.

**Total Gross Weight is defined as the maximum amount of weight that will be
traveling over a dock leveler; material transfer device plus the weight of the materials.

Traditional standard over the read (SOTR) semi-trailers can benefit from conventional mechanical and hydraulic levelers while smaller box trucks, delivery vehicles, especially with liftgates, may require specialized leveler or lift functionality and additional attention to what vehicle restraint is used at the dock. Aside from the vehicle height, goods, and vehicle restraints, it’s important to think about the loading process. For example, is a simple dolly being utilized or will a forklift be driving onto and off of the trailer?

Consider Loading Dock Performance Standards

Perhaps one of the most important considerations when choosing a dock leveler is gross load frequency, or more commonly confused with capacity (static weight only). In order for safe operation, not only should the dock leveler be able to handle the gross load weight, but also factor in how many loads will be crossing it on a daily basis. Failing to accommodate factors outside of a simple static capacity poses severe safety risks and can lead to serious injury.
An absolute must for determining the performance rating required for your loading dock leveler is accurately knowing these two factors:

Your loading dock leveler should be rated on how it is used and handle no more than the determined gross load weight needs of your operation. Work with your local Rite-Hite representative to decide which performance rating best suits your facility’s needs based on application and usage. Listen to the Performance Standards Podcast on Performance Ratings for more information on determining gross load frequency.

Contact Rite-Hite Today

If you are a facility manager, architect, general contractor or anyone else who is tasked with selecting a loading dock leveler, these topics will help serve as a base for your research. However, if you are still unsure about which loading dock leveler is right for you, contact one of our reps today. They’ll be happy to help answer any questions you have and direct you to the loading dock best for your needs.