Loading freight in and out of railcars can be difficult to do efficiently without the right systems and equipment in place. There are many types of loading docks, ramps, and bays for railcars, but few of them offer the versatility, ease of use, and sturdiness that can be found in a railcar loading ramp from a custom ramp manufacturer like Dura-Ramp. If you need a freight loading solution for railcars or rail yards, having something mobile, sturdy, and easy to use is important to ensure the ongoing success of your operation.
What to Look for in a Railcar Loading Dock
Railcar loading ramps come in all shapes and sizes, and it is important to ensure that the solution that you get is the right one for your particular rail yard setup. Some of the criteria to look at when selecting a loading ramp for use in train yards include:
Mobility
In most rail yards, it is important to have a loading dock that is mobile so that trains do not need to taxi into position every time that a forklift needs access to a railcar. Whether the loading dock disassembles and each component of the platform can be moved separately or the ramp moves as one solid piece, easy mobility can allow a ramp to be more readily usable and take up less space when not in use.
Durability
Most rail yard loading ramps spend their entire lifetime outdoors and take a strong beating from some large and heavy equipment. For this reason, a loading ramp needs to be built to last. Fully welded assembly, strong, heavy gauge metal components, and powder coating for weather proofing are just a few ways that railcar loading docks can be made to survive for years.
Safety
The last thing that should be a concern when loading or unloading cargo from a railcar is how safe the loading ramp is to use with a forklift. A ramp should be strong enough to support any forklift with its freight and have safety features that keep it from falling off the platform, slipping, or malfunctioning in any other way.
Functionality
A loading ramp designed for use in rail yards should be optimized for the work it does. Having a large platform that is compatible with boxcar doors and has plenty of room for equipment and cargo to standby can help to improve the efficiency of an operation.
If you would like to learn more about what kind of freight loading solutions are available for railcars, or if you want to find out about the other forklift ramp options that Dura-Ramp offers, be sure to contact us so we can help you to find the right ramp to meet your needs.