Loading and unloading goods vehicles can be heavy work, especially if the vehicle has no tailgate or items are to be unloaded from the side rather than the rear of the truck, where a hydraulic tailgate may make access easier.  Palletised items can be moved efficiently with forklift trucks, but there are a number of applications where cargo can't efficiently be loaded onto a pallet and where a single vehicle may be taking items to several depots, meaning some items must be removed from the middle or front of the vehicle.

This poses a problem, especially for small depots which may not have a permanent loading dock from which to unload, but the answer lies in truck dock steps.  We carry models from two manufacturers; GPC Industries and Klime-ezee, with two, three and four tread models supplied by GPC and five to nine tread models from Klime-ezee. 

The GPC models have comfortable dual hand rails, so users can hold on to one or both sides depending on the load they are moving.  The walk through design means the steps can be positioned close to the vehicle loading door and people can transfer easily from the vehicle to the steps.  The treads are extra deep and provide a very secure footing – vital when carrying valuable items up and down – while the platform is twice the depth to provide a stable area for transferring from the steps to the vehicle and back again.  Twin handles make moving the steps easy, as the wheels are just to the rear of the steps and have a braking system which keeps the unit securely in place during use.  The two tread model has a platform height of 50cm while the four tread model has a 1m high platform.  These models are ideal for smaller vans and trucks at freight or postal depots, where a variety of items will be loaded into vehicles destined for all corners of the country.  The GPC truck dock steps have a maximum working load of 150kg, so for heavier items the Klime-ezee brand is a better bet.

For truck dock steps taller than 1 metre we have opted to supply the Klime-ezee brand.  Their five tread model has the same platform height as the GPC four tread model, but because Klime-ezee use a shallower angle for their steps (48 degrees) more treads are fitted in to each height option.  This means it's easier and safer for heavier or large loads which might be tricky to carry.  The Klime-ezee truck dock steps have a larger platform than the GPC ones; at 700mm x 1200mm the platform is a good size for stopping and adjusting loads on.

The platform on these truck dock steps have a three-directional walk through, allowing the steps to be positioned straight on or parallel to the vehicle.  For soft sided trucks this is ideal as packages can be unloaded from any point inside the truck without anything else having to be moved out of the way, and having the steps tucked neatly down the side of the vehicle stops them getting in the way, or being knocked by other vehicles turning in the same area.  Chains are supplied to rope off two of the three walk through points for added security. 

The nine tread truck dock steps have a platform of 1.8m, and all the Klime-ezee steps have a maximum working load of 500kg, meaning even heavy items can be transferred with ease (provided you have staff strong enough to lift that load!).  These steps are ideal for loading meat trucks and wholesale butchers vans, automotive parts and motorcycles and even building materials.  The large platform and weight allowance means items can be carried to the platform by one person, and then left there for another to move it into the vehicle, which can be a very efficient way to work.

If you're in the haulage business, postal business or any industry where heavy, non-palletised loads are routinely moved around then an investment in a set of truck dock steps is highly recommended for employee health and safety and improved efficiency